Program Configuration Data Location

User Configuration Data

Bambu Studio needs to store persistent user-specific program configuration information somewhere outside of the program's installation directory. This includes user preferences, custom profiles, and logs, for example.

This is also where all standard presets are stored. These are updated when a Studio version change is detected, or if an online profiles update is installed (which can be enabled in the program's Preferences). A "version change" may be either to a newer or older version, which avoids most conflicts (eg. running an older Studio with newer, possibly incompatible, presets).

By default, this location varies by operating system, Studio release type, and possibly other factors. Typically it will be in the same place where other applications store such data. Some common locations include:

• Windows: C:\Users\<USER_NAME>\BambuStudio (or %APPDATA%\BambuStudio)
• MacOS: Users/<USER_NAME>/Library/Application Support/BambuStudio
• Linux: /home/<USER_NAME>/.config/BambuStudio
• Linux (Flatpak): /home/<USER_NAME>/.var/app/com.bambulab.BambuStudio/config/BambuStudio

Configuration folder name of Studio beta releases will end with BambuStudioBeta instead.

To quickly open the current configuration folder while Studio is running, open the Help menu from the top menu bar and select the "Show Configuration Folder" option.

Custom Configuration Storage Location

In some situations, it may be desirable to specify a custom location for the user configuration data. For example to test a new, or old, version of the program without affecting a current working version. Or to have a truly portable installation with the program and all data in a central location, like a portable drive or network share.

Note: These features are only available in Bambu Studio version 02.08.01.55 and later.

There are two ways to use an alternate data storage location:

1) Using the --datadir command argument when starting Studio.

The argument should be followed by a location in the file system. For example:

bambu-studio.exe --datadir "C:\Temp\BambuStudio"
bambu-studio --datadir ~/BambuStudio
BambuStudio.app/Contents/MacOS/BambuStudio --datadir ~/BambuStudio

The argument can be specified when running Studio from a command-line (console/terminal), could be used in a startup script, as part of a Windows shortcut, a default argument when starting a MacOS .app bundle, etc. The setup for this is the same as for any other application requiring command-line arguments. Please refer to generic instructions for your operating system and situation, or inquire via one of our community support channels.

See Command Line Usage for general information on invoking Studio with arguments.

2) Special configuration folder next to the program's current location in the file system.

When the program starts, and --datadir argument is not used, it will check for the presence of a special folder named "configuration". If found, this folder will be used as the user configuration data, instead of the default location. The folder name spelling must be exact, and is case-sensitive on MacOS and Linux (must be all lower-case).

In general, this folder is expected to be in the same file system location the program is being run from. Specifically:

• Windows: In the same folder as the bambu-studio.exe and the "resources" folder.
• MacOS (app bundle): In the same folder as the BambuStudio.app file.
  
• Linux (archive): In the same folder as the bin folder and the "resources" folder, at the root of the installed location.
• Linux (AppImage): In the same folder as the BambuStudio.AppImage file.
  Note that the AppImage archive itself could also contain a "configuration" folder in the root, as described above.