As per this Dev Blog, also handy to submit info to the Windows team through the feedback hub:

Demystifying Fullscreen Optimizations - DirectX Developer Blog (microsoft.com)

Troubleshooting 

 

If you find that you are having trouble with Full Screen Optimizations, such as performance regression or input lag, we have some steps that can be useful. This includes how to disable the feature for any specific game, but also how to provide us with feedback regarding your gaming experience.  

Below are the instructions on how to disable Fullscreen Optimizations for a game. 

1. Right Click on the Executable File (.exe) and Select Properties 
2. Select the Compatibility Tab 
3. Under Settings – Select “Disable Fullscreen Optimizations” 
4. Click Apply  

Our goal is to create the best possible gaming experience, so if you do find performance issues or other problems that are resolved by disabling Full Screen Optimizations, we want to know. Your feedback is extremely important to us and helps us constantly improve. Below are the instructions that you can follow to report any issues.  

1. Go to https://aka.ms/fullscreenoptimizationsfeedback which will open to the correct feedback hub for any Fullscreen Optimization related issues. 
2. In the first tab, Summarize the problem – you also have an optional Details section to provide further detail about your issue. Once completed, click next. 
3. On the second page, select Problem for the category.  
4. Under the drop-down menus – select Gaming and Xbox and then select Game Performance and Compatibility 
5. On the Additional Information tab, select Important Functionality Not Working 
6. Under Additional Information, you can attach screen grabs or replay captures that help show what you are experiencing. While this is optional – it provides us with much more detail on how we can fix the issue. 

40 minutes ago, DylanM said:

The Windows Store version is actually in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.21.13.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

But you need to take ownership of the WindowsApps directory first

That is the correct answer, but MS sure makes this difficult 🙂

And... if you have your sim installed on drive H, the WindowsApps directory is on the H drive.

Edited November 20, 20214 yr by Bert Pieke

1 hour ago, Bert Pieke said:

That is the correct answer, but MS sure makes this difficult 🙂

Interestingly, my file search apps found the two empty Flightsimulator.exe files, but not the "real" one.  🤔

Al

Edited November 20, 20214 yr by ark

24 minutes ago, ark said:

Interestingly, my file search apps found the two empty Flightsimulator.exe files, but the "real" one.  🤔

Al

Search for WindowsApps instead 😉

In my case the one in C drive Program Files has a link to my MSFS drive for Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.21.13.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Edited November 20, 20214 yr by Bert Pieke

20 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Search for WindowsApps instead 😉

Sorry -- I don't follow  what you mean.

I use the "Everything" and "UltraSearch" programs, and neither one found the real FlightSimulator.exe file.  But when I did find it, I was able to look at its properties, etc, so I assume it is not encrypted. So I don't understand how it "hid" from the search engines. The whole C drive was searched.

Al

Edited November 20, 20214 yr by ark

For Steam users:

I ran 4 checks just now on my slow computer in very dense scenery area where I get my worst fps.

dx 12 disable full screen optimization box checked...........26-19 fps

dx 12 disable full screen box unchecked..........................26-19 fps

dx 11 disable full screen box checked........................26-22 fps (and lots less variation in fps which is good thing)

dx 11 disable full screen box unchecked ..................26-22 fps  (and lots less variation in fps which is good thing)

All tests will fly without stutters, smooth on my low price machine....

dx 11 > dx 12

checking the box (disabling full screen optimization) or not checking the box (optimized) made no difference

MIcrosoft wants it optimized so the box is unchecked automatically with some Windows or MSFS updates. The talk going around for MSFS is to put a check in the box to turn off optimization, it won't hurt and might help a lot.

The way I do my check is go to a very dense low performance scenery runway in chase view and spin the view around fast. I use a hat to do it. Binding "EXTERNAL VIEW LOOK RIGHT" and "LEFT" to the hat. This is exactly and precisely the same as holding down right mouse button and dragging the mouse. Because the same plane is still on the same runway and scenery is spinning around fast you get the same test conditions every time you run it, no variables.

Hint: to stop the chase view from jumping back to RESET when you stop moving the mouse (or when I let go the hat button), change this setting: Options...General..Camera...Chase Camera... POV Reset...Manual instead of Auto. If set to Manual the chase view will stay where you put it and will not automatically jump back to the reset view.

 

 

Steam users can also very easy find Flightsimulator.exe in the steam app, right click on the game and chose browse files.

I tried this too and didn't notice any difference, with the box checked or unchecked.

Yeah I was hoping it would but it didn't. But maybe on better systems than mine it does help. Seems there's some that say it has helped, and apparetnly Asobo thinks it might in some cases help a lot.

12 hours ago, ark said:

Sorry -- I don't follow  what you mean.

I use the "Everything" and "UltraSearch" programs, and neither one found the real FlightSimulator.exe file.  But when I did find it, I was able to look at its properties, etc, so I assume it is not encrypted. So I don't understand how it "hid" from the search engines. The whole C drive was searched.

Al

What folder was this file hiding in? I also found only two empty FlightSimulator.exe  files.

15 hours ago, Noel said:

That's why you're DISABLING full screen optimizations, since those don't apply to your borderless window--that is, perhaps sending FS optimizations to your GPU when there is no full screen format to receive 'fs optimized' data creates a slow-down.

Yes exactly; I noticed there seemed to be a bit less strain on my GPU with it checked disabled - hence less tendency to stutters, such as there were.

That's good for me as I have an older GPU (GTX1080ti) which has been a bit of a bottleneck with my new CPU/Mobo.

I'd forgotten, so thanks to the OP 👍

I originally did this a few months ago but as I'm not habitual FPS watcher it was difficult to categorically state any benefit. My feeling was that it helped then and now.

Since people here are stopping for better performance tips, I am wondering if others are seeing stutters when weather is changing? I am wondering if my internet is causing stutters when loading in scenery and whether my settings(firewall, virus protection)is causing me problems. I have noticed since su7 that the little roller in the sim pops up like it is loading something and this causes stutters and sound cracking while it loads. Like the system is being bogged down. 

 

Thanks for your tips

Anthony

2 hours ago, Flying-Hare said:

What folder was this file hiding in? I also found only two empty FlightSimulator.exe  files.

With my standard MSFS store install the non-empty FlightSimulator.exe file is at

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.21.13.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe   and shows a file size of 348,695KB. Two interesting questions are:

1. Why isn't this file found by either of my two search engines even when run in administrator mode, and

2. What is the purpose of the two 0 byte Flightsimulator.exe files at other locations?

Al