Hello Pilots, in your opinion what is the best app to download MSFS from? 

I purchased through the MS Store at the time of release, but my first year of experience with updates was very much not good.  So if I were joining the MSFS craze today it would be Steam. Without question.

I got tired of getting pushed back and forth from MS Store to xBox and back.  Still Leary of it.

Steam is easiest. 

Thanks so much for your replies.......Steam it is!

Steam

Although I am using the MS Store version, from an Aerosoft DVD purchase of which I kept only DVD1, and my MS simming account, I have considered going Steam, but I wonder if I'll still be able to then login in the game with my MS account in order to be able to fetch my cloud-based settings and achievements ?

Do you know if a Steam install still allows for the MS account to be used ?

2 hours ago, jcomm said:

Although I am using the MS Store version, from an Aerosoft DVD purchase of which I kept only DVD1, and my MS simming account, I have considered going Steam, but I wonder if I'll still be able to then login in the game with my MS account in order to be able to fetch my cloud-based settings and achievements ?

Do you know if a Steam install still allows for the MS account to be used ?

The MS account is the same, I could login with the same account both in the MS Store version (with Game Pass) and Steam. Cloud settings (controls, graphics, etc.) are shared.

I had installed the MS Store version when SU6 beta came out and was not available on Steam, then I removed it 🙂

Instead, achievements and marketplace purchases are NOT shared, so by switching to Steam you would lose all the achievements and would not be able to use what you bought on the MP.

Edited August 5, 20223 yr by MrFuzzy

On 8/5/2022 at 5:13 AM, MrFuzzy said:

The MS account is the same, I could login with the same account both in the MS Store version (with Game Pass) and Steam. Cloud settings (controls, graphics, etc.) are shared.

I had installed the MS Store version when SU6 beta came out and was not available on Steam, then I removed it 🙂

Instead, achievements and marketplace purchases are NOT shared, so by switching to Steam you would lose all the achievements and would not be able to use what you bought on the MP.

Hi Fuzzy, I purchased MSFS 2020 from Steam, what I don't like about Steam is they install games on your main root drive (c: drive). MS gives you a choice of where you won't the game installed. I wonted to install MSFS on a new SSD drive I have dedicated for MSFS. I probably could move the game from Steam to my SSD but I'm not to computer savey.......It may not can be moved? I guess I'm stuck with it on Steam? Maybe I'm better off with MSFS on Steam so that I don't loose any achievements?

 

 

 

Edited August 11, 20223 yr by hychewright

6 minutes ago, hychewright said:

Hi Fuzzy, I purchased MSFS 2020 from Steam, what I don't like about Steam is they install games on your main root drive (c: drive). MS gives you a choice of where you won't the game installed. I wonted to install MSFS on a new SSD drive I have dedicated for MSFS. I probably could move the game from Steam to my SSD but I'm not to computer savey.......It may not can be moved? I guess I'm stuck with it on Steam?

 

 

 

Steam also lets u decide on which drive u want to install, check your Steam Settings👍

Edited August 11, 20223 yr by Beerz

7 minutes ago, Beerz said:

Steam also lets u decide on which drive u want to install, check your Steam Settings👍

I was also able to do that when I reinstalled my MS Store version. Not real intuitive how to do so if I recall, but it is available to do.  If I had my purchase to do over again I would go with Steam as well.  But it appears now that the frustrations with the Microsoft Store/xBox update routines have been remedied.

Edited August 11, 20223 yr by fppilot

Steam. 

6 hours ago, hychewright said:

Hi Fuzzy, I purchased MSFS 2020 from Steam, what I don't like about Steam is they install games on your main root drive (c: drive). MS gives you a choice of where you won't the game installed. I wonted to install MSFS on a new SSD drive I have dedicated for MSFS. I probably could move the game from Steam to my SSD but I'm not to computer savey.......It may not can be moved? I guess I'm stuck with it on Steam? Maybe I'm better off with MSFS on Steam so that I don't loose any achievements?

Google (installing and moving). Here's two cut n' paste:
"Navigate to your Steam client 'Settings' menu. Select 'Steam Library Folders' from the 'Downloads' tab. From here, you can view your default installation path, as well as creating a new path by selecting '+' button. Once you have created the new path, all future installations can be installed there."

----
"1) Exit the Steam client application.
2) Browse to the Steam installation folder for the Steam installation you would like to move (for you, it's probably D:\Program Files\Steam).
3) Delete all of the files and folders except the SteamApps folder and Steam.exe
4) Cut and paste the Steam.exe file to the new location, for example: C:\Program Files\Steam\ (leave the SteamApps folder in D:\Program Files\Steam).
5) Launch Steam and log into your account.*
6) In the upper left corner of the Steam client, click "Steam" > "Settings" > "Downloads" tab > "Steam Library Folders" button.
7) Add "D:\Program Files\Steam" as a library. Remove the default C:\ library.

*You may have to change the target of any previous shortcuts used to launch Steam.

For installed games, verify your game cache files and you will be ready to play."

11 hours ago, hychewright said:

Hi Fuzzy, I purchased MSFS 2020 from Steam, what I don't like about Steam is they install games on your main root drive (c: drive).

In addition to what other users replied, there is also Steam Mover which allows you to move it after the installation.

11 hours ago, hychewright said:

what I don't like about Steam is they install games on your main root drive (c: drive).

"Steam" can be installed anywhere on your PC.
You don't need to be "computer savvy", you just need to follow the installation steps and make the right choices. 
Another very good feature is that as long as you didn't choose the C drive, even if you have completely reinstalled your operating system, to "reinstall" Steam and all of your games, all you need to do is run Steam.exe from wherever you put it and enter your user email and password. Steam does the rest.

50 minutes ago, MrFuzzy said:

In addition to what other users replied, there is also Steam Mover which allows you to move it after the installation.

This is a utility from 2010. Letting you move your installed Steam games has been a feature of Steam for several years now.