This happened to me too yesterday. Maybe its a msfs server issue.
Nothing seemed to work,removing community folder, running as admin etc. then i reset the data for the msfs app in the app and program config in windows. Restarted and it worked.
Took a long time to get to the menu but it finally did.
Hi @RevampedSine732,
Is your issue resolved now?
There was a server outage that caused MSFS to go off-line. This has been restored. There was a new Xbox App for PC (v2110.1000.23.0) pushed.
To Note: There are different versions of “Gaming Services”. I’m not sure why this is the case.
Thank you for your reply. Sorry I had to go to bed: in the 4 previous nights I only had 14 h sleep.
Yes it was fine when I used FS ~ 12 hours ago. So I assume it’s fine now…
What is weird for me is that FS never went off-line: all top settings in Data were ON at all times.
Indeed there are different versions of “Gaming Services”.
As the title says, installing on Win 11, around 85% install of the updates, then it stopped. I restarted it it offered normal mode or safe mode, did normal mode and it just has a checking for updates loop, see image.
Any ideas folks?
I know it sounds kind of odd but I have the impression I get stuck at the “checking for updates” page due to the amount of mods I have in my community (1000+) folder. After some days of testing I now think there is some kind of limit of how many mods you can have. I tested various combinations as I first thought it was caused by a broken mod but it always had to do with the number of mods that prevented the sim to load. As anybody made similar experiences?
Hello Every One , well I have just had to reload the complete FS2020 again this is 13 times now , my problem has been trying to down load updates , some time ill get 50 % the bang there has been either The EXE file has stopped running , or a blank screen and crashed P.C . I have tried all the fixes and none work. To uninstall and reinstall it again takes 12 hours on average . on a 750 watt power unit in my PC i hate to think of the cost and ware and tear on n the PC Hardware , I have never had a flight Sim with so many problems , the only good thing for me so far , is it Runs most of my Saitek pro flight gauges . 10 units so far , two left to find USB ports for . so I’m hoping they get this flight sim sorted ,
To save having to reload again due to updates , I’m going to use what i have till the next release .
Good luck to you all .
having the same issue now after sim update six…
Hello everyone i have found a fix to being stuck on checking for updates… basicly i deleted all files to the game and the game itself and then redownloaded it… this worked for me (i have the game on steam btw)
hope that helps
what did you delete? Same issue also on steam
Same as most others here I am stuck on the checking for updates screen. Last two times this happened I had to reload from scratch. I have tried every trick I can find online and nothing has worked. I have absolutely nothing modded or in my community folder.
Pretty frustrating for a game like this.
I have the game on steam. Deleted everything on my pic relevant to the game and downloaded again and then again. Does ‘mandatory update’ then sticks in the same place. What a waste of money this has been. Microsoft just do not give two hoots. Rip off!!
I have had endless problems with trying to update this game. 1st attempt resulted in a looping update. After 4 tries I decided to do a fresh install and same thing half way went into a looping install. After 3rd attempt I finally got the game installed. I went to the Content Manager folder to do updates there and again got stuck in a looping update. I proceeded to reboot the machine and now got stuck on the checking for updates page. I followed your instructions "All versions - Stuck on “Checking for Updates” but STILL have the same issue. PLEASE HELP this is beyond frustrating now.Before anybody wonders about my internet connection I have had it tested and it works 100% I have not had this issue before. My Data Bandwidth Usage Limit is set to UNLIMITED and I am not using WIFI My net speed is PING is 4ms
DOWNLOAD SPEED 89.77 Mbps UPLOAD SPEED 91.32 Mbps . Please note this is a fresh install with no content in the Community folder.
Every time I have had problems loading the sim or loading updates it has been the X-Box app in Windows that has caused it. There is some fix for a corrupted part of the app but its way easier & quicker to delete it - shut down PC - restart - reinstall X-Box app from Microsoft Store and try again.
It rebuilds all including our ID and should then properly do its job of ‘comms’ for the sim again. (I did reinstall once ages ago - never again!. It didn’t fix anything (because it was X-box app at fault), it didn’t eventually run any better etc).
We should never tinker with the sim itself - just the community folder. If we break that rule - even with one tiny mod of a default aircaft or whatever - the sim detects a change and will re-download the whole lot at next update. So unless there is some downloaded main sim update file corruption the sim should never need a ‘clean reinstall’ (and I doubt if even its uninstaller removes all the extra locations of files and registry entries anyway). So the X-Box fixing route shoudl be the way for 99% of people. Hope this helps.
are you serious, with that many mods you are asking for big problems.
use the addon linker to only load the ones you are going to use this flight.
Hello,
I found a workaround in case “Checking for updates” in Installation manager doesn’t want to jump to the game menu during startup.
The reason is probably that one of the content cache directories is corrupted.
Close FS2020 and open File Explorer
go to your Flight simulator cache folder
For my example:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common_Flight_Simultor_Cache\Official\Steam
(In non-steam version go only to the Official folder)
Here create a backup folder _Backup
In File Explorer, in the folder “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common_Flight_Simultor_Cache\Official\Steam”
sort the directories by date of change and move the newest directory to the _Backup directory (of course move the second newest directory, because the newest one is “_Backup” 
Run Flight Simulator, wait for checking updates checks, that the some file must be updated… (previously moved and possibly corrupted files).
Then go in the profile and content manager. Update all installed packages, if needed.
When is problem still here, In File Explorer, in the folder “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common_Flight_Simultor_Cache\Official\Steam”
sort the directories by date of change and move the newest directory from same day to _Backup directory.
Thank you man!!! This worked for me!!! My PC shut down unexpectedly and got stuck on "checking update " ever since, I did as you said, and it started the downloads over again. Awesome help there bud… 
I bought the game through Steam and that part worked fine, I was able to install the Steam installation app for MSFS. As soon as I opened the sim, instead of installation it immediately went to checking for updates and stayed there (many folks have posted the screenshots so I wont repeat the stuck on checking for updates). I got with Steam help and they were very helpful and fast, and everything was fine on Steam side. The issue was getting the program installed from MS. Microsoft store acct: check. Microsift xbox account (even though I dont have an xbox, never had an xbox and never want one): check. Game starts installing correctly: check. Game stops installing correctly. Read forums, reach out to MSFS support, implement changes, some stuff works, some stuff doesnt help, keep going through forums and tech support, see that these issues still pop up for people after updates. After 70+ hours showing in “game played” on Steam for MSFS, I ask for a refund from Steam for the Sim since I have yet to ever get past the installation and checking for updates screens. 70+ hours of troubleshooting and modifications plus time not counted when searching forums etc for answers, and actually reading directions and going through them. I wanted a Sim I could play, not an exercise in desktop troubleshooting. Steam granted my refund request (Hail Steam, they have my business!) and I deleted this … program that even after being out almost two years the developers cant even make a simple install work.
Same experience here. Have wasted an entire week at trying to install from the discs. Now on 5th reinstallation. Would have been cheaper buying a new Xbox to run it. Also why has Microsoft not posted my less than flattering review.
I suffered this for weeks and no, it´s not caused by addons, so don´t waste time reinstalling things nor the simulator. The official patching process is buggy or maybe synchronization to cloud is what is buggy.
The only way to escape I found was to unplug network cable while in the updates screen loop until a connection loss message is displayed. Then plug it again. Game will load normally after connection is restored. You don´t need to do anything else.
More details and screeshots here: Welcome to "checking for updates" simulator - #5 by geloxo
Cheers
I had a BSOD during tonights update and I had same issue. Thankyou so much for this mate update is kicking off now after deleting files modified 11/11/2022 only in my official one store folder. Thankyou!
