Learn how to unlock aircraft in X-Plane Mobile, restore purchases, fix planes that stay locked, and understand subscriptions, trials and add-ons.
To unlock aircraft in X-Plane Mobile, open the aircraft selector, choose a locked model and activate the aircraft-access option shown by the app, normally the subscription that opens the wider fleet. Aircraft are not earned through flight hours or missions. Complete payment through your device’s store, then restore the entitlement if the lock remains.
The precise offer can vary by installed build, platform and existing purchases. Some aircraft are included, trials may be available, and older accounts may retain legacy purchases. The offer displayed inside the app is authoritative; our background on X-Plane Mobile’s trial-based aircraft access explains why testing an aircraft and unlocking wider access are separate.
How do I unlock a locked plane?
- Connect to the internet. Initial activation, payment and any required aircraft data download need a working connection.
- Open the aircraft selector. Start from the flight setup screen and choose the locked aircraft you want to use. Menu wording can differ between builds.
- Review the access option. The app may show included access, a limited trial, a fleet subscription or a legacy one-off purchase. Use only the option actually presented for that aircraft.
- Complete the store transaction. Confirm it through the Apple ID or Google account used on the device, then return to X-Plane Mobile.
- Wait for authorisation and downloads. Keep the app online until the aircraft becomes selectable and any requested files finish downloading.
- Restore the purchase if necessary. If payment succeeded but the padlock remains, use the app’s restore-purchases control where offered rather than buying access again.
| Access shown | What it means | Does it stay unlocked? |
|---|---|---|
| Included or free | The aircraft can be selected without payment. | Yes, subject to the app’s content terms. |
| Trial or demo | You can test the aircraft under the displayed limits. | No; a trial is not a permanent unlock. |
| Subscription | The wider aircraft catalogue is available while the subscription is valid. | Only while the entitlement remains active. |
| Legacy individual purchase | A specific aircraft was bought under an older access model. | According to its original purchase terms. |
Can I unlock aircraft by flying missions or tutorials?
No. X-Plane Mobile does not normally use flight hours, landings, experience points or completed tutorials to unlock its aircraft catalogue. Tutorials teach aircraft handling, but completing them does not remove a subscription padlock.
A mistake we see constantly is treating a trial flight as an unlock challenge. When the trial ends, the aircraft remains locked until the required entitlement is activated.
Why is an aircraft still locked after I paid?
A locked aircraft after payment usually means the app cannot see the store entitlement, the subscription has expired or the content has not finished downloading. Check the following in order:
- Verify the transaction. Confirm that the purchase or subscription is active in the device’s store and was not declined, cancelled or refunded.
- Check the account. Use the same Apple ID or Google account that made the purchase. An Apple purchase will not normally appear under a Google Play account, or vice versa.
- Restore access. Use Restore Purchases where available, then fully close and reopen X-Plane Mobile.
- Reconnect before testing. First activation and occasional licence validation may require internet access. Our explanation of what works in X-Plane Mobile without an internet connection covers the offline limitations.
- Finish pending downloads. Keep sufficient free storage available and let any aircraft or supporting content download complete.
- Update cautiously. Install a compatible app update if the store entitlement still is not recognised. Avoid reinstalling as a first step because it may remove downloaded scenery and local settings.
If the store shows a successful transaction and restoration still fails, record the receipt details and use the support route provided inside the app or store. Do not pay for the same access twice.
Can desktop X-Plane aircraft be added to Mobile?
No. X-Plane Mobile cannot load desktop aircraft packages, and owning X-Plane 11, X-Plane 12 or a desktop add-on does not unlock its mobile counterpart. Mobile uses a separate app, content catalogue and entitlement system, as explained in our guide to how X-Plane on iPad and iPhone differs from the desktop simulator.
Copying an aircraft’s .acf file or desktop folder onto a phone or tablet will not make it appear in the mobile selector. Only aircraft supplied and authorised through X-Plane Mobile can be unlocked there.