Where Does GNOME Store Settings?
GNOME stores settings in the dconf binary db at ~/.config/dconf/user. Extensions live under ~/.local/share/gnome-shell.
Last updated
GNOME keeps nearly every setting in dconf, a binary key-value database at ~/.config/dconf/user: shell behavior, backgrounds, keybinds, and most GNOME app prefs. System defaults layer from /etc/dconf/db keyfiles, lockable by admins. The gsettings CLI and dconf-editor read and write the same store the GUI touches.
Extensions live separately under ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions, enabled by UUID list inside dconf. That split decides backups: the user db for settings, the extensions dir for code, themes beside them. The binary format means no hand edits; dump to text for versioning, load back to restore. NFS homes need special dconf profiles since the db hates network latency.
Where GNOME stores this, by platform
~/.config/dconf/user
Binary dconf db with all GNOME settings. Dump with dconf dump for text backups. System defaults in /etc/dconf/db keyfiles. Extensions in ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions beside it.
Frequently asked questions
how do i back up my gnome settings
Copy ~/.config/dconf/user with the session stopped (or dump with dconf dump / > backup). Extensions need ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions plus ~/.themes beside it. Restore both halves for the identical desktop.
how do i reset all gnome settings
Run dconf reset -f / to wipe every dconf-backed setting (GNOME, apps, extensions) to defaults. It is the nuclear option and hits all dconf clients, so dump first. Per-schema resets narrow the blast radius.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.