When MSFS loading takes forever, starting a flight can become frustrating, with long waits before reaching the main menu or entering the cockpit. If you’re still learning how system performance, storage speed, and simulator configuration influence startup times, our MSFS 2024 performance settings guide explains the key optimisation steps that can significantly reduce loading delays and improve overall responsiveness.
In most cases, the simulator has not crashed. It is stuck waiting for something in the background, and with the right steps, the problem can usually be resolved. For those experiencing problems, it is essential to recognise that the term ‘MSFS Loading Takes Forever or Freezes on Startup‘ captures the frustration many users endure, which can be resolved with appropriate troubleshooting.
Understanding the issue of MSFS Loading Takes Forever or Freezes on Startup can help users troubleshoot effectively.
Add-ons
One of the most common causes is add-ons loading incorrectly. MSFS loads everything in the Community folder during startup, and a single outdated or broken add-on can cause the simulator to stall indefinitely. This is especially common after simulator updates. Temporarily removing all add-ons from the Community folder and starting the sim again is one of the fastest ways to confirm whether this is the cause. If the sim loads normally with an empty Community folder, the issue is almost certainly add-on related.
Rolling cache
Another frequent cause is the rolling cache. A corrupted rolling cache can slow loading dramatically or cause the simulator to appear frozen. Disabling the rolling cache in the simulator settings, restarting the sim, and then re-enabling it often resolves this issue. In some cases, leaving it disabled entirely produces better results, particularly on fast SSD systems.
Internet connectivity
Internet connectivity also plays a role during startup. MSFS streams data during loading, and slow, unstable, or interrupted connections can cause the sim to stall without showing an error. This can happen even if your internet connection appears to be working normally for web browsing. Restarting your router, temporarily disabling VPNs, or starting the sim in offline mode can help identify whether online services are contributing to the delay.
Internet connectivity
Internet connectivity issues are another common factor. After Windows updates or GPU driver updates, MSFS may take significantly longer to load or freeze entirely. Performing a clean installation of your graphics drivers and restarting the system can resolve these conflicts. Overclocked GPUs and CPUs can also cause instability during startup, even if they appear stable in other applications.
Sometimes the simulator is not actually frozen, but is processing a very large amount of data in the background. This is common after major updates when the simulator rebuilds caches or verifies content. Checking system activity using Task Manager can help determine whether MSFS is still actively using CPU, disk, or network resources. If activity is present, waiting a few extra minutes may allow the sim to finish loading.
Corrupted simulator files
Corrupted simulator files can also cause startup freezes. Running the built-in file verification through the Xbox app or Steam can detect and repair missing or damaged files. In more severe cases, deleting the local cache files while keeping the main installation intact can restore normal loading behaviour without requiring a full reinstall.
In rare cases, peripherals and controller drivers can interfere with startup. Faulty USB devices, outdated drivers, or duplicate controller profiles can cause the simulator to hang during initialisation. Disconnecting non-essential devices and testing again can help isolate this problem.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, restarting the system and launching the simulator with default settings is recommended. A full reinstall should be considered only as a last resort, as most loading and freezing issues can be traced to add-ons, cache problems, drivers, or connectivity rather than the simulator itself.
Extremely long loading times are often connected to disk performance, background applications, or corrupted cached data rather than graphics settings alone. Microsoft’s official Windows performance troubleshooting resources provide additional guidance on improving system responsiveness, which can also help reduce loading delays in demanding applications like Microsoft Flight Simulator.