Where Does WLED Keep Presets?
WLED keeps presets and configs on the controller flash, with JSON backups wherever you download them. The split explained.
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WLED stores the live presets on the microcontroller flash, not on any computer. What you see in the browser comes from the device each visit. Files only enter the picture on export.
Backups are JSON downloads you place yourself, usually in Documents. That surprises people hunting config folders. No download means the only copy rides inside the controller.
Where WLED stores this, by platform
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\presets.json
User downloaded JSON snapshots of presets and config, saved through Config then Backup in the web UI. The live copy stays on controller flash. Name files per controller and date.
~/Documents/presets.json
Same export model on Mac. The browser download folder receives the JSON; move it beside install notes. Live presets remain on the device until overwritten by restore.
~/Documents/presets.json
Identical handling on Linux. Automate pulls with the JSON API when backups must run on schedule rather than by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my WLED backups?
Open the WLED web UI, then Config and Backup, and download presets.json plus config backups to Documents with the install name and date. Each file is one snapshot. Without a download there is nothing on disk to find, since the controller holds the live copy.
How do I restore WLED?
Upload the saved JSON through the same Backup page and reboot the controller. Presets, segments and palettes return together. Keep one backup per controller, since files do not transfer across different LED counts cleanly.
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