If an appdatadir folder is supplied (see below), the configuration file is
named shotcut.ini in the folder. Otherwise, where the configuration lives
depends on the operating system:
Windows
The settings are stored in the registry at key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Meltytech\Shotcut\.
Linux
The settings are stored in ~/.config/Meltytech/Shotcut.conf, which is a text file in INI format.
macOS
The settings are stored in ~/Library/Preferences/com.meltytech.Shotcut.plist, which is a binary plist file.
How the category appears depends on the config file format. Linux conf and Windows INI file uses sections (square brackets), Windows registry uses a sub-key, and macOS plist prefixes the key name followed by a period and the key. In Windows registry, a bool is stored as a string: true or false.
| Key | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| appdatadir | string | the file system path where to load configuration. If this is set, then all the remaining configuration keys are read from shotcut.ini instead of the registry (Windows), plist (macOS), or ~/.config (Linux). |
| askUpgradeAutomatic | bool | whether to ask if you want to check for an update automatically (default true) |
| audioInput | string | the most recently chosen audio device in Open Other > Audio/Video Device (default first input) |
| backupPeriod | integer | how frequently to backup the project file in minutes (default 1440 daily) |
| checkUpgradeAutomatic | bool | whether to check for an update automatically at startup (default false) |
| clearRecent | bool | Setting > Clear Recent on Exit |
| chromiumPath | string | the file system path to the chromium executable (default depends on OS) |
| convertAdvanced | bool | whether to keep the Advanced section of the Convert dialog open (default false) |
| dockerPath | string | the file system path to the docker executable for Text to Speech (default depends on OS) |
| exportFrameSuffix | string | the last used format for File > Export Frame (default .png) |
| exportRangeMarkers | bool | File > Export > Markers as Chapters > Include ranges |
| flatpakWrappers | bool | whether to ask to choose a Flatpak for Open With > Add on Linux (default true) |
| geometry | binary | before version 23.05.07, the size and position of the windows |
| geometry2 | binary | as of version 23.05.07, the size and position of the windows |
| geometryDefault | binary | used to save View > Layout > Restore Default Layout |
| glaxnimatePath | string | the path to the glaxnimate executable if glaxnimate (default “glaxnimate” in same dir as shotcut executable) |
| imageDuration | real number | the default duration of a newly opened image file |
| jobPriority | string | the priority of background melt and ffmpeg jobs such as export and proxy: low (default) or normal |
| language | string | lowercase, two-letter ISO 639 language code, or <language>_<country> where <country> is an uppercase, two- or three-letter ISO 3166 country code (Settings > Language) |
| noupgrade | bool | whether to show the prompt to check for upgrade upon app launch |
| openPath | string | the file system path for the file-open dialog |
| opengl | integer | Settings > Display Method, in decimal: 0 (Automatic), 15 (OpenGL), 16 (DirectX, Windows only), or 17 (Software) |
| This is no longer used on Windows and macOS as of version 23.05.07. | ||
| projects | string list | list of XML project files with full path: comma-separated recent.ini text file |
| projectsFolder | string | the file system path in which project folders are created |
| recent | string list | list of recent media and XML files with full path: comma-separated in Linux or Windows INI, multi-string in Windows registry, and array of strings in macOS plist (View > Recent) |
This is no longer saved here as of version 23.05.07 and moved to a separate recent.ini text file. |
||
| savePath | string | the file system path for the file-save dialog |
| screenRecorderPath | string | the file system path to a user-definable screen recorder on Linux with Wayland but not GNOME or KDE (default “obs”) |
| showConvertClipDialog | bool | whether to continue to show the Convert to Edit-friendly dialog for variable frame rate or non-seekable files |
| theme | string | UI theme, one of: dark, light, or system (Settings > Theme) |
| timeFormat | integer | Settings > Time Format, one of: 0 (Frames), 1 (Clock), 2 (Timecode Drop-Frame, default), 3 (Timecode Non-Drop Frame) |
| titleBars | bool | whether to show the title bar for UI panels (View > Show Title Bars) |
| toolBar | bool | whether to show the main tool bar at the top of the main window (View > Show Toolbar) |
| undoLimit | integer | the maximum number of undo commands in View > History (default 1000) |
| videoInput | string | the most recently chosen video device in Open Other > Audio/Video Device (default first input) |
