Troubleshooting & FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use a Central Data Folder instead of putting files directly in X-Plane?

  1. Profile switching: Enables and disables large add-ons in seconds via symlinks without duplicating files.

  2. Safety during X-Plane updates: Prevents add-on files from being modified or removed during simulator updates or clean reinstalls.

  3. Storage flexibility: Allows storing add-ons on a secondary drive while keeping X-Plane on your system drive.

Troubleshooting

“Configure X-Plane Path” or Launch Button Disabled

  • Open Settings.

  • Make sure the X-Plane Location field points to the root X-Plane 12 directory containing X-Plane.app. A green indicator will confirm when detected.

Add-ons in Central Data Folder Not Showing in Lists

  • Verify that your subfolder names match the expected names:

    • Aircraft/

    • Plugins/

    • Scenery/

    • LuaScripts/

  • Ensure each add-on is placed in its own subfolder (for example, Aircraft/Zibo_737/, not loose .acf files directly in Aircraft/).

  • If storing on an external drive, ensure the drive is mounted with read/write permissions before launching the app.

Scenery Appears Out of Order or Hidden by Default Terrain

  • Go to the Scenery tab and drag custom airport entries towards the top of the list, above global meshes and orthophotos.

  • Ensure that scenery_packs.ini in <X-Plane 12>/Custom Scenery/ is writable.

Pre-Launch Scripts Not Running

  • Verify that the script has executable permissions (chmod +x /path/to/script.sh).

  • Confirm that the script begins with a valid shebang (e.g. #!/bin/bash or #!/usr/bin/env python3).

  • Check that all required environment variables are set in Settings > Script Environment or in the profile’s Profile Scripts tab.

Restoring Original CSL Lighting

  • Toggle Apply modern X-Plane 12 lighting off in Settings > X-CSL Models.

  • X-Plane Launcher retains .bak files of the original .obj models. You can also click Reinstall on any package in the CSL tab to redownload stock model files.

Diagnostic Logs

  • Updates & CSL Operations: Click the Console button in the Updates or CSL tabs to view real-time logs and error messages.

  • Simulator Log: Check <X-Plane 12>/Log.txt for general X-Plane startup and plugin diagnostic information.