Why do my settings keep reverting to 'windowed'?

[Jarnie 25]

After using 'windowed' (screen) setting for some time I decided to change it back to 'full screen'.

I also set 'screen resolution' to the native for my monitor ie  2560 x 1440.

I make the changes, select 'keep' and then click on apply and save.

When I restart MSFS I find the setting has reverted to 'windowed'.

What can be causing this and how do I make the change 'stick'?

Thanks

[Fielder 3,844]

There's two ways to switch between windowed and full screen. The changes are not the same. One way is the setting menu. The other way is using Alt Enter. Watch in the UserCfg.opt file right up on near the top line which of these 2 ways will hold and not be changed when MSFS closes. I forget the solution, but that is where I solved this same issue.

Edited May 18 by Fielder

[Jarnie 25]

Thanks for the super fast reply and info.

I have now tried pressing alt + enter which changes the screen resolution to full screen but is there a way to make that 'stick' as when I close MSFS and restart, the resolution has reverted to windowed?

I am losing confidence in MSFS as there is a setting to change it which doesn't seem to work the way I expected it to.

Where is the UserCFG.opt file?

Edited May 18 by Jarnie

[Mace 1,972]

1 minute ago, Jarnie said:

Thanks for the super fast reply and info.

I have now tried pressing alt + enter which changes the screen resolution to full screen but is there a way to make that 'stick' as when I close MSFS and restart, the resolution has reverted to windowed?

I am losing confidence in MSFS as there is a setting to change it which doesn't seem to work the way I expected it to.

Where is the UserCFG.opt file?

There's also a bug in the current version of MSFS that makes it windowed mode upon startup.  This is fixed with SU15 which is -- I hear secondhand so don't hold me to it -- going to be released on May 23.

usercfg.opt location depends on Store or Steam version I believe.

[Jarnie 25]

Thanks.  I just did an internet search and got a few 'hits' about the same thing. Very poor testing before releasing a new version of something so fundamental.

I was in the IT industry for a long time (programmer/analyst) and cannot remember ever releasing software which had such 'bugs'.

 

I will search for usercfg.opt where my 'store' version is installed.

Aha there is it at  

WpSystem\S-1-5-21-3005884429-703102537-2135364465-1001\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18 by Jarnie
add last sentence

[Mace 1,972]

1 minute ago, Jarnie said:

Thanks.  I just did an internet search and got a few 'hits' about the same thing. Very poor testing before releasing a new version of something so fundamental.

I was in the IT industry for a long time (programmer/analyst) and cannot remember ever releasing software which had such 'bugs'.

 

I will search for usercfg.opt where my 'store' version is installed.

 

 

It is in:

C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\UserCfg.opt

Regarding the windowed bug....yes...sometimes I wonder about Asobo, but then they also do wonderful things.  And it's a bug that is going to be fixed for everyone next week, and right now I can just ALT-ENTER to fix it.

[Jarnie 25]

Thanks yes I just found it in

WpSystem\S-1-5-21-3005884429-703102537-2135364465-1001\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache

 

BUT is it safe to modify it (after making a copy first) and if I change it (Windowed 0     I guess)   will the change 'stick'.

[Fielder 3,844]

Yes, make a copy. If you change settings in the game then it should show the change in that file after you next quit MSFS. That would help give you a clue how to make fullscreen or windowed stick.

[Mace 1,972]

35 minutes ago, Jarnie said:

Thanks yes I just found it in

WpSystem\S-1-5-21-3005884429-703102537-2135364465-1001\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache

 

BUT is it safe to modify it (after making a copy first) and if I change it (Windowed 0     I guess)   will the change 'stick'.

I don't know if it'll stick, Fielder knows more about it than I do.  It is safe to edit it as I have done that many times, I use an app called Notepad++ to do that.  But it's a good idea to make a backup yes.

Good afternoon to you, I just realized it's 2 pm in Australia, it is TIME FOR BED here in the USA, I am really tired after working all day.

[Greazer 1,379]

Waiting since February for the fix to Dune screen in windowed mode always when launching FS!  If any other issues are found SU15 could drag into June.

Meanwhile, 7 months after the official release of AMD FSR 3, and the Developers have clearly decided this update is Not coming to FS2020 engine. At least not anytime this year or before the next update sometime in 2025. The other Sims out there are getting or already have FSR 3 but no, not FS2020. Is this acceptable? No.

[Jarnie 25]

Thanks everyone.  I think perhaps I will just put up with it and use ALT + Enter when required until Asobo gets their act together as they say.

[RaptyrOne 1,463]

I believe that everyone not on the beta is dealing with this bug.

[cianpars 1,232]

We all have this bug but it really isn't a show stopper or big deal at all.  It has been fixed in the SU15 beta which should be available to everyone in 5 days time 🤞 so probably not worth worrying about.

A lot of newcomers seem to expect flight simulators to be perfect out of the box, but in reality they are developing, have been developing for years and will continue to develop for years into the future (hopefully).  No flight simulator is, or will ever be perfect - even the real world is nowhere near perfect 😀.

[jcomm 6,096]

5 hours ago, Mace said:

There's also a bug in the current version of MSFS that makes it windowed mode upon startup.  This is fixed with SU15 which is -- I hear secondhand so don't hold me to it -- going to be released on May 23.

usercfg.opt location depends on Store or Steam version I believe.

It's indeed solved in SU15, although I personally prefer any sim to start in windowed mode and then use Alt-Enter 🙂  To each their own 🤣

Edited May 18 by jcomm

[RaptyrOne 1,463]

54 minutes ago, jcomm said:

I personally prefer any sim to start in windowed mode and hen use Alt-Enter

Yeah, me too…. How else can I start AIG traffic after loading into a flight other than going back to windowed mode?