| warnLowMemory | bool | whether to check for low CPU RAM memory and show a warning dialog (default true) |
| windowState | binary | before version 23.05.07, the current layout of the UI panels |
| windowState2 | binary | as of 23.05.07, the current layout of the UI panels |
| windowStateDefault | binary | used to save View > Layout > Restore Default Layout |
| encode | ||
| advanced | bool | whether to always show the Advanced mode for Export (default false) |
| freeSpaceCheck | bool | whether to continue checking if a storage volume has sufficient space for storing Video |
| hardware | string list | list of hardware encoders available on this system: comma-separated in Linux or Windows INI, multi-string in Windows registry, and array of strings in macOS plist (View > Recent) |
| path | string | the file system path for Export > Export File |
| useHardware | bool | whether to use hardware encoding if available (default false) |
| files | ||
| currentDir | string | the current folder in Files (default Home) |
| foldersOpen | bool | whether the folders tree is visible in Files (default true) |
| location/<custom location name> | string | the full path to the saved Location |
| locations | string list | the names of the saved custom Locations |
| openOther/<type> | string list | full paths to saved executables for Open With per media types: audio, image, other, video |
| viewMode | string | one of: detailed, icons, or tiled |
| filter | ||
| askOutput | bool | whether to show warning dialog about adding filters to Timeline Output |
| audioInCurve | integer | the default Fade Audio In > Type, one of: 1 (Natural, default), 16 (S-Curve), 15 (Fast-Slow), 14 (Slow-Fast) |
| audioInDuration | real number | the default Fade Audio In duration in seconds |
| audioOutCurve | integer | the default Fade Audio Out > Type, one of: 1 (Natural, default), 16 (S-Curve), 15 (Fast-Slow), 14 (Slow-Fast) |
| audioOutDuration | real number | the default Fade Audio Out duration in seconds |
| favorite/<filterId> | string | whether a filter is chosen as favorite, one of: yes or no. See all the meta.qml files in share/shotcut/qml/filters for the filter IDs. |
| videoInDuration | real number | the default Fade Video In duration in seconds |
| videoOutDuration | real number | the default Fade Video Out duration in seconds |
| keyframes | ||
| dragScrub | bool | Keyframes > Scrub while dragging (default false) |
| layout | ||
| <custom layout name>_geometry | binary | the size and position of the windows |
| <custom layout name>_state | binary | the layout of the UI panels |
| layouts | string list | the names of all of the custom saved layouts |
| mode | integer | which of the layout modes is selected: 0 = custom, 1 = Logging, 2 = Editing, 3 = FX, 4 = Color, 5 = Audio, 6 = Player |
| markers | ||
| color | string | the color to use for a new marker (default green) |
| columns/color | bool | whether to show the Color column (default true) |
| columns/duration | bool | whether to show the Duration column (default true) |
| columns/end | bool | whether to show the End column (default true) |
| columns/start | bool | whether to show the Start column (default true) |
| columns/text | bool | whether to show the Text column (default true) |
| sortColumn | integer | the column on which to sort (default -1, unsorted or natural order) |
| sortOrder | integer | whether to sort ascending (0, default) or descending (1) |
| player | ||
| audioChannels | integer | the number of audio channels to use (Settings > Audio Channels) |
| audioDriver | string | Settings > Player > Audio API (only on Linux or Windows) |
| deinterlacer | string | one of: onefield, linearblend, yadif-nospatial, or yadif (Settings > Deinterlacer) |
| external | string | for Settings > External Monitor, one of: sdi (Linsys card), decklink:<N> (Blackmagic Design peripheral), or <N> (screen) |
| gpu | bool | before version 23.05.07, whether Settings > GPU Effects is on (default false) |
| gpu2 | bool | as of v23.05.07, whether Settings > GPU Effects is on (default false) |
| interpolation | string | for Settings > Interpolation, one of: nearest, bilinear, bicubic, or hyper (Lanczos) |
| jack | bool | whether Settings > Use JACK Audio is on |
| keyer | integer | for Settings > External Monitor > Decklink Keyer, one of: 0 (Off), 1 (Internal), 2 (External) |
| muted | bool | whether the player volume is muted |
| pauseAfterSeek | bool | Settings > Player > Pause After Seek (default true) |
| profile | string | for Settings > View Mode, see file names in share/mlt/profiles for a list of values or blank for Automatic |
| progressive | bool | whether Settings > Progressive is on |
| realtime | bool | whether Settings > Realtime is on |
| scrubAudio | bool | whether Settings > Scrub Audio is on |
| videoDelayMs | real number | for Settings > Synchronization… (default 0) |
| volume | integer | the player volume level as a percentage |
