Where Does Audiobookshelf Store Config and Metadata?
Audiobookshelf's /config and /metadata volumes, database file, and backup folder defaults.
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Audiobookshelf divides its state in two. The /config tree holds the SQLite database with users, libraries and settings. The /metadata tree holds covers, author images, cache, streams, downloads, logs and scheduled backups.
In Docker both are volumes you map yourself, so the host side is whatever you wrote left of the colon. Native packages use fixed roots instead, configurable through CONFIG_PATH, METADATA_PATH and BACKUP_PATH.
Where Audiobookshelf stores this, by platform
[HostPath]\config
Docker bind mapped to /config in the container with audiobookshelf.sqlite inside. Metadata bind maps to /metadata with items, authors, cache and backups below it. Tray installs use the paths set at install time.
/config
Container path holding audiobookshelf.sqlite. Map host dirs like /path/to/config:/config and /path/to/metadata:/metadata in compose. Service installs default to /usr/share/audiobookshelf or /var/lib/audiobookshelf. Backups default to /metadata/backups.
Frequently asked questions
What do I back up to migrate Audiobookshelf?
The full /config folder plus /metadata/authors and /metadata/items. Scheduled zips in /metadata/backups already bundle exactly those three, so the newest backup is usually enough.
Where do I change the metadata or backup path?
Via CONFIG_PATH, METADATA_PATH and BACKUP_PATH env vars, or /etc/default/audiobookshelf on package installs. Move existing files first, then restart, or the server starts empty.
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