Where Does QOwnNotes Store Settings and Notes?
Where the QOwnNotes note app keeps its settings file plus where note folders live on desktop OSes.
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QOwnNotes splits storage two ways: settings in ~/.config/PBE/QOwnNotes.conf (Qt app conventions), notes as plain markdown in folders you choose. The app watches those folders without ever owning them.
That split means note backups are folder copies while settings migrate via the conf file. Point two installs at one synced folder and edits flow through the cloud, not the app. The conf file only records which folders to watch and how. Scripts see identical notes. Tags persist inside notes.
Where QOwnNotes stores this, by platform
~/.config/PBE/QOwnNotes.conf
QOwnNotes.conf plus backup/ and trash/ here. Honors $XDG_CONFIG_HOME. Portable builds keep the same tree beside the exe via --portable mode. Note folders themselves live anywhere you chose.
~/Library/Preferences/PBE/QOwnNotes.conf
Same Qt layout under the user Library. Finder hides Library; use Go > Go to Folder. Cloud note folders sync independently of this config, so set both up on a new Mac.
%APPDATA%\PBE\QOwnNotes.conf
Same conf name under Roaming with note folders of your choice. Paste the path into Explorer. The portable ZIP keeps settings beside the exe for USB carry setups.
Frequently asked questions
how do i migrate qownnotes to a new pc
Copy ~/.config/PBE/QOwnNotes.conf to the new machine plus the note folders themselves. Settings reference note paths, so keep folder layouts identical or re point each folder in settings. Cloud synced note folders move independently of the config.
where are my qownnotes notes stored
Wherever you pointed them: QOwnNotes watches plain markdown folders you choose (Nextcloud, Dropbox, or local). The app never consolidates notes into its config tree. New folders register under Settings > Note folders without moving files.
where are qownnotes backups and trash
In the same config tree (backup/ and trash/ beside the conf). The built in backup versions note files on change, which complements cloud sync rather than replacing it. Trash restores through the app, not the filesystem.
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