MSFS won't launch after update to windows insider 21376 or later

Do you have any add-ons in your Community folder? If yes, please remove and retest before posting. No.

Are you using Developer Mode or made changes in it? No.

Brief description of the issue:
MSFS 2020 will not launch after update to windows insider build 21376. The issue has not been resolved with subsequent updates.

Provide Screenshot(s)/video(s) of the issue encountered: N/A - black screen.

Detail steps to reproduce the issue encountered:
Update to insider build 21376 or later. Launch MSFS 2020. Get a black screen with high GPU activity. No network or file activity.

PC specs for those who want to assist (if not entered in your profile) NUC9i7QNX 32GB; RTX 2070

Build Version # when you first started experiencing this issue:
WU3 - but worked until insider update to build 21376.

Are you on the Steam or Microsoft Store version? Store

Did you submit this to Zendesk? If so, what is your ticket #?
Yes: #105116. Also submitted to insider feedback (ticket linked in zendesk ticket).

Troubleshooting has included:

  • Complete reinstall of msfs 2020
  • Run as admin
  • enable/disable compatibility settings including the recently added HDR options.
  • I have not reverted to the prior insider build or reinstalled windows as that is not practical atm.

Note that unless this is a one-off issue for me (which seems unlikely) the soon to be released windows 10 update is going to break MSFS similarly for all.

I’m on build21382.co_release.210511-1416 and have not had any problems.

good to know - I updated to that and still cannot launch msfs 2020.

so eventually found a zendesk article that suggested running the following in powershell as admin: cmd.exe /C start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App -FastLaunch

This solved the issue for me. Note that I had uninstalled and reinstalled multiple times before this.