---
title: "Install XPNavData updated AIRAC (optional)"
id: "5018"
type: "page"
slug: "install-xpnavdata-airac"
published_at: "2026-07-25T16:14:55+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-08-11T15:39:14+00:00"
url: "https://www.xpflightplanner.com/help/manual/install-xpnavdata-airac/"
markdown_url: "https://www.xpflightplanner.com/help/manual/install-xpnavdata-airac.md"
excerpt: "Keep your X-Plane navigation database and XPFlightPlanner up to date with the latest AIRAC cycle. Installing XPNavData takes only a few minutes and is fully compatible with both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11. Before you begin Before installing a new..."
---

# Install XPNavData updated AIRAC (optional)

Keep your **X-Plane** navigation database and **XPFlightPlanner** up to date with the latest AIRAC cycle. Installing XPNavData takes only a few minutes and is fully compatible with both **X-Plane 12** and **X-Plane 11**.

**Important** XPNavData is licensed for **personal, non-commercial flight simulation only**. It must **not** be used for real-world aviation, flight planning, or navigation. Please refer to **LICENSE.txt** and **COPYING.txt** included with your download for the complete license terms.

## Before you begin

Before installing a new AIRAC cycle:

- Close **X-Plane**
- Close **XPFlightPlanner**
- It is strongly recommended to back up your existing **Custom Data** folder.

## Installation

### 1. Locate your X-Plane installation

Typical installation locations are:

| Operating System | Default Location |
| --- | --- |
| Windows | C:\X-Plane 12\ |
| macOS | ~/Desktop/X-Plane 12/ |
| Linux | ~/X-Plane 12/ |

If you selected a custom installation directory, simply locate your X-Plane folder instead. If your simulator was installed through **Steam**, see the **Steam Installation** section below.

### 2. Delete the previous custom AIRAC

Navigate to: `<X-Plane>/Custom Data` and **delete all files and folders** inside `Custom Data`.

Do **not** delete the `Custom Data` folder itself.

### 3. Copy the downloaded archive

**Copy** the downloaded ZIP archive into the **Custom Data** folder.

Example:

```
<X-Plane>/Custom Data/AIRAC-2608-XP12.zip
```

### 4. Extract the archive

**Extract** the ZIP archive directly into the `Custom Data`folder, use “**Extract Here**”. *If your extraction software asks whether existing files should be replaced, choose: **Replace Existing Files***

After extraction, your **Custom Data** folder should contain files similar to:

```
<X-Plane>/Custom Data/
├── earth_fix.dat
├── earth_awy.dat
├── earth_nav.dat
├── earth_hold.dat
├── earth_msa.dat
├── earth_mora.dat
├── ...
├── airspaces/
└── CIFP/
```

*Depending on the AIRAC cycle, additional navigation database files may also be present.*

## Using XPNavData in XPFlightPlanner

To use the updated navigation database inside XPFlightPlanner:

1. Launch **XPFlightPlanner**
2. Open **Edit → Database Dialog**
3. **Check** the `<X-Plane>` path is correct
4. Enable **Use Custom Data**
5. **Import** the newly installed database

For detailed instructions, see the [Using a Custom Navigation Database](https://www.xpflightplanner.com/help/manual/select-the-navigation-database/#custom)
 section of the user manual.

XPFlightPlanner will then use the updated AIRAC cycle for flight planning and route generation.

## Using XPNavData in X-Plane

Simply start **X-Plane**. The simulator automatically detects the updated AIRAC cycle during startup.

No additional configuration is required.

## Steam Installation

If X-Plane was installed using Steam:

1. Open **Steam**
2. Go to your **Library**
3. Right-click **X-Plane**
4. Select **Properties**
5. Open **Installed Files**
6. Click **Browse**

Steam will open your X-Plane installation folder.

## Common mistakes

### Do not create an extra folder

The navigation files must be extracted **directly** into the **Custom Data** folder.

**Incorrect**: `<X-Plane>/Custom Data/AIRAC-2608-XP12/`

### Keep a backup

Always keep a backup of your previous **Custom Data** folder before installing a new AIRAC cycle.