I have just started up MSFS and it seems there could have been an automatic update which I was not prompted for.

The startup forced me through all 'assists' settings etc and then I find I have also lost my camera setups/positions I had created for some of the aircraft.

Is it 'normal' for this to happen? VERY annoying!

If so how can I backup all those settings especially cockpit camera positions?

if you bought MSFS through Xbox its probably an Xbox server issue , update your system and your MS store library first reboot and try again. Also are you starting MSFS with a desktop short cut or within the xbox app. If you bought MSFS through steam i cant help never used it 😐

10 minutes ago, Jarnie said:

I have just started up MSFS and it seems there could have been an automatic update which I was not prompted for.

The startup forced me through all 'assists' settings etc and then I find I have also lost my camera setups/positions I had created for some of the aircraft.

Is it 'normal' for this to happen? VERY annoying!

If so how can I backup all those settings especially cockpit camera positions?

Unfortunately, for some, yes.  I have had my settings wiped at least three times that I can remember, and on one occasion my logbook was completely wiped.  That is why I don't take the sim too seriously any more.
The question was asked if something could be done about this in a recent developer Q&A (Twitch).  We got the usual ambiguous answer from Asobo that probably means no.

Thanks for your quick reply.

I purchased MSFS online not through steam.  I start MSFS from a desktop shortcut.

Not sure what you mean in your instructions.  Need to restart my PC then what?

Edited May 7, 20242 yr by Jarnie
typo

Thanks Bob(cat).  I also now have to set up my keystrokes to save and open each of the 10 camera views.  Wished they would keep their 'sticky fingers' out of it.

 

Is there a way to backup certain files etc the aircraft.cfg (I think that's the one) and then simply copy them copy back/restore   that is if the files protections' don't prevent you from doing that?

 

Edited May 7, 20242 yr by Jarnie
big change

9 minutes ago, Jarnie said:

Is there a way to backup certain files etc the aircraft.cfg (I think that's the one) and then simply copy them copy back/restore   that is if the files protections' don't prevent you from doing that?

The Aircraft save states, controller settings etc. are stored under the %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\SystemAppData\wgs folder, so you can make a copy of that.

The next time you get the "assist" menu, or another indication that things might be wrong the best course of action is to quit MSFS before going further.
This might prevent MSFS from resetting stuff.

After that, go to the Xbox app on your PC and log out of your account, then do the same for the Windows Store app for good measure.
Reboot, and log into the Store and Xbox app again and hopefully things are fine.

34 minutes ago, bobcat999 said:

Unfortunately, for some, yes.  I have had my settings wiped at least three times that I can remember, and on one occasion my logbook was completely wiped.  That is why I don't take the sim too seriously any more.
The question was asked if something could be done about this in a recent developer Q&A (Twitch).  We got the usual ambiguous answer from Asobo that probably means no.

The issue is not with Asobo I think but the way Microsoft wants to store the userprofile in the cloud. If only Xbox kept previous versions of the profile and we could choose which profile to load from the user account menu in MSFS it would be less of a horror like the mess it is now.
A seperate "manage profile" app where you can backup your profiles manually and choose which to use or sync with the Xbox cloud might even be a better option.

A few users have reported that this happens sometimes and it's happened to me on a few ocassions.  I've found that a reboot usually solves it, though it has happened often enough that I pretty much know all my settings off by heart and can reset them all in a couple of minutes now.

Some say that logging out of the Xbox app can sometimes resolve.

43 minutes ago, orchestra_nl said:

The issue is not with Asobo I think but the way Microsoft wants to store the userprofile in the cloud. If only Xbox kept previous versions of the profile and we could choose which profile to load from the user account menu in MSFS it would be less of a horror like the mess it is now.
A seperate "manage profile" app where you can backup your profiles manually and choose which to use or sync with the Xbox cloud might even be a better option.

This is true.  In the twitch session, Asobo seemed to point the finger at the servers, which is run by Microsoft, but Asobo have been handed the franchise, and they have the task of improving the game, so why aren't they concerned about this? 
Your idea would be a good one to implement for example.

The issue goes back years. I remember someone asked Martial about it on a Twitch session about two years ago if it would be possible to get back lost log books, and he just grinned at the camera and said 'No' - that was it. 
A poor response at the time, like he didn't care, and I am beginning to think he doesn't actually.  If he wasn't one of the founders of the company, I don't think he would be there now. 
I am waiting to get a straight answer about anything out of him one day, but I won't hold my breath.

But anyway, the thing is, whether it is MS or Asobo, someone needs to take ownership of some of these issues, and it is one of the problems of having partnerships like this.
I get the feeling Asobo won't do anything unless directly told to do so by Jorg / MS.

On 5/7/2024 at 2:55 AM, Jarnie said:

Thanks for your quick reply.

I purchased MSFS online not through steam.  I start MSFS from a desktop shortcut.

Not sure what you mean in your instructions.  Need to restart my PC then what?

John, FWIW I've been using MSFS since it launched and had Assistance settings wiped once, and nothing else.  I've also reinstalled MSFS twice.  When I installed into a new Win `` build last month I had to reconfigure the simple Ctrl-Alt # for each of my 4 planes, but not a big deal.