Can I run Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Official Microsoft Flight Simulator system requirements, player reports on Microsoft Flight Simulator performance, and a check against your GPU and CPU.
Official system requirements
Published on the Steam store page by the developer. This is that text, not a benchmark.
Minimum
- OS
- Windows 10
- Processor
- Intel i5-4460 | AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- Memory
- 8 GB RAM
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GTX 770 | AMD Radeon RX 570
- DirectX
- Version 11
- Storage
- 150 GB available space
- Notes
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system VR Support: SteamVR, Oculus PC, or OpenXR. Keyboard and mouse required
Recommended
- OS
- Windows 10
- Processor
- Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
- Memory
- 16 GB RAM
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GTX 970 | AMD Radeon RX 590
- DirectX
- Version 11
- Storage
- 150 GB available space
- Notes
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
What players say about performance
The game has performance issues that vary depending on hardware, with some players experiencing low FPS and lag, while others manage smooth gameplay on high-end systems. It tends to struggle on less powerful hardware, especially in dense cities or with high graphics settings.
Drawn from 24 reviews that mention performance.
Common problems
- Performance drops in dense cities and high settings
- Long download and update times affecting play
- Game struggles with lower-end hardware
- Autopilot, ATC, and flight model issues reported
What runs it well
- High-end systems with powerful GPUs (e.g., RTX 3080, RTX 3090)
- Set to lower graphics settings for smoother performance
- Optimized for high-end CPUs with large cache (e.g., Ryzen 5800X3D)
- Playing in offline mode or with moderate settings
Check your PC
Pick a GPU and a CPU. The result compares their class with the parts named in the official requirements. It is not an FPS estimate.