Where Does Shortwave Store Library and Settings on Linux?
Shortwave keeps favorites and settings in standard Linux data and config folders, or under Flatpak app storage.
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Shortwave follows normal Linux locations. Library data sits under ~/.local/share/shortwave and preferences under ~/.config/shortwave (or the de.haeckerfelix.Shortwave names on older builds). The station list itself comes from radio-browser.info, so only your favorites and local settings need backup.
Flatpak installs shift everything under ~/.var/app/de.haeckerfelix.Shortwave. Check that tree first if the plain home paths look empty. Copying those two folders to a new machine restores the library.
Where Shortwave stores this, by platform
~/.local/share/shortwave
Favorites and cached station data for native installs. Flatpak equivalent is ~/.var/app/de.haeckerfelix.Shortwave/data/shortwave. Close the app before copying.
~/.config/shortwave
Preferences and window state. Flatpak equivalent is ~/.var/app/de.haeckerfelix.Shortwave/config/shortwave. Small folder, worth including in dotfile backups.
Frequently asked questions
I installed Shortwave from Flathub, where is my data?
Look under ~/.var/app/de.haeckerfelix.Shortwave for data and config subfolders. Native package paths do not apply to Flatpak. Back up that whole app folder to keep favorites and settings together.
Do I need to back up the station database?
No. The catalog comes from radio-browser.info on demand. Your library file plus config holds everything personal. A fresh install refetches station details when you go online.
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