preferences folder

The Praat preferences folder is the folder where Praat saves the preferences file and the buttons file, and where you can install plug-ins and save the preferences of your scripts (in your subfolder of the apps subfolder). If the preferences folder does not exist, it will automatically be created when you start Praat.

## Windows

If you are user Miep, your Praat preferences folder will be `C:\Users\Miep\Praat` in Praat 6.xx, and `C:\Users\Miep\AppData\Roaming\Praat` in Praat 7.xx.

To see what’s in there, open a File Explorer window, switch on `View` → `Show` → `Hidden items`, and navigate to `Local Disk` → `Users` → `your name` → `AppData` → `Roaming` → `Praat`.

## Macintosh

If you are user miep, your Praat preferences folder will be `/Users/miep/Library/Preferences/Praat Prefs` in Praat 6.xx, and `/Users/miep/Library/Application Support/Praat` in Praat 7.xx.

To see what’s in there, go to the Finder, choose Go → Library, and navigate to `Application Support` → `Praat`.

## Linux

If your home folder is `/home/miep/`, your Praat preferences folder will be `/home/miep/.praat-dir` in Praat 6.xx, and `/home/miep/.config/praat` in Praat 7.xx.

To see what’s in there, open a Terminal window and type `ls -al ~/.config/praat`.

(If the environment variable `XDG_CONFIG_HOME` is set, then the `praat` folder will be there instead.)

If your app isn’t called Praat, but e.g. PraatForHospitals (Praat’s extra safe edition available from version 7 on), then the preferences folder isn’t called `Praat` or `praat`, but `PraatForHospitals` or `praat_for_hospitals` instead.

### Links to this page

- Scripting 5.1. Variables