"You are missing packages that are essential to run Microsoft Flight Simulator"

User Support Hub Install, Performance & Graphics
1

Hello All, I’ve read through multiple fourm posts on this issue and see that it was fixed with the 1.19.8 Live Update. I’m still experiencing this issue.

I haven’t messed with any of my folders, this is a clean install from last night, only thing I have done is installed the world updates this morning while I was away, when I returned, I found a message that said I needed to update for missing information, so I clicked update, and now it is stuck on this screen:

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I have deleted my WGS folder, and I’m unable to access my content manager to view the uninstalled options.

Any tips? Or do I need to reinstall again?

4

I have verified files and checked for updates

6

No luck with that…

8

I didn’t get the “when to update” option but It still worked either way, hopefully it still works on the next launch, thank you very much!

1 Like
11

The reinstall worked, thank you for your help.

I think I figured out what happened..

When I was doing the install a couple days ago my PC crashed, but I didn’t think anything of it as the update just continued, a file must’ve corrupted when that happened.

Thank you again!

1 Like
12

same issue here… the game wants me to update something i cant update… like how is that error still a thing after almost 3 years?

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14

yea shouldnt happen after a barebone fresh game install. but still since release that issue is a thing it seems after reading stuff for a few hours

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15

Having this issue here. Have wiped ALL of my game files, and the problem still persists.

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16

You are a savior! this 100% solved my issue and avoided a really large re install thank you !!!

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17

hi, the error is due to a bad cash memory in MS app. You have to disconnect from your account gamepass app and reconnect, it’s worked for me

18

Well, ultimately I did a full reinstall - and then it did a another massive, 900 GB download, but I am back to things working how it should. Apparently it had something to do with the new iniBuilds JFK airport update and me uninstalling the Asobo JFK one but leaving the landing challenge in place. I removed both items after reinstall and now everything is working as it should with the iniBuilds version.

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19

I am facing now the same error message and have no opportunity or idea, how to solve it: MS Store and XBox program show no updates

Windows - Settings - App - Flightsim - Adv. - Repair is executed (Results in Message during Startup “Do you allow changes to the App by Installer)?”

Path C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages \Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\SystemAppData\wgs Folder deleted, will be restored and download from XBox cloud (identical size to previous one)

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages \Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Official\OneStore\ fs-base-history does not exist.
(I use the FSim installation, based originally from DVD. Maybe this is the reason?)
But “fs-base-history” is here:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages \Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\packages\fs-base-history
It contains a work folder. But all is empty. Deleting the folder results in nothing (not recreated). (I restored the folder, just in case)

Always only the message and stop of startup.

I expect, it is caused by a flawed execution of the current FSim system update.
a) First there was during initial execution an error of “not finding my data in XBox cloud” (or similar) - although I was successfully logged in in the XBox app (“online” green).
b) a datafile of the update was downloaded. But FSim somehow did not start. I stopped it (Alt+F4)
c) Second start resulted in downloading some other updates, but files displayed in progress was connected to Airbus 320 Neo (if I remember well) - I think size was around 1.6GB. Download successfull, but no progress for 5min (expected “extraction” or similar. Maybe done already, I do not know. Progress bar read “100%”). Only button available was “Cancel”. FSim stopped. Since then the “needed essential packages missing. Do update” message blocks any progress.
d) Removal of “LocalCache” folder resulted in recreation (done by FSim - repair of “LocalCache” and some Folders inside (but no progress).
Afterwards I restored to original “LocalCache” Folder
e) Rename of original “LocalCache\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_A320_NEO” did not restore it (cfg file inside with change date of 19.May 24)

I am out of ideas!

Question: Windows - Settings - Apps - Flightsim - advanced - “Reset” - does it delete all downloaded content or only Cfg files? Do I have to download everything else afterwards? (“Repair” did not help)

---- continue -----
In the meantime I read the advice here:
How to install a new update safely – Microsoft Flight Simulator Support (zendesk.com)
What a sore list of advice. Basically a list of things, what did go wrong and what can be tried(!) if it helps. But nobody knows…
Uninstall all additional downloaded content - free or paid, from Microsoft or from other Vendors.. Really?
Check Time settings?
Check that Texxt2Speech package “English” is correctly installed?
OMG - what a house of cards!!
Why is there not a logfile written somewhere, what at least tell, at which step a startup or the update fails? Where is it?

Nevertheless, some usefull ideas found (Unplug the Joystick, etc.)
I deleted/renamed MSFSPackages\Official\OneStore\microsoft-aircraft-a320neo folder and started FSim again.
This time it downloaded A320neo again and successfully decompressed the files. Things continued and I finally saw the FSScreen and was presented with a Dialog box: “There are essential components for better performance - install them now or later?”
To make things short: I choosed later and had a running FSim with 2 messages:

  • “Updates in Content manager available” - basically 14 GB updates to World-Updates from MS
  • “Essential updates available”

Doing nothing and restarting FSim resulted in “Essential Components missing” message from above and stop of restart
I removed the a320neo folder, start of FSim, download of a320neo and again message about “there are essential components for better performance” available. I choosed to install them, it went back to screen One “Searching for updates” and ended in the old message “Essential components missing”
I deleted a320neo, started again, downloaded a320 again, got the 2 choices and install now 14 GB of World-update updates first and will then try again to install the components from the FSim menu.
But my expectations are low.

