Where Does Flatseal Store Permission Overrides?
Flatseal permission override files for user and system Flatpak installs, and where its own settings live.
Last updated
Flatseal does not keep its own database of permissions. It writes plain override files that Flatpak itself reads, one file per app ID. Backing up those files backs up everything Flatseal changed.
User installs and system installs use different roots. Most desktop setups use the user location below. Anything under /var/lib needs root to touch, so use an admin editor or the terminal for those.
Where Flatseal stores this, by platform
~/.local/share/flatpak/overrides/[AppID]
Each file holds the permission overrides Flatseal wrote for one app ID, plus a file named global for defaults. System installs use /var/lib/flatpak/overrides instead and need root. Flatseal's own window state lives under ~/.var/app/com.github.tchx84.Flatseal.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up Flatseal permission changes?
Open ~/.local/share/flatpak/overrides and copy the file named after the app ID, plus the file named global. To restore, put the copies back and restart the app. System installs need the matching files from /var/lib/flatpak/overrides instead.
Can I reset one app to default permissions?
Yes. Delete the override file for that app ID (or the global file) and launch the app again. Flatpak falls back to the manifest defaults. This is the fastest fix when an app loses file or device access.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.