Where Does Byobu Store Profiles and Status Scripts?
Where Byobu keeps profiles, keybindings, and status scripts on Linux, plus tmux versus screen backends.
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Byobu keeps its world in ~/.byobu: profile files for keybindings and status, a bin folder of status scripts, and backend selection. The tmux backend is the modern default; screen remains for legacy setups.
Profiles are the unit of customization. byobu-select-profile swaps whole sets, and the F9 menu edits the live one. Sessions themselves persist in the backend multiplexer, so config backups mean the .byobu folder while running work survives in tmux or screen. The F9 menu edits without touching files.
Where Byobu stores this, by platform
~/.byobu
profile.tmux (or profile.screen), keybindings, color, and status files here plus bin/ scripts. The backend choice changes which profile is live. Copy the folder with sessions detached for clean migration.
Frequently asked questions
where is the byobu config file
In ~/.byobu/profile.tmux (keybindings, status) for the tmux backend, the default on modern installs. The screen backend uses profile.screen instead. byobu-select-profile switches sets; the selected name is remembered in the same folder.
where do byobu status scripts live
In ~/.byobu/bin/ as numbered scripts run left to right. Drop an executable script there and it appears in the bar. Copy the folder to migrate a tuned status line; stock scripts regenerate from defaults when missing.
how do i switch byobu backends
Through byobu-select-backend, which rewrites the launcher to use tmux or screen. Config files differ per backend, so set the backend before customizing keys. Running sessions keep the old backend until reattached.
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