Linux

Where Does Kaidan Store Config and Chats?

Kaidan keeps account config and chat history under freedesktop paths on Linux. Config, database and media roots.

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Kaidan follows freedesktop conventions on Linux. Settings and account data sit under the config home while chat history, keys and media cache sit under the local share tree.

Encrypted chats raise the stakes. OMEMO keys travel with the database, so backups must capture both trees at once with the app quit. Copying config without the database signs in fresh with empty history.

Where Kaidan stores this, by platform

Linux
~/.config/kaidan

Account settings and client config. Back up together with the share tree below. Encrypted key material references the database, so split copies break OMEMO sessions.

Linux
~/.local/share/kaidan

Chat database, keys and media cache. Quit Kaidan before copying for a consistent snapshot. Media previews refill from the server while history needs this folder.

Frequently asked questions

How do I move Kaidan to a new machine?

Copy the config folder plus the local share tree with Kaidan quit. Accounts, keys and history travel together. OMEMO keys need both sides, so a partial copy breaks encrypted chats while plain history looks fine.

Where is Kaidan chat history?

Check the local share tree for the database and media cache. History lives in the database while avatars and file transfers sit beside it. Clearing only the cache folder drops media without touching message text.

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