Download and Installation

Software download#

Recommended sources:

• Download from QQ group 738411212 files.
• Download from Baidu Pan.
• If GitHub is accessible, download from GitHub Releases.

SimHeaven is an optional addition for buildings, roads, and vegetation. It does not replace XPME’s imagery base package. After installation, check libraries and load order using the SimHeaven and overlays guide.

Windows#

64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 are supported. Download and run the Windows installer; it installs WinFSP automatically.

The base package and X-Plane must be on NTFS volumes for WinFSP mounting. Restart the computer after installing WinFSP. If automatic installation fails, or another version was installed previously, uninstall the old version and reinstall the current one.

If the following dialog appears, WinFSP is already installed; select Cancel.

Install Base Package#

Check the version and directory first#

The application version and base-package version are separate; their numbers do not need to match. For X-Plane 12, use a target version currently offered by the downloader. X-Plane 11 base packages are limited to 3.1.0; later base-package versions are not compatible with X-Plane 11.

Configure a dedicated base-package directory, such as D:\xplane-scenery. Keep it outside both the X-Plane and XPME application installation directories and separate from the image cache. On Windows, use an NTFS volume and a path without Chinese characters. Allow space for both downloaded files and extracted data.

Automatic installation#

1. Open the base-package downloader, check the target version, and select only the regions you need. You do not need every region worldwide.
2. Choose Install/Update Selected and keep the application open until downloading, verification, and installation have all finished. A download reaching 100% does not mean installation is complete.
3. Confirm the installed version for each selected region and enable the regions you want to use, then follow Usage and Configuration to start the service and simulator.

See the feature guide for the current interface and the difference between regional packages and X-Plane Original Base Package Enhancement.

Manual installation#

When the standard download is slow, open Offline package download in the downloader. The Chinese interface offers 百度网盘下载 (Baidu Pan Download).

1. Check the base-package version on the download page or in the share and select the same target version in the application. The alternative link may open the latest release, not an older version you selected manually.
2. Download all files for the regions you need. Preserve the listed file names and folder structure; do not mix files from different regions or versions.
3. Place the files in your configured base-package directory. For example, XPME_Europe/+50+000.zip on the offline download page belongs at D:\xplane-scenery\XPME_Europe\+50+000.zip. If a download script creates a downloads folder, copy the region folders inside it, without adding an extra downloads level under your base-package directory.
4. Leave the downloaded files intact; do not extract them manually. In the application, select the matching regions and choose Install/Update Selected. The application checks existing files, verifies them, and completes installation. Missing, damaged, or version-mismatched files may need to be downloaded again.

An offline package is an alternative download method, not a fully offline operating mode for XPME; map imagery is still loaded on demand.

Important:

• Do not place the files in the X-Plane installation directory.
• Do not place them in a system directory such as C:\Program Files (x86).
• Use one dedicated base-package root without unrelated files; preserve the required region subfolders inside it.
• Do not use an HDD or external drive; slow reads can cause stuttering.
• Follow the current download page’s file list; do not rename files to match an old screenshot.
• If Ortho4XP scenery takes priority over XPME in the same area, back up the load-order file and temporarily disable only the conflicting entry. Do not delete scenery folders; follow the reversible scenery test in the FAQ.

Confirm installation is complete#

Check each region’s installation result and version in the downloader, not just its enabled switch or whether ZIP files remain.

If the region directory really contains only .aria2 files and no installed data, check the installation result and logs even if the switch says enabled. Start with the download troubleshooting FAQ. If the problem persists, provide the region, application and base-package versions, failed stage, full error, and download logs rather than deleting every base package first.

macOS#

Install Fuse-T through Homebrew or download it from https://github.com/macos-fuse-t/fuse-t/releases:

brew install macos-fuse-t/homebrew-cask/fuse-t
brew install sqlite libssh2 gettext

Install the .NET and ASP.NET runtimes from https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/thank-you/sdk-10.0.107-macos-arm64-installer, or run:

brew install --cask dotnet-sdk

Drag XPlane Map Enhancement from the dmg file to the Applications folder to complete installation.

Linux#

Linux users need FUSE3, aria2, the .NET 10.0 runtime, and the ASP.NET runtime. For Debian-based systems:

sudo apt install libfuse3-dev aria2 dotnet-runtime-10.0 aspnetcore-runtime-10.0

Setup antivirus software#

Keep antivirus protection enabled during normal installation and use. If installation is blocked or scenery loading is unusually slow:

1. Confirm that the installer and base packages came from official download links. Check protection history for the exact detection or blocked file before changing settings.
2. For a detection or quarantined file, ask the author or antivirus vendor to review it. Do not assume that every warning is a false positive or restore a blocked file solely to make the app start.
3. Only if scanning has been confirmed as the performance issue and you trust the files, consider a narrowly scoped exception for the dedicated XPME base-package or image-cache directory, following your antivirus vendor’s instructions.
4. Note any temporary exception and remove it after the test if it does not help or is no longer needed. Review existing exceptions too, including ones added by an installer; do not assume they are still required.

Users of security or VPN software such as Kaspersky and NordVPN have reported installation or scenery-loading problems. If you use these products and encounter these symptoms, check their blocking records, file-scanning settings, or network protection settings and follow the troubleshooting steps above.

If the problem persists, keep antivirus protection enabled and contact support with the name of your security or VPN software, the full error message, any relevant blocking records, and loading logs.