Troubleshooting
Fixes for common FlightOut problems: it won't install or start, it runs slowly, the window is wrong, you can't join or host a server, head tracking or sound doesn't work.
On this page
Installing and starting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Windows: "Windows protected your PC" | The installer isn't code-signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway |
| Windows setup warns about Vulkan or DirectX 12 | Update your graphics driver from your graphics card maker. You can install anyway |
| macOS: cannot verify the developer | System Settings, Privacy & Security, scroll down, Open Anyway. On macOS 14 or older you can right-click FlightOut and choose Open |
| Linux: nothing happens | Make it executable: chmod +x FlightOut.x86_64 (or chmod +x FlightOut.arm64). Keep FlightOut.pck in the same folder |
| Linux: it starts but without volumetric clouds | No Vulkan: on Debian or Ubuntu with AMD or Intel graphics, sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers; with NVIDIA, the proprietary driver |
| "FlightOut's map data is missing or damaged. Please reinstall FlightOut." | The map files are incomplete. Download and install again (on Linux, keep the .pck file next to the game) |
| It crashes or shows graphics errors on start | Update your graphics driver. As a last resort, try a different graphics driver: see Command-line options |
See Install FlightOut for the full steps.
Performance
| Problem | Try |
|---|---|
| Low frame rate | Pick a lower Graphics preset first (Settings, GRAPHICS): Low, Medium, High, Ultra |
| Still slow | Lower Render scale to 70 to 85% with AMD FSR upscaling (Settings, DISPLAY) |
| Slow in cloud | Lower Cloud quality, or switch Volumetric clouds off |
| Slow in the cockpit | Fold the mirrors (I) and lower Cockpit screens: each mirror draws the world again |
| Slow over forests | Lower Forest detail and Forest density |
| Hot, noisy laptop | Set a Frame rate limit of 30 or 60 |
| Input feels delayed | Switch Vertical sync off |
| Want to measure | Turn on the FPS counter (Settings, INTERFACE) |
The Graphics settings page explains what each option costs.
The window
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The window is bigger than the screen | FlightOut shrinks a window that doesn't fit; or choose Borderless fullscreen (Settings, DISPLAY) |
| Wrong monitor or size | Switch Window mode to Windowed, drag the window onto the monitor you want, then choose Borderless fullscreen |
| Everything is too dark or bright | Brightness, Contrast and Gamma in Settings, DISPLAY |
Multiplayer
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The server's dot is red: runs a different game version | Update FlightOut from the download page, or wait for the server to be updated |
| The server's dot is red: offline | The server isn't answering. Check your own internet connection and firewall, then try again later |
| No answer from... when joining by address | Check the address and port; check the server is running; on the host, check the firewall and that UDP 27015 (or the port it uses) is forwarded |
| Friends can't join my hosted server | On the same network, give them your local address. Over the internet, forward UDP 27015 on your router and give them your public address. Allow FlightOut through your firewall |
| Connection to the server was lost. | Your connection dropped. Rejoin; you may get a different slot |
| The Weather tab is locked | Normal online: the server decides the weather |
| P does nothing online | The practice approach is offline only |
| My jet rolled away while the pause menu was open | Online, the world keeps going and the menu releases the brakes. Close the throttle before pausing on the ground |
See Joining a server for every message.
In flight
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The jet won't take off | More speed: full afterburner and flaps at high airfields. See Taxi and take-off |
| The gear won't come up | You're still on the ground, or it's already moving: wait for it to finish |
| The canopy came off | You flew with it open above 250 km/h (136 kt). Respawn (Backspace) |
| The controls stopped responding | The pilot may be killed, or the hydraulics gone. Respawn |
| A missile won't fire | No lock, the seeker isn't locked yet, or you're pulling too many G. See Firing missiles |
| The autopilot won't engage | It won't on the ground. In the air, check for AP OFF: it may have dropped out in a stall |
| The HUD landing guidance doesn't show | You need NAV mode, gear down, roughly lined up within 25 km. See Approach and landing |
| The view drifts with head tracking | Re-centre in OpenTrack (its Center key). See Head tracking |
Sound
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No sound in the browser | Browsers start sound only after you click or press a key |
| No radar warning sounds | The SPO-15 SOUND knob is at 0 (SND OFF lamp lit): turn it up, or Settings, AUDIO |
| Too loud or quiet | Settings, AUDIO: master, engines, effects, warnings and the interface separately |
Starting again from scratch
RESET DEFAULTS in Settings puts every setting and every key back to the default. Or delete settings.cfg: see Files and folders.
Reporting a problem
Open an issue on GitHub. Say which version you have (bottom right of the main menu), your computer and graphics card, and what happened. The log file helps: see Files and folders.
Checked against FlightOut 0.5.2.