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Steam - How to repair, remove and do a clean install of Microsoft Flight Simulator

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Note: if the issue with your installation appeared after moving the packages in a different folder, follow the instructions from that article before doing a clean installation: Can I choose or change the installation path? (Install on the D: drive instead of the C: drive for instance)

 

 

HOW TO REPAIR THE INSTALLATION - VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES 

1. Launch Steam

2. From the Library section, right-click on Microsoft Flight Simulator and select Properties from the menu.

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3. Select the Local files tab

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4. Click the Verify integrity of game files... button.

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5. Steam will scan the installation and download missing files or remove outdated or corrupted files - this process may take several minutes. 

Warning: By default, the launcher and the Core Content Packages are installed at the following location:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator

If during the Packages installation process you have selected the following folder as the Packages Installation folder:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator\Packages

The Packages will be wiped out and you will need to redownload the Packages the next time you launch Microsoft Flight Simulator. See also: Why am I redownloading all the packages after each update?


6. Relaunch Microsoft Flight Simulator.

 

HOW TO DO A CLEAN INSTALL

 

REMOVE MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR

1. From the Library section, right-click on Microsoft Flight Simulator and select Properties from the menu.

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2. Select the Local files tab

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3. Click on Uninstall Game

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4. Click on Uninstall to remove the sim

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5. Once uninstalled, check to make sure that all the packages are deleted.

The default package installation location is:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages

If you have installed the packages in a custom folder, search for that folder instead.

 

6. Move any leftover files or folders to the Recycle Bin

 

RE-INSTALL MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR

1. Go to "Library"

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3. Locate the game on the left-hand bar and press the "Install" button to install the launcher.

By default, Steam will reinstall the launcher at the following location:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator

4. Once the launcher is installed, click on Play.

Install_Button_Steam.PNG Play_Button_Steam.PNG


5. Sign in to Microsoft Flight Simulator with the Microsoft Account you want to associate with Microsoft flight Simulator. See our knowledge base article for details: Gamertag & Microsoft Account FAQ

Sign_In_blank.png Sign_in_complete.png

 

6. On the "Welcome, set your experience" screen, select the Packages installation Path.

By default the packages will install at the following location:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages
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To install the packages at the location of your choice:

  • Click Browse...
  • Create a custom installation folder on the drive of your choice. Note: we recommend naming the folder something easy to remember like "Flight Sim" or "MSFS" 
  • Select your custom folder as the installation folder
  • Click Update to download the packages.
  • Once the packages are installed, click on Continue

7. Click Update to start downloading the packages.

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