Where Does Darktable Store the Library?
Darktable library.db and config paths on Windows, macOS and Linux, and why raw files never move into those folders.
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Darktable tracks edits in SQLite databases called library.db and data.db inside a per OS config folder. Your raw photos stay where you imported them from and never copy into these trees. Thumbnails cache beside the databases to speed the lighttable.
Back up the config folder with Darktable closed to preserve edits, tags and styles. Moving raw files behind its back orphans the entries, so relocate from inside the app. Point the --configdir flag at a copy to test repairs safely. Snapshots inside the history stack mark safe rollback points.
Where Darktable stores this, by platform
%localappdata%\darktable\library.db
Config sits beside it as darktablerc. Paste %localappdata%\darktable into Explorer. Keep raw files on stable drive letters or imports break.
~/.config/darktable/library.db
Same dotfolder layout as Linux despite Mac conventions. Use Go > Go to Folder in Finder. Styles export separately for sharing with other editors.
~/.config/darktable/library.db
Respects XDG_CONFIG_HOME when set. The film roll folders referenced inside must keep identical paths or the library shows skulls for missing files.
Frequently asked questions
Do I back up raw files or the database?
Both, separately. Raws are your negatives wherever you stored them. The config folder with library.db holds every edit, tag and history stack applied on top.
Why do my photos show as missing skulls?
The files moved outside Darktable. Reconnect the film roll from inside the app or restore the original mount path. Never rename photo folders in Explorer alone.
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