Where Does XnView Store Settings?
XnView settings file for MP and Classic on every OS, and the save location toggle that hides them.
Last updated
XnView MP keeps settings plus catalog databases in xnview.ini: %APPDATA%\XnViewMP on Windows, ~/.xnviewmp on Mac, ~/.config/XnViewMP on Linux. Classic (Windows only) uses %APPDATA%\XnView with bookmark and category files beside it.
The vanishing settings trick is the save location toggle: User versus Program folder changes which ini is live, so flips look like data loss. Verify with Tools, Settings, Integration, Paths, Open Config Files Location. Portable mode keeps the ini next to the exe (force any path with -ini), and cross OS migration needs catalog path relocation since filters store absolute paths.
Where XnView stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\XnViewMP\xnview.ini
MP settings plus catalog .db (copy whole folder to migrate). Classic uses %APPDATA%\XnView\xnview.ini (or registry HKCU\Software\XnView if selected). Portable keeps ini beside exe; custom path via -ini.
~/.xnviewmp/xnview.ini
MP canonical per XnView FAQ (older threads mention ~/.config variants; confirm via Integration, Paths). Portable Mac archives can keep settings beside the executable.
~/.config/XnViewMP/xnview.ini
MP only (Classic is Windows only). Migrate by copying the folder, then Settings, Catalog, Relocate for changed drive paths. Portable archives keep settings beside the binary.
Frequently asked questions
My XnView settings vanished after changing an option. Where are they?
Probably in the other ini. The User versus Program save toggle switches the live file, so open Config Files Location to see which one counts and copy values across.
How do I move XnView to another computer?
Copy the whole settings folder above (ini plus catalog databases). Cross OS moves also need catalog path relocation since filters record absolute paths.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.