Configuration file

The configuration file provides a way to edit both global and game-specific settings. It is a text file containing configuration keys and parameters.

Settings are also accessible directly from the Launcher. See Changing settings.

Location

The configuration file saves to different default locations, depending on the platform. The configuration file path is also displayed on the Paths tab.

Windows

%APPDATA%\ScummVM\scummvm.ini

For Windows 95/98/ME, the file is at C:\WINDOWS\scummvm.ini

macOS

~/Library/Preferences/ScummVM Preferences

Note

If an earlier version of ScummVM was installed on your system, the configuration file remains in the previous default location of ~/.scummvmrc.

Tip

To see the Library folder, press Option when clicking Go in the Finder menu.

Linux

ScummVM follows the XDG Base Directory Specification, so by default the configuration file is found at ~/.config/scummvm/scummvm.ini, but its location might vary depending on the value of the XDG_CONFIG_HOME environment variable.

If ScummVM was installed using Snap, the configuration file is found at ~/snap/scummvm/current/.config/scummvm/scummvm.ini

Note

.config is a hidden directory. To view it use ls -a on the command line.

Using the configuration file

Global settings are listed under the [scummvm] heading. Global keymaps settings are listed under the [keymapper] heading. Game-specific settings, including keymaps, are listed under the heading for that game, for example [queen] for Flight of the Amazon Queen. Use the configuration keys to change settings.

Example of a configuration file

[scummvm]
gfx_mode=supereagle
fullscreen=true
savepath=C:\saves\

[sky]
path=C:\games\SteelSky\

[germansky]
gameid=sky
language=de
path=C:\games\SteelSky\
description=Beneath a Steel Sky w/ German subtitles

[germandott]
gameid=tentacle
path=C:\german\tentacle\
description=German version of DOTT

[tentacle]
path=C:\tentacle\
subtitles=true
music_volume=40
sfx_volume=255

[loomcd]
cdrom=1
path=C:\loom\
talkspeed=5
savepath=C:\loom\saves\

[monkey2]
path=C:\amiga_mi2\
music_driver=windows

Default configuration file option

An initial (default) configuration file can be specified via the command line using the --i or --initial-cfg option. ScummVM uses this default file if the configuration file is missing from its usual location, such as after initial install, or if the user deletes their configuration file.

Setting an initial configuration file in this way allows default settings to easily be bundled with a game. The alternatives are to use the command line for all settings, which has fewer options and in some cases means the user can’t change settings, or to install a default configuration file to a writable location and using the --config option, which is harder to deploy, and leaves the user with no way to restore default settings except re-installing the game.

Configuration keys

There are many recognized configuration keys. In the table below, each key is either linked to an explanatory description in the Settings pages, or has further information in the Decription/Options column.

