Learn how to free up disk space in X-Plane 11 by safely removing unused scenery, orthophotos, aircraft, caches and duplicate files.
To free up disk space in X-Plane 11, remove unused Custom Scenery—especially orthophoto and mesh packages—then remove unwanted global scenery regions through the X-Plane installer or Steam. Delete unused aircraft, liveries, screenshots, replays and shader cache files, and check for duplicate Ortho4XP data outside the main X-Plane folder.
Find the folders consuming the most space
Custom Scenery and Global Scenery are usually the first places to check, but Ortho4XP source data outside the simulator can consume just as much space. Use your operating system’s storage view or folder properties to compare actual folder sizes rather than guessing from package names.
| Location | What it contains | Likely saving |
|---|---|---|
Custom Scenery | Orthophotos, mesh, airports and scenery libraries | Often the largest opportunity |
Global Scenery | Default terrain for installed geographical regions | Large if the whole world is installed |
Aircraft | Stock and third-party aircraft, including liveries | Moderate to large |
Output | Replays, screenshots, reports and shader cache data | Usually modest, but easy to clean |
| Ortho4XP and imagery folders | Source photographs, completed tiles and build data | Potentially very large |
| Downloads and backup folders | ZIP archives and duplicate add-on installers | Varies considerably |
How do I clean X-Plane 11 without breaking it?
The safest method is to remove complete third-party packages one at a time, test X-Plane, and leave stock files alone.
- Close X-Plane 11. Do not remove scenery or cache files while the simulator or an add-on updater is running. Back up any preferences, flight plans and configuration files you cannot easily recreate.
- Confirm the active installation. Steam can open the installed-files location from its library interface. For a standalone copy, check the target used by your shortcut; many simmers discover an older X-Plane installation occupying a second drive or folder.
- Remove unwanted Custom Scenery packages. Delete the package’s complete folder rather than individual textures or terrain files. Shared scenery libraries should remain until no installed airport requires them. Remove the package’s entry from
scenery_packs.iniif it remains, but do not delete the entire file unless you are prepared to rebuild its ordering. Our explanation of removing mesh packages without upsetting scenery priority covers the ordering problem in more detail. - Check Ortho4XP for duplicate data. A finished
zOrtho4XP_tile may be stored under Ortho4XP’s tile directory and copied again intoCustom Scenery. First establish whether the scenery entry is a real copy or a symbolic link: deleting the target of a link also removes the working scenery. Cached source imagery can be discarded if you do not plan to rebuild those tiles, although Ortho4XP will need to download it again later. See our advice on identifying incomplete tiles and selectively clearing Ortho4XP downloads. - Inspect external imagery caches. Some add-ons store data outside the X-Plane folder, so deleting the plugin itself may recover almost nothing. If installed, use our instructions for finding and clearing the X-Plane Map Enhancement cache rather than searching blindly through system folders.
- Remove unwanted global scenery properly. With a standalone installation, run the X-Plane 11 installer and choose its option to add or remove scenery, then deselect geographical tiles you no longer need. For Steam, manage the installed global-scenery region packages through Steam’s DLC controls. Manually deleting stock terrain can trigger missing-scenery problems or cause the files to be downloaded again. If that happens, follow our guide to restoring only the required X-Plane global scenery.
- Remove unused aircraft and disposable output. Delete complete third-party aircraft folders and unwanted liveries, but preserve stock aircraft under folders such as
Aircraft/Laminar Research. Clear old replays, screenshots, crash reports and the shader cache, then empty the operating system’s Recycle Bin or Trash.
After each scenery change, load an airport in the affected area and inspect Log.txt. Messages about a missing library, object or terrain definition usually mean another installed package depended on something you removed.
Which X-Plane 11 files are safe to delete?
Third-party add-ons and expendable files under Output are generally safe to delete, while stock resources and personal settings need more care.
| Item | Safe to remove? | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Unused third-party aircraft or liveries | Yes | Remove the complete aircraft or livery folder |
| Unused custom airports, orthophotos or mesh | Yes | Check dependencies and scenery_packs.ini |
Output/shadercache | Yes | X-Plane rebuilds it; the next load may take longer |
| Old replays, screenshots and crash reports | Yes | Keep anything needed for troubleshooting or records |
| Downloaded ZIP archives | Yes | Keep an offline backup elsewhere if the add-on cannot be redownloaded |
Output/preferences | Not for routine cleaning | Deleting it can reset graphics, controls and other settings |
Stock Resources files | No | Remove only a clearly identified third-party plugin folder |
| Stock global scenery folders | Not manually | Use the installer or Steam’s region controls |
Deleting Log.txt is harmless because X-Plane recreates it, but the file is small and removing it provides no meaningful storage saving.
Can I move X-Plane 11 scenery to another drive?
Yes, large scenery packages can be moved to another drive and connected back to Custom Scenery with an operating-system junction or symbolic link.
- Close X-Plane and move the complete scenery package to a folder on the destination drive.
- Create a junction or symbolic link under
Custom Sceneryusing the package’s original folder name. - Launch X-Plane and test the area. Confirm that no missing-file errors appear in
Log.txtbefore removing any backup copy.
The destination drive must be mounted and retain the same path whenever X-Plane starts. For an entire Steam installation, use Steam’s built-in storage move function rather than dragging the folder manually. A standalone X-Plane folder is more portable, but shortcuts and add-on managers may need to be pointed at its new location.
Why did deleting X-Plane files not free any space?
The usual causes are an unemptied Recycle Bin, deletion of a link instead of its target, or another copy of the same scenery elsewhere.
- Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. Files moved there still occupy the original volume.
- Inspect symbolic-link targets. Removing a tiny link from
Custom Scenerydoes not delete the large package stored on another drive. - Search outside X-Plane. Ortho4XP source imagery, add-on caches and downloaded archives may be larger than the installed package.
- Check for multiple installations. A demo, backup or older Steam library can leave a complete second copy behind.
- Avoid manually deleting platform-managed files. Steam verification or the X-Plane installer may restore stock content that is still selected for installation.