Configuration Reference

Configuration Reference

Config file: ~/.look/config (legacy ~/.look.config is still read). Override the path with LOOK_CONFIG_PATH.

• One key=value per line; # starts a comment.
• Out-of-range or unparseable values fall back to defaults.
• Reload with Cmd+Shift+; (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+; (Linux/Windows), or restart Look.

Full reference: docs/user-guide.md.

Indexing

• app_scan_roots, app_scan_depth, app_exclude_paths, app_exclude_names
• file_scan_roots, file_scan_extra_roots, file_scan_depth, file_scan_limit, file_exclude_paths
• ignored_patterns_<group>: gitignore-style globs (*, **, ?, [abc]), values separated by |, files only
• lazy_indexing_enabled
• skip_dir_names
• alias_<keyword>: app / System Settings aliases, e.g. alias_note=Notion|Obsidian|Notes

Calendar (macOS clock tile)

• secondary_calendar: none, lunar (East Asian) or hijri (Islamic)
• hijri_day_offset: integer day offset to match local moon sighting (default 0)

Behaviour (file-only settings)

• launcher_hotkey: global show/hide shortcut. Default cmd+space (macOS), alt+space (Windows/Linux). Examples: ctrl+space, alt+shift+space, f13. none disables registration (bind lookapp --toggle yourself).
• shortcut_<group>_<action> (macOS): rebind in-app shortcuts, e.g. shortcut_main_copy. Multiple chords separated by |.
• app_hotkey_<name>=<shortcut>|<target>: global shortcut launching an app, e.g. app_hotkey_terminal=cmd+shift+t|Ghostty.
• clipboard_history_limit: 10 to 100, default 10.
• query_retention_seconds: how long the query survives while hidden. Default 5; 0 clears on every hide; negative keeps it.
• translate_languages: codes for the t" panel, default vi,en,ja.
• text_editor, code_editor, terminal, file_manager: preferred tools.

System

• backend_log_level, launch_at_login, add_to_path (Windows)
• ai_enabled: toggles web answer cards and suggestions (on by default)
• running_apps_placement: none = off, any other value = on