Where Does GnuCash Store Data and Config?
GnuCash data files live wherever you save them. Where the backups, logs, and config folders sit on each OS.
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GnuCash does not pick a data location for you. Your books live in whatever file you named in the Save dialog, usually ending in .gnucash. Every save also drops timestamped backups and .log files next to it.
Preferences and saved reports live apart from the books. Modern GnuCash splits them between a data home and a config home. On Linux that is ~/.local/share/gnucash and ~/.config/gnucash. Windows uses %APPDATA%\GnuCash, macOS uses ~/Library/Application Support/GnuCash.
Where GnuCash stores this, by platform
~/.local/share/gnucash
Books are wherever you saved them; backups and logs accumulate in that same folder. Config and report state live in ~/.local/share/gnucash and ~/.config/gnucash.
~/Library/Application Support/GnuCash
Books are user placed. App state and saved reports live in ~/Library/Application Support/GnuCash. Old 2.6 installs used ~/.gnucash style paths and migrate on first 3.x launch.
%APPDATA%\GnuCash
Books are user placed. Settings, saved reports, and metadata default to %APPDATA%\GnuCash. GnuCash auto deletes .log and backup files older than 30 days unless you change the preference.
Frequently asked questions
what are all the extra gnucash backup files
Look in the same folder as your main file for names with a timestamp plus .gnucash or .log suffix. The .gnucash ones are full backups of earlier saves. The .log ones record edits and are safe to delete once you no longer need them.
what should i back up in gnucash
Copy the main data file first, then the GNC_DATA_HOME and GNC_CONFIG_HOME folders for reports and preferences. On Linux those default to ~/.local/share/gnucash and ~/.config/gnucash. That covers saved reports and UI state.
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