Well, I’ve had limited success. If I closed the sim, it froze the computer and I couldn’t open Task Manager anyway. I uninstalled and reinstalled Gaming Services á la @TenPatrol (I don‘t have the Xbox app) and I’m now back with everyone else, Quit to Desktop then Task Manager. I’ve only tested it twice so I’ll see how it goes.
Something else happened at the same time this bug appeared, and I’ve only just twigged it: on starting the sim, I’m presented with the last mandatory update. Every time. And it offers to install it in the default location in Appdata, and I have to change it (my packages are on another drive).
When the lightbulb came on in my head, I had a look at usercfg.opt and it was blank! It populates only when I do the above. Has anyone else experienced this? It may or may not be related; I’ve made a copy of it now in case I need it at next launch.
Weird.
So for me the problem is reproducible Gaming Services that is the culprit.
With Version 28.100.8001.0 (latest Version from the Microsoft Store) MSFS2020 doesn’t shut down.
With Version 27.99.7001.0 (installed by Xbox App) it shuts down cleanly EVERY SINGLE TIME.
I simply uninstalled Version 28.100.8001.0, then started the Xbox App which in turn auto-installs Version 27.99.7001.0. No reboots needed.
When I update to 28.100.8001.0 again via Microsoft Store, MSFS2020 will again not shut down.
I’m on Windows 11 24H2.
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I too am having the same issue.
Will changing the background app permission have any effect on this problem?
Figured out a quick workaround. I have not looked through all the comments, so my apologies if someone else has already pointed this out.
Create a new text document on your desktop. Inside the document write:
@echo off
taskkill /F /im FlightSimulator.exe
.. and save that as a bat file (not a txt file!!) Double click that after you close the game and it will force it closed. Works great for me!
It looks like it was a game service issue after all.
There have been several problems related to game services in the past, and for some reason only MSFS is always affected.
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I think I can confirm that. I had uninstalled and reinstalled said items and it seemed fine. Then at some point was broken again. Did it again after seeing this post, and all seemed ok again. Checked the gaming services ver and it was 7001.
Now its broke again, and the gaming services is 8001.
Any way to keep it from auto updating?
God it seems the true culprit has been found 
Now we only need MS to fix their software…
Yes in my case I narrowed it down to a Gaming Services (only) issue too.
I wonder if disabling this would fix the issue until MS have addressed their own mess?
Problem doing it that way of course is how it won’t affect just Gaming Services.
I think the game bar /game dvr uses the the same game services and there is a conflict , like one component wants to use an older version of the game services (say the sim ) while the other (say game bar ) wants to use the newer version . On my system game dvr is problematic too only works fraction of the time …
I actually mentioned the buggy Gaming Services version several hours ago
Disabling app updates won’t help, unfortunately. Ages ago I posted on the forum how to block Gaming Services update.
As if by magic, the error has returned today.
The only way to close the sim is via the Task Manager.
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OK, let’s hope MS will address this sooner rather than later.
Just had the same issue again after reinstalling the recommended components. Where the issue as someone else mentioned seems to be the latest version (.8001) of Gaming Services.
I mentioned the buggy Gaming Services version several hours ago
https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/msfs-2020-will-not-shut-down-fully/717408/672?u=tenpatrol
I’ve figured out how to force my system to install either an older or newer version of Gaming Services. In a few moments, I’ll test version 27.99.7001.0. I had this version installed before and there was an issue with MSFS 2020 not closing properly. Now I’ll see if reinstalling Gaming Services makes any difference.
This isn’t just a regular reinstall via the Microsoft Store - that would always fetch the latest version. Instead, I’ve forced the installation of an older version.
Stay tuned.
the problem is there are other apps that uses gaming services too . One is “game bar” with the game dvr function . I think that is the app that keeps reinstalling different versions of the gaming services .
It seems to be definitely when Gaming Services gets updated by MS Store. I followed TenPatrol’s guide above and DID not update Gaming Services via Store and all was ok.
But when I updated everything in Store it didn’t work.
Conclusion, the latest Gaming Services is the culprit
(amazing how what is meant to be the world’s leading sw provider can’t fix something so basic…or let’s it happen in the 1st place)
Same happening to me. Not sure when it started but there’s been a couple of small updates plus the Brazil update and a windows update too. one of those did it. most worryingly is that like someone above I’ve been having random freezes. out of 10 or more flights, only managed to finish two.
Thanks TenPatrol it works for me.
Yw, could you please check which version of Gaming Services and the Xbox app you currently have installed?
Hi TenPatrol, how do you force an older version of Gaming Services to load ??, Is the file stored on the PC, or on the cloud ?
