For the last few weeks I've had a problem getting FS2020 to shut down completely. As a result when I try to start it up again the next time I get the Sim is Already Running message that won't go away. 
If I shut the sim down using the Quit to Desktop option, I get the Are you sure you want to exit Flight Simulator screen. I click on Yes and the window appears to close, but it has just "retreated" to the task bar. At that point there is noting I have found that works expect to force the sim to close using the Task Manager.

Appreciate any thoughts on what might be causing this, or possible fixes.

Thanks,

Al

Can you use a shortcut and Alt-F4 out?

Have you tried copying you community folder contents to a back-up directory and launching with no add-ons?

If you Ctrl-Alt-Del do you see any "child" processes" tied to FS still running?

Edited April 19, 20251 yr by psolk

Same issue here

I have this exact same issue.

 

yeap me too, it's all over the place.

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/msfs-2020-will-not-shut-down-fully/717408/30

1 hour ago, psolk said:

Can you use a shortcut and Alt-F4 out?

Have you tried copying you community folder contents to a back-up directory and launching with no add-ons?

If you Ctrl-Alt-Del do you see any "child" processes" tied to FS still running?

Thanks for the suggestions, but unfortunately the problem still persists.

Al

5 minutes ago, SN737 said:

yeap me too, it's all over the place.

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/msfs-2020-will-not-shut-down-fully/717408/30

Ah, didn't realize that. I guess as they say "misery loves company"!

Thanks for the heads up.

Al

A couple of things you can do.

I also had that annoying problem lately.

1. open task manager and kill flightsimulator.exe

2. if you have been using nviddia app and deleted it, it broke something in msfs2020. So you can re-install nvidia app. You dont have to use any of its functionalities. Somehow msfs will close cleanly.

Everything works fine now. I do not use the nvidia app anyway, I use geforce experience instead.

note: if that does not work, use a kill switch with a bat file like this:

taskkill /f /im FlightSimulator.exe

Cheers,

Pierre

Do any of you also have the TDS GTNXi? I've noticed that when 2020 doesn't shut down, killing the gtn_simulator.exe then allows MSFS to close itself.

38 minutes ago, ppo said:

1. open task manager and kill flightsimulator.exe

2. if you have been using nviddia app and deleted it, it broke something in msfs2020. So you can re-install nvidia app. You dont have to use any of its functionalities. Somehow msfs will close cleanly.

Never had the Nvidia app, but thankfully using the Task Manager to kill the sim does workl

Thanks,

Al

 

19 minutes ago, gunther said:

Do any of you also have the TDS GTNXi? I've noticed that when 2020 doesn't shut down, killing the gtn_simulator.exe then allows MSFS to close itself.

That doesn't work for me, but it's interesting that it works for some. I would never have thought of that.

Thanks,

Al

I wonder if there are any other add-on EXE files that are started by the SIM (via exe.xml) but aren't shut down by the sim. I only have the GTNXi, but there are others out there, maybe Navigraph?

I just gave FS2024 (not the beta) a try and fortunately it seems to shut down as it should -- that's the good news. The bad news is that all of a sudden it wants me to go through the complete setup procedure again as if that was the first time I had started it!  I just shut it down, maybe by magic it will have recovered by tomorrow!  🤔

Al

Same issue here.

Installing the new NVIDIA driver fixed the issue for me. However, I'm still not satisfied with the app and continue to experience intermittent CTD problems. If I avoid using the app, everything works well. Something feels off with NVIDIA lately, which is very frustrating.