Where Does aerc Store Config and Accounts?
aerc config files on Linux and Mac, the accounts.conf that holds every mailbox, and where mail itself goes.
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aerc keeps its entire setup in a config directory in the XDG config home: aerc.conf for behavior, accounts.conf for every mailbox, and binds.conf for keys. No registry, no daemon state, no hidden databases to chase. Copying that folder reproduces the whole client.
Mail itself lives wherever each account points, which varies by design. Local maildirs, remote IMAP and notmuch queries each declare their source in accounts.conf. Read that file to find your mail; guessing at dotfiles gets it wrong.
Where aerc stores this, by platform
~/.config/aerc
aerc.conf, accounts.conf and binds.conf inside. Respects XDG_CONFIG_HOME if set. Mail locations come from accounts.conf sources, so read that file rather than guessing paths.
~/.config/aerc
Same XDG style path on Mac for Homebrew builds. Use ls -a in Terminal since Finder hides dotfiles and dot folders alike.
Frequently asked questions
Where does aerc store my email?
Wherever each account source points, as declared in accounts.conf. Local maildir folders, remote IMAP servers and notmuch databases all look identical inside aerc, so the config file is the map.
How do I move aerc to a new machine?
Copy ~/.config/aerc into place, then copy whatever local maildirs your accounts reference. Remote IMAP and notmuch accounts need no mail transfer at all, only credentials.
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