I am slightly annoyed. What a complete mess!

----- continue 2 ------------
Not unexpected, there is no positive result:
After successfully updating 14.8 GB of World-Updates data, the second attempt to install the promised “Essential components” resulted in the old error message “Essential components missing.”

Should I know always remove a320neo and install it again with every start of FSim?
My mood is not better now. :frowning:

---- 6 hr later --------
My mood got better again. Following the guidance of ExperienceMSFS, I was able to get my installation working again: XBox app has a “Repair” function for the managed and downloaded applications.
It took 16.8 GB of redownload of FSim content (Sceneries, planes, etc) to get it running again. On top came an additional content update for 3 World-Updates with 1.8 GB)
I do not know, if the drop of the misconfigured a320neo was needed or if both executions (drop of botched a320neo installation folder and XBox “repair”) was needed, but it fixed the FSim installation for me.
All other measures had no effect (“repair” in Windows - settings - apps - FSim and the deletion of “wgs” folder) in my case.

However, FSim still looks like a house of cards to me and the means to find a root cause of a problem are very very limited.

Well, back to the Yoke…

1 Like
20

There is another repair function that I don’t think you have tried yet. Inside the XBox App, select My Library, select the MSFS that is shown as installed. In the top right of the resulting window select the … (more) option, select Manage, select Files, select Verify & Repair.

The XBox App repair and the Windows Apps repair might be doing the same thing, but the XBox App has produced a quick repair for me recently.

Good luck

2 Likes
21

Thanks, @ExperienceMSFS , for this tip!
Indeed it worked at the end with XBox-“Repair” and FSim is working again.
Thank you and have a good day, Sir!

1 Like
22

I tried everything this article mention but still got the same results. I, however, found what worked for me. I deleted everything in the OneStore folder and came out and back in again. It rebuild all the packages with around 135 Gigs of data and then came up like a champ.

If you are out of ideas go for it. I did put everything in that folder in a backup folder on my desktop in case I screwed things up, I recommend that you do the same just in case.

23

I think that error is a generic one. For one it doesn’t tell you what is actually wrong, and for another I don’t think the checker is very granular, and can only really replace a broken folder, rather than an individual file. Instead of a total delete, I would remove a few folders, and with now real knowledge of what, I would probably sort the folder by date, and remove all the folders with the latest dates, then relaunch the sim.

24

I think the easy way is to:

  1. Save your UserCfg.opt file. (or rename it to myUserCfg.opt)
    The location of your “Installed Packages” is on the last line of this file.

  2. Save any mods

  3. Delete the UserCfg.opt file.
    Run FS2020.
    This will make the FS2020 install run.
    It will download and run the 2 GB Launcher to your C: (or boot) drive.

  4. When the install screen displays,
    click the address box and tell it where your “Installed Packages” are.
    FS2020 will check and require you to download any folders/files that are corrupted or missing.

  5. Run FS2020 with the installed default UserCfg.opt.

  6. If okay, replace the default UserCfg.opt with your saved one.
    Replace your saved mods.

25

Guys, i really highly doubt that there is any need to do these things.

As one can read in other posts, this is often caused by broken cloud storage files. You dont have to install anything at all.

In the rare cse you can fix this by relogging in store + xbox app, you dont have to install anything.
This doesnt work always so one has to manually sign out inside the sim as well.
Then to make sure sign out and in in store as well as xbox app, restart pc and it should be back, including all your settings etc.

26

This is the second time I’ve encountered this same error. Each time it’s a result of me switching from NVIDIA Synch mode (combining all 3 of my 27" monitors into one Virtual ultra-wide config for Forza Horizon).

The first time I had to execute a complete re-install after trying both types of Repair Tools (Win 11 App Repair tool and the Repair tool included within the XBox App, mentioned above under My Library). I suspect that several of you have also changed your Video resolution or the number of monitors being reported to the MSFS2020 App.

Please tell me someone else has come across this same reason for the Runtime execution error Msg regarding “Missing Packages that are essential to run MSFS2020…” I really don’t want to have to blow away my complete installation and all the extra add-ons (well over 500GB AGAIN).

27

Update to my post, above:
The first error occurred immediately after I turned ON NVIVIA Surround PhysX mode. At that point, after trying all known Repair tools (and also deleting the “wgs” folder within AppData), I had to uninstall and Re-Install MSFS2020 Clean. And that Fixed the initial error.

However, I’m now experiencing the SAME Missing Essential Packages Error, after Turning OFF NVIDIA Surround PhysX engine, as that Stretches out the left and right screens in a triple screen Config.

I realize that MS will undoubtedly include a better multi-screen spanning config editor capability within the new MSFS 2024, that’s to come in the next few months. However, there MUST be a better way to switch between Spanned monitor setups and back without having the re-install MSFS2020 Every time.

Has anyone else solved this problem, consistently?