Where Does Winamp Store Settings and Library?
Winamp Roaming settings and media library on Windows, and the paths.ini trick for portable mode.
Last updated
Clean Winamp installs keep everything in %APPDATA%\Winamp regardless of program folder: winamp.ini for options, Plugins\ml\main.dat plus main.idx for the media library, gen_ml.ini for library views, with skins, playlists and EQ files beside them.
Portable mode is one deletion away: removing paths.ini from the install dir redirects settings next to the exe instead of Roaming. Moving music folders breaks binary library paths, fixed by hex editing main.dat with Winamp closed or reimporting (WACUP reads legacy libraries). Binaries live in Program Files; never confuse the two trees.
Where Winamp stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Winamp\
winamp.ini, Plugins\ml\main.dat plus main.idx (library), gen_ml.ini, skins, playlists, EQ presets. Portable when paths.ini is absent from install dir (settings beside exe). Binaries in Program Files. Windows only.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up my Winamp library?
Copy the whole %APPDATA%\Winamp tree with Winamp closed: ini plus Plugins\ml database plus skins and playlists travel as one set. Moving music afterwards needs main.dat path surgery.
How do I make Winamp portable?
Delete paths.ini from the install folder so settings write beside the exe. The PortableApps single exe repack differs; the paths.ini trick is the classic route.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.