Where Is the Dunst Config File?
Dunst reads dunstrc from the XDG config dir and reloads it live on every save.
Last updated
Dunst wants one file: dunstrc in ~/.config/dunst (or $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dunst). urgency sections set colors, timeouts, geometry, and icons per level. Saving the file applies instantly with no restart, which makes theming unusually pleasant.
Start from the shipped example rather than writing blind. Distributions install it under /usr/share/doc/dunst, sometimes gzipped. System-wide defaults live wherever the build put SYSCONFDIR, but the user file always wins. Dunst is Linux-only; macOS notification questions belong elsewhere.
Where Dunst stores this, by platform
~/.config/dunst/dunstrc
INI-style urgency sections. Live reload on save. Seed from /usr/share/doc/dunst/dunstrc; -config flag tests alternates.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create my first dunstrc?
Copy /usr/share/doc/dunst/dunstrc (possibly gzipped) to ~/.config/dunst/dunstrc and edit the copy. Never edit the system file; upgrades replace it and your tweaks vanish.
Can I test a config without touching the live one?
Pass -config with a path. It disables all other discovery, which is how people test themes without touching the live file. A missing file falls back to built-ins with a warning.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.