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Where Does Lite XL Store Settings and Plugins?

Lite XL stores settings and plugins in a user directory, defaulting to lite-xl under OS config.

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Lite XL resolves its user directory from a priority list. A user folder next to the executable wins (portable mode), then $LITE_USERDIR, then $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/lite-xl, then ~/.config/lite-xl ($USERPROFILE on Windows). Everything personal lives there: init.lua, user_settings.lua, and plugins, colors, and fonts subfolders.

Run the core:open-user-module command to open the right file without guessing. The editor reloads it on save, so tweaks apply instantly. Copy the whole user dir to migrate machines; there is nothing else to carry.

Where Lite XL stores this, by platform

Linux
~/.config/lite-xl

init.lua, user_settings.lua, session.lua plus plugins/colors/fonts. $LITE_USERDIR or a portable user/ folder overrides this default.

macOS
~/.config/lite-xl

Same layout. There is no Application Support involvement; Lite XL follows XDG conventions on Mac too.

Windows
%USERPROFILE%\.config\lite-xl

Same files under your profile. A user/ folder beside lite-xl.exe takes precedence for portable installs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a portable Lite XL install?

Create a folder called user next to the Lite XL executable. When that folder exists it takes priority over everything else, which is how you carry a full setup on a stick.

The settings GUI and my init.lua disagree. Which wins?

Look in USERDIR for user_settings.lua (written by the settings GUI) versus init.lua (your hand-written module). GUI edits land in the former and never touch the latter, so check both before assuming a conflict.

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