Where Does BBEdit Store Settings and Backups?
BBEdit splits prefs, support files, and backups across Library folders. The exact macOS paths and the Folders shortcut.
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BBEdit keeps support files in ~/Library/Application Support/BBEdit. That folder holds color schemes, language modules, clippings, scripts, and the Setup subfolder with saved search sets. Core preferences live separately in ~/Library/Preferences/com.barebones.bbedit.plist.
Document backups moved out of Documents into the support folder proper in recent versions. The fastest route is inside the app: the Folders submenu of the BBEdit menu (or the Setup window) jumps straight to each folder without digging through hidden Library paths.
Where BBEdit stores this, by platform
~/Library/Application Support/BBEdit
Support files, backups, and Setup data live here. Main prefs are one step away in ~/Library/Preferences/com.barebones.bbedit.plist. Use the Folders menu inside BBEdit to open either spot directly.
Frequently asked questions
where did the bbedit backups folder go
Into the application support folder. Older versions used Documents, which triggered macOS sandbox quirks, so Bare Bones relocated it. Open it from the Folders submenu of the BBEdit application menu instead of guessing.
how do i sync bbedit settings between macs
Copy the Application Support/BBEdit folder to the other Mac. The core plist at ~/Library/Preferences/com.barebones.bbedit.plist cannot be relocated the same way, so expect to redo a few pure preference toggles by hand.
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