Where Is the Tumbler Config File?
Tumbler thumbnailer rc config with system default and cache dir.
Last updated
Tumbler reads one rc file under XDG config with a system default under xdg share. User overrides win cleanly. The lookup order is fixed in source.
Thumbnails land in the shared cache dir by spec. That folder belongs to the desktop, not the service. Keep backup to the rc file.
Where Tumbler stores this, by platform
~/.config/tumbler/tumbler.rc
User rc overriding the system default under xdg share. Lookup fixed in source. Thumbnails in the shared freedesktop cache, not app-owned.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up Tumbler?
Copy the tumbler rc file with no thumbnailing running. Cache rebuilds on demand, so it needs no backup. Restoring means putting the rc back before opening file managers.
Is the thumbnail cache Tumbler's?
The cache dir is freedesktop-shared across apps, not Tumbler-exclusive. Clearing it wipes every thumbnailer at once. The rc file is the only Tumbler-owned path.
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