I saw an option to enter 2024 in safe mode once. Is there a way to force safe mode before starting up MSFS 2024? I don't need to right now, but might some day.

Only way I found was interrupting the startup.

On restart it assumes there was some problem and offers you that option, but there's probably an invocation parameter that can be set through the executable.

EDIT: asked copilot and...

Yes, there is a way to force Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS 2024) to start in Safe Mode. You can create an empty file called `running.lock` in the following directory before starting the simulator:

 

```

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\

```

 

This will prompt MSFS 2024 to start in Safe Mode.

Edited February 2, 20251 yr by jcomm

MSFS 2024
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by slicker55

That is good advice but how do you create it? Do you create a folder or just insert it and if just insert it, where?  You are not very clear in how to actually do it to use Lamin computer users

 

V/r

Confused

32 minutes ago, tdenbrock said:

That is good advice but how do you create it? Do you create a folder or just insert it and if just insert it, where?  You are not very clear in how to actually do it to use Lamin computer users

 

V/r

Confused

It's an AI-generated solution so I'd take it with a few pinches of salt.

That said, how do you create a dummy file called "running.lock"?  I would open a text editor, like Notepad that comes with Windows.  Save the file as running.lock (no extension) just as it says...and place it in

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

Some of these AI solutions are wild goose chases, but there's a chance that might work.   That one just sounds a little sketch...but who knows?  It's just a text file.  If it doesn't work, delete the file and you're no worse off.

What are the benefits of running in Safe Mode ?

4 hours ago, Beagle12 said:

What are the benefits of running in Safe Mode ?

Googlel came up with this

The primary advantage of running Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS 2024) in

Safe Mode is for troubleshooting and stability testing, as it launches the simulator in a "vanilla state" without any third-party add-ons or community mods loaded. This helps isolate the source of crashes (CTDs), freezes, or performance issues.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by pete_auau

Rather than guess, I created the "running.lock" file and indeed, it has prompted MSFS 2024 to run in safe mode.
It does not do this automatically, instead, it prompts the error message, from which you can choose what to do.

Interestingly, MSFS 2024 then deletes the "running.lock" file and the next time it is run
it starts in normal mode.
It appears that the AI was right.
However, I have not continued in Safe Mode, as I do not want to have to re-enable all my 
MSFS store addons, which are automatically disabled.

Of course, if your only suspects are in the Community folder, then simply renaming the
Community folder will test if any of them are causing whatever the problem is.

YMMV.

 

 

Edited January 15Jan 15 by Reader

All safe mode  seems to do is load msfs whilst ignoring the community folder - you can achieve the same thing by renaming your community folder.

And the big disadavantage that the next time you fire up the sim in normal mode after being safe mode you will manually have to reactivate all scenery, whether they sit on your local drive or whether they are streamed.

The only time I had to use this was back in the early days of 2024 when everything from the marketplace loaded up.  I had stuff that was incompatible and this was the only way to load the sim to turn it off.  There was simply no way to load the sim to fix the problem.  That was changed long ago and shouldn't happen again.  I keep this handy just in case, but I don't see why you'd need it now, unless a bad addon got into your marketplace.  And yes, you have to reactivate everything manually, so it is really a last resort kind of thing.