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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 slow installation – three methods that can potentially speed things up

Our guide to help you install the game quickly
Last Updated on November 19, 2024
A plane flying in the mountains
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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has finally been released, but many players are encountering a frustrating issue during the installation process. Surprisingly, this problem isn’t about the game crashing or stuttering – it’s the painfully slow installation times. While some users have managed to install the game in about an hour, others are reporting 97% progress even after more than two hours.

There are several possible reasons why the installation might be taking so long. But thankfully, there are a few methods you can try to speed up the process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through these solutions so you can get in the game quickly.

Why is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 taking too long to install?

The game might be taking too long to install due to several reasons, including:


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  • Background applications
  • Temporary bugs or glitches
  • HDD
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 installation screen, Image by PC Guide.

How to speed up Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 installation

Here are three methods that can potentially increase the installation speed for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Step

1

Close background applications

If you have multiple applications open in the background while installing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, your system will be unable to properly assign the resources the game needs to install quickly. So, close down all unnecessary applications as that might help speed things up.

  • Right-click on the Windows Task Bar and select ‘Task Manager.’
  • Select unnecessary applications and then click on ‘End Task’ to close them.

    End Task option in Task Manager

Step

2

Install the game on an SSD

If you have both an SSD and HDD in your system and you’re trying to install the game in the latter, it will be better to stop the installation and switch to the SSD. This is because SSDs are much faster than HDDs and have a significantly higher read and write speed than them. So, installing the game on an SSD will be much quicker compared to an HDD.

Step

3

Power cycle your PC

In some cases, a temporary bug or glitch can cause different issues and slow down the installation process. Thankfully, these bugs and glitches can be eliminated by a simple power cycle.

  • Stop the installation.
  • Turn off your PC.
  • Remove the power cables.
  • Wait for five minutes and turn the PC on.

Now try installing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 again and check if the speed is better this time.

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.