Prepar3D v5 add-ons are not automatically compatible with v6. See which aircraft, scenery and utilities may work and how to migrate safely.
No, Prepar3D v5 add-ons are not automatically compatible with Prepar3D v6. Simple scenery, textures and data-only packages may work, but complex aircraft, gauges, DLLs, weather engines and installers often require a v6-specific update. Treat explicit developer confirmation for v6 as the deciding factor, not successful installation alone.
Prepar3D v5 and v6 are separate major releases. Sharing a 64-bit architecture does not make their compiled modules, SDK-dependent components or configuration files interchangeable, and there is no universal compatibility switch or converter.
Which Prepar3D v5 add-ons are most likely to work in v6?
Packages containing standard scenery or texture data have the best chance, while add-ons containing executable code present the greatest risk.
| Add-on type | Compatibility outlook | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Airport and scenery packages | Variable | Basic scenery may load, but terrain, elevation, materials, autogen, object libraries and installer paths can cause faults. |
| Liveries and repaints | Often possible | The corresponding aircraft must have a working v6 version with the same model and texture mapping. |
| Simple aircraft | Variable | The visual model may appear while gauges, sounds, animations or flight systems fail. |
| Complex aircraft and compiled gauges | Low without an update | Use a build explicitly released for v6. Copying the v5 aircraft folder is not a reliable migration method. |
| AI aircraft and schedules | Variable | Models and traffic data may work, but injectors or management applications can need updates. |
| Weather engines and utilities | Variable to low | Confirm support for v6 and the required connection method. Our guide to checking and configuring SimConnect explains the connection layer used by many external applications. |
When selecting a replacement, check the supported simulator versions in the package description. Our Prepar3D freeware add-on library provides version information where it is available, but being listed under Prepar3D alone does not prove v6 compatibility.
Can I use a Prepar3D v5 installer in v6?
Use a v5 installer with Prepar3D v6 only when its documentation explicitly permits that installation target.
An older installer may reject v6, detect the wrong registry entry, write files into the v5 directory or install obsolete supporting modules. Manually changing the destination to the v6 folder does not update the package's code.
An external package using add-on.xml is easier to enable, disable and remove, but that packaging method does not make its contents compatible. Technical compatibility and licensing are also separate: an existing v5 licence may not include access to a v6 build.
How should I move add-ons from Prepar3D v5 to v6?
The safest method is a clean, add-on-by-add-on installation using versions specifically approved for Prepar3D v6.
- Make an inventory. List aircraft, scenery, object libraries, weather tools and external utilities, including each package's dependencies.
- Leave the v5 installation intact. Do not point v6 at the complete v5 add-on directory or copy configuration files wholesale.
- Confirm exact v6 support. Check the package documentation for the simulator version, installer edition and any required updated libraries. Treat a package labelled only for v5 as unsupported.
- Install a clean v6 build. Prefer the developer's v6 installer and external package method where offered. Avoid placing files directly in the simulator's core folders unless the instructions require it.
- Add one package at a time. Start Prepar3D after each installation so a bad aircraft, DLL or scenery library can be identified immediately.
- Test more than loading. Check aircraft systems, gauges, menus, sounds and animations, or inspect scenery at several positions and times of day.
Our safe Prepar3D upgrade and add-on testing procedure covers backups, isolated testing and recovery in more detail.
Why can an incompatible v5 add-on appear to work?
An add-on can load successfully while still containing features that fail only under particular conditions.
An aircraft may display in the selection menu but lose its gauges after loading. Scenery can look correct from one direction yet show missing textures, elevation conflicts or night-lighting faults elsewhere. A utility may open normally but fail when it tries to exchange data with v6.
Registration in Prepar3D's add-on menu proves only that the package was discovered. It does not confirm that every model, gauge, library or compiled module is compatible.
What should I do if a v5 add-on crashes Prepar3D v6?
Disable the most recently added package first, then retest the same flight with default aircraft and scenery.
If the simulator starts normally, reinstall a confirmed v6 version rather than repeatedly enabling the old package. Where files were copied into core simulator folders, use the Prepar3D installer repair facility or reinstall the affected component before testing again. For persistent faults, follow our Prepar3D crash isolation checklist to separate add-on, driver and configuration problems.