Check your installed X-Plane version and exact build using the start screen or Log.txt, with fixes for Steam and multiple-copy confusion.
To check which version of X-Plane is installed, open the simulator’s installation folder and view Log.txt in a text editor. The first few lines identify the X-Plane release and exact build. The main/start screen can also show the version, but Log.txt is the most reliable check.
The quickest ways to identify your X-Plane version
The Log.txt file provides the most precise answer, particularly when you have several X-Plane installations.
| Method | What it tells you | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
Log.txt | Exact release and build | You must open the file from the correct installation |
| Main/start screen | Usually the installed release | Position and detail vary between major versions |
| Application or folder name | Often X-Plane 11 or X-Plane 12 | Does not identify maintenance updates and folders can be renamed |
How do I check the exact X-Plane version in Log.txt?
The complete installed version is recorded near the beginning of Log.txt each time X-Plane starts.
- Run the copy you want to check. Start X-Plane, let it reach the main screen if possible, and then close it. This refreshes the relevant log.
- Find that installation’s root folder. It is the folder containing the X-Plane application or executable alongside folders such as
AircraftandCustom Scenery. A standalone installation can be placed wherever you selected during setup; Steam users can use Steam’s browse-local-files command. Our PC and Mac installation walkthrough explains the usual layouts. - Open
Log.txt. Use any plain-text editor. On systems that hide file extensions, it may appear simply asLogwith a text-document icon. - Read the opening lines. Look for the line naming X-Plane followed by its release and build information. Copy the complete version string when diagnosing a problem.
- Check the modified time. It should match the launch you just performed. An older timestamp usually means you opened a log from another installation.
If X-Plane crashes before reaching its menu, the log from that attempted start will often still contain the version. No Log.txt usually means that particular copy has not started yet or cannot write to its folder.
How can I tell whether I have X-Plane 11 or 12?
The major number at the beginning of the version string identifies X-Plane 11 or X-Plane 12.
The application name, installation folder and start screen normally provide the same clue, but Log.txt is better evidence because folders and shortcuts can be renamed. If you are identifying an unfamiliar installation, our summary of the practical differences between X-Plane 11 and 12 can confirm which generation you are using.
Why do Steam, a shortcut and Log.txt seem to disagree?
Conflicting version information almost always means the shortcut, updater and log belong to different X-Plane copies.
- Multiple standalone copies: X-Plane can exist in more than one folder, so an old shortcut may launch an older installation.
- Steam identifiers: A Steam build identifier is not the same as X-Plane’s own release number. Open Steam’s local installation folder and inspect its
Log.txt. - Stale logs: A copied or abandoned X-Plane folder may contain a log from its last launch, not from the session you just ran.
- Wrong updater target: A standalone updater may scan a different folder from the one your desktop shortcut opens.
A mistake we see constantly is checking the first Log.txt found by system search. Launch the intended copy, close it, and use the newly modified log in that same folder.
Which part of the version number should I report?
Report the complete X-Plane release and build string rather than only saying “X-Plane 12”.
- The first number identifies the major X-Plane generation.
- The following numbers identify maintenance or feature updates within that generation.
- A suffix may identify a beta, release candidate or release revision; its formatting can vary between releases.
This detail matters because an aircraft, scenery package or plugin may support the major release but require a later update within it. Before adding files, check the developer’s stated requirements and follow an X-Plane add-on installation and compatibility guide rather than assuming every X-Plane 11 or 12 package is interchangeable.
Does the version number show whether X-Plane is up to date?
The version number identifies what is installed, but it does not by itself prove that it is the newest stable or development build.
Steam manages its copy through Steam, while standalone installations use the X-Plane installer/updater. Beta participation can also produce a different version from the normal stable channel. Follow the steps for updating X-Plane 12 safely, making sure the tool is pointed at the same folder whose Log.txt you checked.