Where Is the Linux dconf Database?
Linux dconf user database file with GNOME settings plus dump and load commands.
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GNOME and friends store settings in a binary dconf database in your config folder, written through gsettings rather than by hand. Terminal profiles, keybinds and app preferences all land here.
The file is binary, so migrate with dump and load instead of copying. Dumps are text and diffable, which makes settings version-controllable.
Where Linux stores this, by platform
~/.config/dconf/user
Binary database for all dconf and gsettings values. Migrate with dconf dump / > backup and dconf load / < backup rather than copying the file. Reset subtrees with dconf reset -f on their path. System defaults live in /etc/dconf/db underneath.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up GNOME settings?
Dump the database above to text with dconf dump and keep the file in dotfiles. Load it on the new machine for identical settings.
Can I edit the dconf database directly?
Use gsettings or dconf-editor instead. Raw binary edits corrupt the store while the session holds it open.
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