Microsoft Flight Simulator patch looks to fix installation issues

Microsoft Flight Simulator has largely taken off successfully, but the first major patch since the game’s Aug. 18 debut on Windows PC looks to address some problems that players have had trying to install the game.

Released Wednesday afternoon, the version 1.7.14.0 update also includes some small-scale fixes to help with stability. The full patch notes are available on Microsoft Flight Simulator’s website, along with a guide on the recommended process for reinstalling.

The section on installation issues is by far the largest part of the patch, and it reads:

The install process will no longer be blocked after a partial decompression of a package

The install process will no longer be blocked when a local user account includes non-ASCII characters

The install process will no longer be blocked after a failed connection to servers

The install process will no longer display an empty onboarding screen under certain conditions

The title will download a critical missing/deleted package to access the main menu even if the save data preference is set to offline (when an internet connection is available)

Hopefully this helps people who have been struggling to get the game installed. Microsoft Flight Simulator developer Asobo Studio said it would “strongly advise” users who have had trouble with the installation process to try a clean install. That entails uninstalling any instance of the game from Steam or the Microsoft Store.

Once you’ve gotten Microsoft Flight Simulator installed, check out Polygon’s ever-expanding guide for tips on how to get into the sky yourself.