| warnGPU | bool | before version 23.05.07, whether to show warning dialog when GPU Effects is on (default true) |
| zoom | real number | the player’s current zoom level as a factor from 0 to 2 where 0 means “Fit” |
| playlist | ||
| autoplay | bool | whether to automatically start playing after opening a clip from the playlist |
| columns/clip | bool | whether to show the Clip name column in the details view (default true) |
| columns/date | bool | whether to show the Date column in the details view (default true) |
| columns/in | bool | whether to show the In point column in the details view (default true) |
| columns/start | bool | whether to show the Start time column in the details view (default true) |
| columns/thumbnails | bool | whether to show the Thumbnails column in the details view (default true) |
| colunms/duration | bool | whether to show the Duration column in the details view (default true) |
| previewScale | integer | the vertical resolution to use for preview scaling, default 0 means none/inactive |
| thumbnails | string | how to show the thumbnails in the Playlist panel, one of: hidden, wide, tall, small, large |
| viewMode | string | one of: detailed, icons, or tiled |
| proxy | ||
| enabled | bool | for Settings > Proxy > Use Proxy (default false) |
| folder | string | for Settings > Proxy > Storage > Set…. (default a sub-folder “proxies” of the App Data Directory) |
| projectFolder | bool | for Settings > Proxy > Storage > Use Project Folder (default true) |
| useHardware | bool | for Settings > Proxy > Use Hardware Encoder (default false) |
| scope | ||
| loudness/integrated | bool | View > Scopes > Audio Loudness > menu > Integrated Loudness |
| loudness/momentary | bool | View > Scopes > Audio Loudness > menu > Momentary Loudness |
| loudness/peak | bool | View > Scopes > Audio Loudness > menu > Peak |
| loudness/range | bool | View > Scopes > Audio Loudness > menu > Loudness Range |
| loudness/shortterm | bool | View > Scopes > Audio Loudness > menu > Short Term Loudness |
| loudness/truepeak | bool | View > Scopes > Audio Loudness > menu > True Peak |
| shortcuts | ||
| * | string | These store the custom keyboard shortcuts. There can be many of these keyed roughly on their English name. The value is one or two “||”-separated key sequences. |
| slideshow | ||
| aspectConversion | integer | Aspect ratio conversion: 0 for pad black, 1 for center crop (default), 2 for crop and pan, 3 for blur pad |
| clipDuration | real number | Clip duration in seconds, default 10 |
| transitionDuration | real number | Transition duration in seconds, default 2 |
| transitionSoftness | real number | Transition softness in %, default 20 |
| transitionStyle | integer | Transition type, default 2 (dissolve) |
| zoomPercent | integer | Zoom effect in %, default 10 |
| speech | ||
| language | string | the code of the last used language, one of: a, b, e, f, h, p, j, z (default “a”) |
| speed | real number | the last used speed value (default 1.0) |
| voice | string | the last used kokorodoki voice argument, see its docs (default “af_alloy”) |
| subtitles | ||
| columns/duration | bool | whether to show the Duration column (default true) |
| columns/end | bool | whether to show the End column (default true) |
| columns/start | bool | whether to show the Start column (default true) |
| showPrevNext | bool | Subtitles > menu > Show Previous/Next (default true) |
| trackTimeline | bool | Subtitles > menu > Track Timeline Cursor (default true) |
| whisperExe | string | override full path to whisper-cli executable |
| whisperModel | string | override full path the whisper model in ggml format |
| notes | ||
| zoom | real number | Notes > context menu > Decrease/Increase Text Size |
| timeline | ||
| audioReferenceSpeedRange | real number | Timeline > menu > Align To Reference Track > Speed adjustment range (default 0) |
| audioReferenceTrack | integer | Timeline > menu > Align To Reference Track > Reference audio track (last used) |
| autoAddTracks | bool | Settings > Timeline > Automatically Add Tracks (default false) |
| dragScrub | bool | Timeline > Scrub while dragging (default false) |
| previewTransition | bool | transition Properties > Preview (default true) |
| rectangleSelect | bool | Settings > Timeline > Rectangle Select (default true) |
| ripple | bool | Timeline > Ripple trim and drop |
| rippleAllTracks | bool | Timeline > menu > Ripple All Tracks |
| rippleMarkers | bool | Timeline > toolbar > Ripple timeline markers with edits (default false) |
| scrollZoom | bool | Timeline > menu > Scroll to Playhead on Zoom |
| scrolling | integer | Settings > Timeline > Scrolling, one of: 0 (No), 1 (Center), 2 (Page, default), 3 (Smooth) |
| snap | bool | Timeline > Toggle snapping |
| thumbnails | bool | Timeline > menu > Show Video Thumbnails |
| trackHeight | integer | Timeline > menu > Make Tracks Shorter/Taller |