Where Does HandBrake Store Custom Presets?
HandBrake keeps custom presets in one JSON file under its AppData style directory, in a different spot per OS.
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HandBrake stores presets as data, not config. One JSON file holds every custom preset with its full encoder settings, which makes the file both backup and documentation of your workflow.
The location follows each platform's app data convention, including macOS sandboxed Containers path that looks nothing like the others. Queue files and encode logs live nearby but separately, so grabbing presets.json alone is enough for a settings migration.
Where HandBrake stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\HandBrake\presets.json
presets.json holds customs plus defaults. Export from the GUI for a portable copy without the built-ins.
~/Library/Containers/fr.handbrake.HandBrake/Data/Library/Application Support/HandBrake/UserPresets.json
Finder shows the Containers folder as HandBrake. The file here is named UserPresets.json rather than presets.json.
~/.config/ghb/presets.json
Native installs use this path. Flatpak installs instead use /var/app/fr.handbrake.ghb/config/ghb/presets.json under the sandbox.
Frequently asked questions
How do I share presets with another machine?
Use the GUI export, which writes your customs without the built-ins. Importing that file elsewhere merges cleanly. Copying presets.json raw works too but drags every default along with it.
Can I edit presets outside HandBrake?
Yes for reading: presets.json is plain JSON with one object per preset. Hand editing works when HandBrake is closed, and a backup copy forgives syntax slips instantly.
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