Experiencing MSFS 2024’s long loading times can delay the start of a flight and reduce overall enjoyment, especially when the simulator takes several minutes to reach the main menu or load into the cockpit. If you’re still learning how hardware performance, storage speed, and simulator configuration influence startup behaviour, our MSFS 2024 performance settings guide explains the optimisation steps that most often reduce loading delays and improve responsiveness.
Common experiences include:
- Very long startup times
- The simulator appears frozen on launch
- A black screen appears before the main menu appears
- The SIM eventually loads after several minutes
Because there’s often no clear indication of progress, it’s easy to assume something has gone wrong.
This article explains why long load times and black screens are common in MSFS 2024, what’s usually happening behind the scenes, and what has helped many users get through it.
A quick note before we start
Long loading times do not automatically mean the simulator is broken.
MSFS 2024 performs a significant amount of work during startup, including content checks, data validation, and background loading. Much of this activity isn’t clearly shown to the user.
The goal here is to help you understand what’s normal, what’s not, and when intervention is actually worthwhile.
Why does MSFS 2024 take so long to load
Compared to many games, MSFS 2024 does far more during startup.
At launch, the simulator may:
- Check installed content and add-ons
- Verify packages and licences
- Initialise weather and online services
- Prepare scenery and aircraft data
All of this can take time, especially after updates or configuration changes.
Common reasons a startup feels stuck
First launch after an update
The first launch after a simulator update is often the slowest. Content verification and background rebuilding can significantly increase load times.
Large numbers of add-ons
The more add-ons installed, the longer the simulator takes to scan and initialise them during startup.
Online services are initialising slowly
If online services are slow or temporarily unavailable, the simulator may pause while waiting for responses, even if no error is shown.
Cached data is being rebuilt
Occasionally, cached data is rebuilt during startup. This process can appear as a stall, even though progress is happening quietly.
System performance and storage speed
Startup performance is heavily influenced by storage speed. Slower drives can dramatically increase load times during data verification.
What has helped many users (but not all)
The following steps have helped a large number of users reduce startup delays or avoid black screens. Results vary, but these are sensible checks.
Be patient on first launch
If disk activity is visible, the simulator is often still working. Waiting a few extra minutes can sometimes be all that’s required.
Restart once if the startup truly stalls
If there’s no visible activity for an extended period, restarting the simulator can allow it to recover or proceed normally.
Test without add-ons
Temporarily removing add-ons can help determine whether startup delays are related to third-party content.
Avoid repeated forced restarts
Repeatedly closing and reopening the simulator can slow things down rather than help, especially during background checks.
Expect longer loads after changes
Updates, new add-ons, or configuration changes often increase load times temporarily.
Why does startup behaviour vary so much between users
Two systems with similar specifications can behave very differently due to:
- Number and type of installed add-ons
- Storage configuration
- Network conditions
- Previous installation history
This is why some users report instant loads while others wait several minutes.
When a black screen is probably not a crash
If:
- The simulator eventually loads
- No error messages appear
- System activity continues
…it’s likely the SIM is still initialising rather than crashing.
True crashes usually result in the simulator closing completely.
A helpful way to think about startup delays
A useful mindset is this:
MSFS 2024 front-loads work that many games do later.
Understanding that makes long startup times less alarming — especially after updates.
Closing thought
Long loading times and black screens at startup can be frustrating, particularly when there’s little feedback from the simulator. In most cases, these delays are part of MSFS 2024 preparing a very complex environment rather than a sign of failure.
Persistent loading delays are frequently related to disk speed, background processes, or corrupted temporary data rather than graphics configuration alone. Microsoft’s official Windows storage and performance guidance provides additional troubleshooting steps that can help improve system responsiveness for demanding applications such as Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Your window seat to the skies.