Where Does Shadowsocks Store Server Configs?
Shadowsocks for Windows keeps servers in gui-config.json beside the exe, while servers use /etc/shadowsocks.json.
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The Windows client stores everything in gui-config.json sitting next to Shadowsocks.exe. Servers, PAC mode, local ports, plugin paths, all in that one file. Copy the exe folder and your whole setup travels with it.
That portability cuts both ways. Running two copies from the same folder means they fight over one config, so duplicate the folder and change the local port for a second instance. Server side is a different file entirely, conventionally /etc/shadowsocks.json on Linux.
Where Shadowsocks stores this, by platform
<Shadowsocks folder>\gui-config.json
Servers, PAC mode, and plugin settings beside the exe. Back up this one file before reinstalling. For a second instance, copy the whole folder elsewhere and pick a different local port to avoid conflicts.
/etc/shadowsocks.json
Conventional server config with server, server_port, password, method, and timeout fields. Run with ssserver -c /etc/shadowsocks.json. Client libraries on Linux take their own config paths, so check each client's docs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up my Shadowsocks servers?
Copy gui-config.json from beside Shadowsocks.exe. It holds every server and setting. On a new machine drop it next to a fresh exe. The file contains passwords, so encrypt the backup instead of mailing it around.
Can I run two Shadowsocks instances at once?
Yes. Copy the program to a second folder so each has its own gui-config.json, and set a different local port in one copy. Sharing one folder makes both instances overwrite the same file.
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