Where Does Guild Wars 2 Store Settings and Screenshots?
Guild Wars 2 compresses all client settings into one Local.dat file, with screenshots and keybinds filed nearby.
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ArenaNet skipped readable config files entirely. Graphics, audio, camera, and UI choices compress into a single binary Local.dat that no editor opens. Deleting it is the settings reset, full stop.
Two homes complicate the simplicity. The client prefers a Documents copy when one exists and falls back to AppData otherwise, so strays duplicate and fight. Screenshots, exported keybinds, and homestead layouts live as normal files in Documents beside whichever Local.dat wins.
Where Guild Wars 2 stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Guild Wars 2\Local.dat
One binary file holds all client settings. A copy in Documents\Guild Wars 2 takes priority over this one, so keep only a single copy.
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Guild Wars 2
Screenshots land in Screens, exported binds in InputBinds, homestead layouts in Homesteads. The game also needs write access here or screenshots silently fail.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset settings without reinstalling?
Delete Local.dat with the game closed. The client rebuilds factory defaults on next launch, which clears graphics glitches and trading post cache corruption alike. Account data lives server side and survives.
Why do my settings keep reverting?
A Local.dat in Documents overrides the AppData one when both exist. Two copies cause settings schizophrenia where changes never stick. Keep exactly one and delete the stray.
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