Where Does Lens Store Kubeconfigs and Settings?
Where Lens desktop keeps kubeconfigs and settings on Windows and macOS computers. Full paths are listed below.
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Lens is a Kubernetes viewer with local state. Clusters come from kubeconfig files in your home .kube directory. Workspaces, hotbars, and preferences live in the Lens app config. Cache holds cluster snapshots.
That split guides moves. Copying the app folder without kubeconfigs shows no clusters. Copying kubeconfigs without app config loses workspaces. Exact config names shift with Lens versus OpenLens builds. For fleets, keep kubeconfigs in version control rather than cloning app data raw. Check the in app storage readout when sizes look wrong on different releases.
Where Lens IDE stores this, by platform
%appdata%\Lens
Clusters come from kubeconfigs in your home .kube folder. Workspaces live here. Copy both for moves. OpenLens uses a similar path with its own name.
~/Library/Application Support/Lens
Same layout under Application Support with Lens in the name. Kubeconfigs stay in ~/.kube. Use Go to Folder since Library hides by default.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move Lens clusters to a new computer?
Copy the kubeconfig files from your home .kube folder plus the Lens config directory to the new machine, then install the same Lens release. Clusters follow kubeconfigs, not the app cache. Re add tokens after import, since secrets do not transfer with folder copies.
Does Lens copy my kubeconfigs inside?
No. Lens reads kubeconfigs in place from your home directory and caches cluster state locally. The app config holds workspaces and preferences. Back up kubeconfigs plus the Lens config folder. One without the other shows empty catalogs on open.
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