MSFS storage, connection checks and troubleshooting an unstable add-on

Scenery that is slow to gain detail, a long loading pause and a crash after adding an aircraft do not necessarily have the same cause. Before reinstalling the simulator, separate storage, connection and additional-content checks.

Allow for more than the advertised installation size

The official requirements list 150 GB for MSFS 2020 and 50 GB for MSFS 2024. Those figures do not describe your eventual collection: allow for extra content, caches and space needed during updates. Sources: 2020 requirements and 2024 FAQ.

Our advice: for a new desktop, compare a 1 TB NVMe SSD for one simulator and a selected collection, or 2 TB if you keep both 2020 and 2024 with many additions. These are planning starting points to adjust to your files, not Microsoft requirements. Check that the motherboard supports the SSD’s form factor and interface; Kingston’s capacity and compatibility guide explains these criteria.

Check free space separately on the Windows drive, simulator drive and content location if they differ. Follow the application’s procedure when moving folders it manages.

Understand the connection and cache

The official minimum, recommended and “ideal” bandwidth tiers are 5/20/50 Mbps for 2020 and 10/50/100 Mbps for 2024, as listed in the tables above. MSFS 2024 streams data on demand. A large SSD therefore does not replace a suitable connection.

1. Check the bandwidth available on the PC when you fly, rather than relying only on your Internet plan’s advertised speed.
2. For comparison, pause competing large downloads and try Ethernet if possible. Note whether the issue affects every location or only a particular area.
3. Check service status and simulator messages before changing an installation that previously worked.

Rolling Cache reuses world data already loaded, particularly when you revisit the same areas. It does not replace add-on files or every online service. Choose its size around available disk space; clearing it before every flight defeats its purpose. Consult the official cache guide for a targeted reset.

A problem started after adding content

In MSFS 2024 > Marketplace > My library, review the active content. This is the simulator’s library, separate from “My library” on Rikoooo. Microsoft provides controls to disable, enable or download available packages and manage Community content. Community changes require a simulator restart. See the official procedure.

1. Record which content was recently added or updated, then temporarily disable it using the simulator’s or its manager’s supported method.
2. Restart and repeat the same flight with an included aircraft and default scenery.
3. If the problem disappears, re-enable additions gradually until you identify the one that brings it back. Check its version and compatibility before reporting it.

Keep your files and installation list during diagnosis. For a broader test, follow the official procedure for temporarily returning to a base installation. For a Rikoooo download, include the simulator, add-on and exact reproduction steps in its download-page discussions.

Reference information and links checked again on 5 November 2026.