How to Run X-Plane Addons on any Mac System

Running 3rd party add-ons in X-Plane on a Mac may require some specific (but simple) actions based on your hardware and macOS version. This guide explains the necessary steps to enable these add-ons and ensure optimal functionality.

what’s the issue?

Starting with Mac OS 10.15 Catalina and newer versions of macOS, Apple has implemented stricter security measures that require 3rd party software to be Apple certified. This security feature means that any 3rd party X-Plane add-on which was not certified by Apple needs to be manually allowed to run by the user. Most add-ons for X-Plane have not been certified yet.

What you need to do

If you are running macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer, and you need to allow an add-on to run, follow the instructions in this guide.

Additionally, this article explains how you can change the setting of your system to always allow apps downloaded from anywhere by default. This will help if you want to install a lot of additional plugins in X-Plane.

Which addons are affected by this?

The 3rd party add-on developer should make this clear in the product description. The table below will show you which of our products are certified, and if you need to alow them to run, based on your add-on and macOS version:

What’s the issue?

Depending on your Mac's CPU, you might need to run older plugins using Rosetta. Rosetta is a built-in technology that allows Macs with Apple Silicon processors to run apps designed for Intel-based Macs. Here's what you need to know:

• If you have an Intel-based Mac, you can run X-Plane and its plugins without the need for Rosetta.

• If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1) chip, you might need to run older plugins using Rosetta. Check if the plugins you intend to use are compatible with Rosetta.

How to run x-plane with Rosetta?

If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1) chip and need to run older plugins with Rosetta, follow these simple steps:

1. Right-click on the executable program (X-Plane) you want to run with Rosetta.

2. From the context menu that appears, select "Get Info."

3. A popup window will open with information about the program.

4. Locate the option box that says "Run with Rosetta" or "Open using Rosetta."

5. Tick the checkbox next to "Run with Rosetta" to enable Rosetta for that specific program.

6. Close the popup window.

That's it! You have successfully set up the program to run with Rosetta. Now you can launch the program and enjoy the enhanced functionality provided by the 3rd party add-ons.

How to tell if an add-on is compatible with the new Apple Silicon (M1) chip?

The 3rd party add-on developer should make this clear in the product description.

We created a table below which will show you which of our products are compatible with Apple Silicon chips, and when you might need to run X-Plane with Rosetta based on your add-on and hardware:

Remember, enabling plugins and using Rosetta, if required, is essential to make sure the products will work correctly.