Where Does WinMerge Store Settings?
WinMerge stores settings in WinMerge.ini. Installed mode uses your roaming profile, while portable mode keeps the file with the program.
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WinMerge reads WinMerge.ini at startup for window layout, compare options and plugin choices. The file is plain text and easy to back up.
Location depends on install type. Installed builds use AppData Roaming, while portable builds keep settings beside the executable for travel between machines.
Where WinMerge stores this, by platform
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\WinMerge\WinMerge.ini
<username> is your Windows account name. Used by standard installs. Delete or rename the file while WinMerge is closed to reset to defaults.
<installdir>\WinMerge.ini
<installdir> is the folder containing WinMergeU.exe. Used when WinMerge runs in portable mode. Keeps settings on a USB drive or synced folder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up WinMerge settings?
Close WinMerge, then copy WinMerge.ini to safe storage. Restore by placing the copy back in the same folder before launch.
Why do my settings not stick?
Portable and installed copies use different files, so confirm which exe you launched. Also avoid running with restricted rights that block writes to AppData.
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