Where Does Natron Store Settings and Plugins?
Where Natron keeps init scripts, settings and plugins on each OS, and why version 3 moved everything.
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Natron keeps user scripts, settings and plugins in a versioned data folder that changed names between major releases. Version 2 used a dot folder in the home directory on every OS. Version 3 moved to a NatronUserData tree beside it and never looks back.
System wide plugins ship separately in bundled and shared folders per OS. That split means user scripts roam with backups while studio plugins need reinstalls. Check the version first whenever a guide path comes up empty. Node presets and viewer layouts travel with the user tree, so copy it whole.
Where Natron stores this, by platform
%USERPROFILE%\NatronUserData\settings.txt
Version 3 user data with YAML settings plus plugins. Version 2 instead used the dot Natron folder with init.py. System plugins ship under Common Files.
~/NatronUserData/settings.txt
Same version split under the home folder. Use Go to Folder to reach hidden paths. System plugins sit under Library Application Support.
~/NatronUserData/settings.txt
Same version split under home with system plugins in the shared tree. Version 3 never scans the old dot folder. Check both trees after upgrades.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I put Natron startup scripts and plugins?
Place startup code in init.py inside the user data folder for your version from this post. Version 2 reads the dot folder while version 3 reads the NatronUserData tree. Extra plugin paths come from the documented environment variables.
Natron 3 ignores my old settings folder. Why?
Version 3 renamed the user folder and stopped scanning the old dot path entirely. Move init files and plugins into the new NatronUserData tree. Settings need re saving since the format changed between majors.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.