Where Is the MPD Config File?
MPD searches XDG config then home dotfiles then /etc. The lookup order plus music and playlist dirs.
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MPD looks for mpd.conf in a fixed order: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mpd/mpd.conf, then ~/.mpdconf, then ~/.mpd/mpd.conf, then /etc/mpd.conf. The man page lists exactly this chain, so surprising behavior usually means an earlier file in the order won.
The file sets music_directory, playlist_directory, db_file, log_file, and audio outputs. User daemons typically point music at ~/Music with state under ~/.local/share/mpd; system services use /var/lib/mpd. A command line path beats the whole chain when testing.
Where MPD stores this, by platform
~/.config/mpd/mpd.conf
First in the lookup order (usually ~/.config/mpd/mpd.conf). Falls back through ~/.mpdconf, ~/.mpd/mpd.conf, then /etc/mpd.conf. Pass an explicit path to bypass all four.
Frequently asked questions
mpd ignores my config changes, why
Another mpd.conf earlier in the lookup order is winning. Check XDG_CONFIG_HOME first, then the dotfile fallbacks, then /etc. Point mpd at the file explicitly to prove which one loads.
where does mpd store its database
Wherever db_file points, commonly ~/.local/share/mpd/database or /var/lib/mpd/tag_cache. Playlists follow playlist_directory; state restores from state_file on restart.
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