What do I need to do to fix this? When I try to start X-Plane 12, I get an error saying "Vulkan 1.3 or newer is required" and to check Log.txt, but I don’t see anything helpful in it.
Any advice?
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CaptainVulkan 1.3 requirement in XP12 – what to check
That message almost always boils down to one of three things: (1) your GPU/driver isn’t actually exposing Vulkan 1.3 to Windows, (2) you’re on an older GPU that can’t support it, or (3) something is forcing X-Plane onto the wrong adapter (common on laptops with integrated + NVIDIA/AMD).
Step-by-step things to try
1) Update your graphics driver from the GPU maker (not Windows Update)
Go straight to NVIDIA/AMD/Intel and install the latest driver for your exact card. A “clean install” (if your installer offers it) is worth doing here.
2) Reboot after the driver update
Sounds obvious, but Vulkan components don’t always fully swap over until a reboot.
3) If you’re on a laptop: make sure XP12 is using the discrete GPU
If X-Plane launches on the iGPU, it may report missing/insufficient Vulkan support even though your NVIDIA/AMD GPU would be fine. In Windows Graphics settings, set X-Plane 12 to “High performance” (discrete GPU). Also check the NVIDIA Control Panel / AMD software if you have it installed and force the high-performance GPU for X-Plane.
4) Check that your GPU actually supports Vulkan 1.3
Some older cards top out at Vulkan 1.1/1.2 and will never satisfy XP12’s requirement no matter what driver you install. If that’s the case, the only real fix is a GPU upgrade (or running a different sim / older X-Plane version that doesn’t require Vulkan 1.3).
5) Post the relevant part of your Log.txt
Even if it “doesn’t look helpful,” the top section usually gives away what GPU X-Plane detected and which Vulkan version it can see.
What I need from you to give the exact fix
Can you reply with:
- Your GPU model (exactly) and whether this is a desktop or laptop
- Your Windows version (10/11)
- Your driver version (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel)
- Attach/paste the first ~60 lines of
Log.txt(especially the part where it lists GPUs / Vulkan)
Once we see which adapter X-Plane is picking up (and what Vulkan version it reports), we can pin it down quickly.
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