Where Does COSMIC Store Configs?
Where System76 COSMIC keeps configs on Linux, Rust desktop layout. Full paths are listed below. More below.
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COSMIC is System76 Rust desktop with file configs. Your applets, keybinds, and themes live in its config directory. Sessions read them at login.
Same config folder means same desktop on any COSMIC install. Exact file names shift with alpha versus beta releases. Keep backups before upgrading, since schemas migrate forward only. For moves, copy the directory whole. Partial copies miss applet states that panels depend on. Screenshots of settings help when support asks for reproduction steps later.
Where COSMIC Desktop stores this, by platform
~/.config/cosmic (applets plus themes, no cloud)
Applets live in the COSMIC config directory at home. Copy it whole for moves. Match releases before importing old schemas. Keep files in dotfiles repos.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move COSMIC configs to a new machine?
Copy the COSMIC config directory to the new machine over USB, since applets and keybinds live there. Workspaces rebuild from those files on login. Match the release first, since schema shifts between alpha and beta builds.
Does COSMIC sync online?
No. COSMIC reads configs from its directory at login without a cloud account. The home folder holds applets plus theme files. Reinstalls reset layouts unless copied first. Keep the directory in dotfiles version control for records.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.