Basic Troubleshooting: How to troubleshoot crashing/CTDs issues

CHECKLIST

Start with the checklist:

• Checklist: How to troubleshoot crashing/CTDs issues

If you continue to experience crashing issues after restoring the simulator to its default "vanilla" state, you can proceed with the steps listed below.

BEFORE LAUNCHING THE GAME

CLOSE BACKGROUND APPLICATIONS & OVERLAYS AND CHECK AUDIO DRIVERS

Disable Nahimic Service and uninstall Realtek audio drivers. 

Close any unnecessary background applications and disable any overlays (Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience, etc)

Disable backup software, tune-up utilities, resources management, and photo/video editing software. Examples:

• Seagate Toolkit
• Asus Sonic Studio 2
• Windows Audio Service
• Garmin Express
• WD Backup
• Logitech G Hub
• MSI Afterburner / Riva Tuner Statistics Server
• EVGA Precision
• OBS
• Xsplit
• Discord
• MacType
• Warsaw Banking App
• Wallpaper Engine
• A-Volute Sound studio
• Capture One
• MSI afterburner
• Process Lasso
• FRAPS
• Citrix 

 

UNPLUG THE PERIPHERALS YOU WILL NOT USE DURING YOUR PLAY SESSION

You may experience CTDs when multiple peripherals are plugged into the system or when plugging peripherals after launching the sim. To avoid such crashes, always:

1. Unplug any peripherals you will not be using during your flight.
2. Plug the peripherals you will be using before launching the sim.

REPAIR OR RESET THE MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR APP

Depending on your version, follow the instructions from our knowledge base articles.

• Microsoft Store version - How to Repair or Uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Steam - How to Repair or Uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Game Pass - How to repair or uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator

RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR (MICROSOFT STORE VERSION)

A simple fix when experiencing crashes at launch is to run the program as administrator instead of clicking the launch button from the Microsoft Store or the play button from the Xbox App.

• Type "Flight Simulator" in the Windows search bar
• Select Run as administrator in the menu

USE GAME MODE 

When playing games on Windows 10, Game Mode makes gaming your PC’s top priority, so you get the best possible game performance. For more info, see:

• Use Game Mode while gaming on your Windows 10 device.

AFTER LAUNCHING THE GAME 

 

CLEAR THE ROLLING CACHE

To do so, follow the instructions from this article:

• How to delete the Rolling Cache and the Manual Cache.

 

SET GRAPHICS TO LOW-END AND TRY AGAIN

Testing the game in "low-end" quality will allow differentiating CTDs caused by hardware from CTDs caused by software. 

• Open the General Options menu > Graphics
• Reduce Global Rendering Quality to "Low-end" then click "Apply and Save"

 

LOCALIZED CRASH 

If the crash to the desktop only happens while flying in the same zone, at the same location, every time, please file a bug report. Make sure to include the GPS coordinates of the zone & crash to allow our QA team to investigate. 

NEXT STEP

If the crashing issue persists after reducing the Global Rendering Quality, continue to the next steps:

• All versions - Crashing/CTDs issues - Advanced Troubleshooting