I’m downloading MSFS 2020. After about 24 hours, it has only downloaded around 8 GB (about 7%). Is this normal?
If I shut my PC off, will I have to start the download again?
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Chief CaptainHi Jules,
No, that’s not “normal” for most connections, but it is something MSFS can do when it’s hitting a bad server/CDN node, the Microsoft Store/Xbox app is misbehaving, or something on the PC/network is throttling it.
As for shutting the PC off: in most cases the MSFS installer will resume where it left off (it doesn’t usually restart from 0%), but it can sometimes re-check files and re-download a chunk if something got corrupted or the download didn’t close cleanly. If you can, it’s safer to pause first and then shut down.
Things I’d try (in order)
- Don’t download over Wi‑Fi if you can avoid it
If you’re on Wi‑Fi, try a wired Ethernet connection for the install. MSFS is very sensitive to packet loss and “flaky” Wi‑Fi, and it manifests as crawling speeds. - Reboot your modem/router and the PC
It sounds basic, but it often forces a different route/CDN node and clears stuck connections. - Make sure nothing else is saturating the connection
Pause other game downloads (Steam, Epic, etc.), cloud sync (OneDrive/Google Drive), VPNs, and big Windows Updates while MSFS is pulling content. - Try a different time of day
MSFS servers/CDNs can be wildly inconsistent. If you’re downloading during peak evening hours, try letting it run early morning or midday. - Temporarily disable “extra” filtering
If you’re running a VPN, third-party firewall, “web shield,” or antivirus network inspection, try disabling it temporarily just to see if the speed jumps. (You can turn it right back on after.)
About pausing / resuming
- If there’s a Pause option in the installer, use that before shutting down.
- If you just power off mid-stream, it usually resumes, but that’s when you’re more likely to see it re-check or re-download parts.
A couple quick questions so we can narrow it down
- Are you installing via the Microsoft Store / Xbox app, or Steam?
- Roughly what’s your normal internet speed (and are you on Wi‑Fi or Ethernet)?
- Do you see the speed indicator in the MSFS downloader fluctuating (e.g., spikes then drops to near zero), or is it consistently slow?
- Any VPN, “gaming booster,” or third-party antivirus/firewall running?
Answer those and I’ll suggest the most likely next step based on your setup.
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