Where Does Lidarr Store Its Database and Config?
Lidarr keeps its database, config and logs in one AppData folder. Default paths for Windows, Linux and macOS plus backup rules.
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Like every Servarr app, Lidarr keeps its entire state in one AppData directory: the lidarr.db database, config.xml with the settings the web server needs to boot, logs and a MediaCover cache. The exact path shows on the System Status page inside the app, which beats any guide when installs vary.
Service installs are the classic confusion. Running as a service user moves the folder to /var/lib/lidarr or that account's home, so edits to your own ~/.config change nothing. Docker users live entirely behind the /config mount. Back up the whole folder at rest, never a live database file alone.
Where Lidarr stores this, by platform
C:\ProgramData\Lidarr
Holds lidarr.db, config.xml, logs and MediaCover cache. Hidden by default in Explorer; paste the path directly. The -data= startup argument overrides the location, which matters for multi-instance setups. Back up via System, Backup in the UI or copy the whole folder with Lidarr stopped.
~/.config/Lidarr
Package installs typically use /var/lib/lidarr with a dedicated service user instead. Docker images use /config mapped to your host path. Check the service user and the System Status page for the effective path. The -data= argument overrides it when given.
~/Library/Application Support/Lidarr
Same AppData layout as other platforms: database, config.xml, logs. Cross-OS restores from Windows backups are not supported due to path differences. Same-OS migration is stop, copy folder, start.
Frequently asked questions
how do i back up lidarr
Use System, Backup in the Lidarr UI and download the zip; it captures database and config while excluding regenerable logs and cover cache. For a filesystem copy, stop Lidarr first so SQLite is consistent, then copy the whole AppData folder including .db-wal siblings. Never copy single files out of a running instance.
why do my lidarr config edits do nothing
Yes, and it is usually wrong. Package installs run Lidarr as a service user, so the live folder is /var/lib/lidarr or the service account's ~/.config/Lidarr, not yours. Check which user the service runs as and the AppData path on Lidarr's System Status page before editing anything.
can i restore a lidarr backup on another os
Not officially. Windows to Linux or macOS restores fail because path separators and root folders differ throughout the database. Linux to macOS sometimes works since both use forward slashes, but expect to hand-edit every path. Same-OS restores just work: stop, replace, start.
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