How do I install and use AutoOrtho in X-Plane 12?
To install AutoOrtho in X-Plane 12, install its desktop application and required filesystem driver, point it to the X-Plane 12 folder, download a regional scenery package, then start its virtual scenery mount before launching X-Plane. Keep AutoOrtho running during the flight and place its overlay above its streamed terrain in scenery_packs.ini.
How does AutoOrtho work in X-Plane 12?
AutoOrtho is an external application that presents streamed and cached aerial imagery to X-Plane as virtual scenery. It is not an aircraft plug-in and should not be installed in Resources/plugins.
The regional packages provide the scenery structure and coverage, while much of the imagery is fetched as required during a flight. This reduces the initial download compared with conventional orthophotos, but it requires a reliable internet connection, a writable cache and a working filesystem mount. Our explanation of how satellite imagery differs from ordinary X-Plane scenery provides more background on what photographic terrain does and does not replace.
How do I install AutoOrtho in X-Plane 12?
Install the application outside the X-Plane directory, then let AutoOrtho create and manage its own scenery mount inside Custom Scenery.
- Close X-Plane and back up the load order. Copy
X-Plane 12/Custom Scenery/scenery_packs.inisomewhere safe before changing the installation. - Confirm that your operating system is supported. The established AutoOrtho workflow is for Windows and Linux. Use a packaged build for your platform rather than a source-code archive unless you specifically intend to maintain its software dependencies yourself.
- Install the filesystem support. Windows builds normally rely on WinFsp, while Linux installations require FUSE support and permission for the user account to create mounts. Reboot if the driver installer requests it.
- Choose writable application and cache locations. Keep the AutoOrtho program outside
Custom Scenery. Put its cache on a fast drive with ample free space because it grows as new tiles are downloaded. - Set the X-Plane path. In AutoOrtho's configuration, select the main
X-Plane 12directory—the one containing the X-Plane executable,Aircraft,Custom SceneryandResources. Do not selectCustom Sceneryitself unless the particular field explicitly asks for it. - Install one regional package first. Select a region covering an airport you know and let the download and extraction finish. Testing one region makes path, driver and load-order faults easier to identify before committing more storage.
- Start the scenery mount. Use AutoOrtho's start or mount control and wait until it reports that the filesystem is mounted. Only then launch X-Plane 12.
A mistake we see constantly is an add-on being left one directory too deep after extraction. Although AutoOrtho should manage its own folders, our guide to X-Plane's add-on folder structure and nesting mistakes helps when its scenery entries are not detected.
Where should AutoOrtho go in scenery_packs.ini?
AutoOrtho's object overlay must be above its streamed base terrain, while airports should normally remain above both.
| Priority | Scenery type | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Custom airports and Global Airports | Runways, terminals and airport-specific objects must not be hidden by terrain scenery. |
| Middle | AutoOrtho overlay | Provides roads, buildings and other overlay data above the photographic ground. |
| Lower | AutoOrtho base or mounted regional scenery | Provides the streamed imagery and terrain for covered tiles. |
| Variable | Other orthophoto or base-mesh packages | Place whichever terrain package you want to see higher than the competing package. |
The top of scenery_packs.ini has the highest priority. AutoOrtho folder names can vary between releases and regions, so identify them by their generated names rather than copying an old example from another installation.
X-Plane cannot combine two base meshes for the same one-degree tile: the higher-priority mesh wins. If another orthophoto or terrain-mesh package sits above AutoOrtho, it can completely hide AutoOrtho in that area. Also check that an entry begins with SCENERY_PACK, not SCENERY_PACK_DISABLED.
How do I use AutoOrtho for each flight?
Mount AutoOrtho before starting X-Plane and stop it only after X-Plane has closed.
- Launch AutoOrtho and confirm that the intended region is installed.
- Start the virtual mount and wait for a successful mounted or running status.
- Launch X-Plane 12 under the same user account and privilege level. On Windows, running one application as administrator and the other normally can cause access problems.
- Load an airport inside the installed region. The first visit to an uncached area may take longer or show temporary low-resolution tiles while imagery is fetched.
- Exit X-Plane first, then stop or unmount AutoOrtho cleanly. Removing the virtual filesystem while X-Plane is reading it can produce missing-file errors or a simulator crash.
Why is AutoOrtho not showing or loading correctly?
Missing AutoOrtho scenery is usually caused by a failed mount, an incorrect X-Plane path, scenery priority or an incomplete regional installation.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Default X-Plane ground textures appear | The mount was not running, the airport is outside the installed region or another mesh has priority | Start AutoOrtho before X-Plane, confirm regional coverage and inspect scenery_packs.ini. |
| Roads or buildings are missing | The overlay package is absent, disabled or below the base scenery | Confirm that the region's overlay was installed and move it above the AutoOrtho terrain entry. |
| Mount fails or reports access denied | Missing filesystem driver, account mismatch, protected folder or stale mount | Verify WinFsp or FUSE support, use the same account for both programs and restart after a failed mount. |
| X-Plane reports missing scenery files | AutoOrtho was stopped, the mount disappeared or a download failed | Close X-Plane, remount AutoOrtho and check its log before trying the flight again. |
| Blank, black or magenta tiles appear | Imagery was not downloaded correctly or cached data is incomplete | Check connectivity, free cache space and AutoOrtho's log; use its cache-management controls rather than deleting mounted folders while it is running. |
| Pauses occur near new tiles | Network or cache storage cannot supply uncached imagery quickly enough | Use a fast SSD for the cache, retain free disk space and test with a stable wired connection where possible. |
If frame rate is poor even over fully cached areas, the bottleneck is more likely an X-Plane graphics setting than AutoOrtho's network activity. Work through our X-Plane 12 performance and FPS fixes rather than repeatedly reinstalling the scenery.
Can AutoOrtho be used offline?
AutoOrtho should not be treated as dependable offline scenery, even though previously downloaded imagery can remain in its cache.
Installing a regional package does not necessarily download every aerial tile in that region. Unvisited areas may still require internet access, and cached files can be removed by cache limits or maintenance. For an offline machine or a flight where scenery availability must be predictable, conventional orthophoto packages are the safer choice.
Should I use AutoOrtho or downloaded orthophotos?
Choose AutoOrtho for broad coverage with a smaller initial download; choose packaged orthophotos when offline reliability and fixed image files matter more than storage use.
| Option | Best suited to | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| AutoOrtho | Exploring large areas without downloading all imagery in advance | Depends on the mount, cache, network and continued availability of imagery. |
| Downloaded orthophotos | Offline flying and predictable regional scenery | Requires a large up-front download and substantially more permanent storage. |
| Default X-Plane terrain | Simple installations and systems with limited storage or bandwidth | Does not provide photographic ground imagery. |
Static packages use a different installation workflow and should not be mounted through AutoOrtho. If that option better fits the machine or connection, follow the manual X-Plane 12 orthophoto installation process and give the preferred scenery the correct priority over any competing base mesh.