Key	Type	Default	Description/Options
alsa_port	integer		Specifies which ALSA port ScummVM uses when using the ALSA music driver (Linux).
alt_intro	boolean	false
altamigapalette	boolean	false
always_christmas	boolean	true
antialiasing	integer	0	0, 2, 4, 8
apple2gs_speedmenu	boolean	false
aspect_ratio	boolean	false
audio_buffer_size	integer	Calculated based on output sampling frequency to keep audio latency below 45ms.	Overrides the size of the audio buffer. Allowed values 256 512 1024 2048 4096 8192 16384 32768
audio_override	boolean	true
automatic_drilling	boolean	false
auto_savenames	boolean	false
autosave_period	integer	300
auto_savenames	boolean	false	Automatically generates names for saved games
bilinear_filtering	boolean	false
boot_param	integer	none
bright_palette	boolean	true
camera_on_player	boolean	true
cdrom	integer	0	Sets which CD drive to play CD audio from (as a numeric index). If a negative number is set, ScummVM does not access the CD drive.
cdromdelay	boolean
cheat	boolean	false
cheats	boolean	true
color	boolean
commandpromptwindow	boolean	false
confirm_exit	boolean	false
console	boolean	true	Enables the console window for Win32/Symbian32.
controller_map_db	string	gamecontrollerdb.txt is loaded from the specified extrapath	Specifies the custom controller mapping file to load to complete the default database (SDL backend only).
copy_protection	boolean	false	Enables copy protection
demo_mode	boolean	false	Starts demo mode of Maniac Mansion or the 7th Guest
correct_spanish_credits	boolean	false
credits_music	boolean	false
datausr_load	boolean	false
debug	boolean	false
description	string
desired_screen_aspect_ratio	string	auto
dimuse_tempo	integer	10	Sets internal Digital iMuse tempo per second; 0 - 100
disable_demo_mode	boolean	false
disable_dithering	boolean	false
disable_falling	boolean	false
disable_sensors	boolean	false
disable_stamina_drain	boolean	false
displaytext	boolean	true
dos_music_tempo	boolean	true	If set to false, plays the Windows version music tempo.
DurableArmor	boolean	false
easier_ai	boolean	false
EasyMouse	boolean	true
enable_assets_mod	boolean	true
enable_bearded_musicians	boolean	false
enable_black_lined_video		false
enable_censoring	boolean	false
enable_color_blind	boolean	false
enable_enhancements	boolean	true
enable_font_antialiasing	boolean	true
enable_gore	boolean
enable_gs	boolean
enable_high_resolution_graphics	boolean	true
enable_hq_video	boolean	true
enable_larryscale	boolean	true
enable_reporter	boolean	false	RISC OS only.
enable_video_upscale	boolean	true
enable_tts	boolean	false
enable_unsupported_game_warning	boolean	true	Shows a warning when adding a game that is unsupported.
extended_timer	boolean	false
extra	string		Shows additional information about a game, such as version
english_speech	boolean	false
extrapath	string	None
iconspath	string	None
infiniteAmmo	boolean	false
infiniteHealth	boolean	false
disable_fade_effects	boolean	false
doublefps	boolean	false
fade_style	boolean	true
fast_movie_speed	boolean	false
filtering	boolean	false
floating_cursors	boolean	false
fluidsynth_chorus_activate	boolean	true
fluidsynth_chorus_depth	integer	80	0 - 210
fluidsynth_chorus_level	integer	100	0 - 100
fluidsynth_chorus_nr	integer	3	0 - 99
fluidsynth_chorus_speed	integer	30	10 - 500
fluidsynth_chorus_waveform	string	Sine	sine triangle
fluidsynth_misc_interpolation	string	4th	none 4th 7th linear.
fluidsynth_reverb_activate	boolean	true
fluidsynth_reverb_damping	integer	0	0 - 1
fluidsynth_reverb_level	integer	90	0 - 100
fluidsynth_reverb_roomsize	integer	20	0 - 100
fluidsynth_reverb_width	integer	1	0 - 100
font_antialiasing	boolean	false
font_override	boolean	false
footsteps	boolean	true
force_2d_renderer	boolean	false
forced_dpi_scaling	integer		Overrides DPI scaling factor reported by the system.
frameLimit	boolean	true
frameSkip	boolean	false
frames_per_secondfl	boolean	false
frontpanel_touchpad_mode	boolean	false
fullscreen	boolean	false
gameid	string		Short name of the game. For internal use only, do not edit.
gamepath	string		Specifies the path to the game
gfx_mode	string	normal (1x)	1x 2x 3x 2xsai super2xsai supereagle advmame2x advmame3x hq2x hq3x tv2x dot-matrix opengl
gm_device	string	null	auto alsa seq sndio fluidsynth timidity
gui_browser_native	boolean	true
gui_browser_show_hidden	boolean	false	Shows hidden files/folders in the ScummVM file browser.
gui_list_max_scan_entries	integer	-1	Specifies the threshold for scanning directories in the Launcher. If the number of game entires exceeds the specified number, then scanning is skipped.
gui_return_to_launcher_at_exit	boolean	false
gui_saveload_chooser	string	grid	list grid
gui_saveload_last_pos	string	0
gui_use_game_language	boolean
helium_mode	boolean	false
help_style	boolean	false
herculesfont	boolean	false
hpbargraphs	boolean	true
hypercheat	boolean	false
iconspath	string
improved	boolean	true
intro_music_digital	boolean	true
InvObjectsAnimated	boolean	true
joystick_deadzone	integer	3
joystick_num	integer	0	Enables joystick input and selects which joystick to use. The default is the first joystick.
kbdmouse_speed	integer	10
keymap_engine-default_DOWN	string	JOY_DOWN
keymap_engine-default_LCLK	string	MOUSE_LEFT JOY_A
keymap_engine-default_LEFT	string	JOY_LEFT
keymap_engine-default_MCLK	string	MOUSE_MIDDLE
keymap_engine-default_MENU	string	F5 JOY_LEFT_SHOULDER
keymap_engine-default_PAUSE	string	SPACE
keymap_engine-default_PIND	string
keymap_engine-default_RCLK	string	MOUSE_RIGHT JOY_B
keymap_engine-default_RETURN	string	RETURN
keymap_engine-default_RIGHT	string	JOY_RIGHT
keymap_engine-default_SKIP	string	ESCAPE JOY
keymap_engine-default_SKLI	string	PERIOD JOY_X
keymap_engine-default_UP	string	JOY_UP
keymap_global_DEBUGGER	string	C+A+d
keymap_global_MENU	string	C+F5 JOY_START
keymap_global_MUTE	string	C+u
keymap_global_QUIT	string	C+q
keymap_global_VMOUSEDOWN	string	JOY_LEFT_STICK_Y+
keymap_global_VMOUSELEFT	string	JOY_LEFT_STICK_X-
keymap_global_VMOUSERIGHT	string	JOY_LEFT_STICK_X+
keymap_global_VMOUSESLOW	string	JOY_RIGHT_SHOULDER
keymap_global_VMOUSEUP	string	JOY_LEFT_STICK_Y-
keymap_gui_CLOS	string	ESCAPE JOY_Y
keymap_gui_DOWN	string	JOY_DOWN
keymap_gui_INTRCT	string	JOY_A
keymap_gui_LEFT	string
keymap_gui_RIGHT	string	JOY_RIGHT
keymap_gui_UP	string	JOY_UP
keymap_sdl-graphics_ASPT	string	C+A+a
keymap_sdl-graphics_CAPT	string	C+m
keymap_sdl-graphics_FILT	string	C+A+f
keymap_sdl-graphics_FLTN	string	C+A+0
keymap_sdl-graphics_FLTP	string	C+A+9
keymap_sdl-graphics_FULS	string	A+RETURN
keymap_sdl-graphics_SCL-	string	C+A+MINUS
keymap_sdl-graphics_SCL+	string	C+A+PLUS
keymap_sdl-graphics_SCRS	string	A+s
keymap_sdl-graphics_STCH	string	C+A+s
language	string
local_server_port	integer	12345
mac_v3_low_quality_music	boolean	false
midi_gain	integer		0 - 1000
midi_mode	string		Standard D110 FB01
mm_nes_classic_palette	boolean	false
monotext	boolean	true
mouse	boolean	true
mousebtswap	boolean	false
mousesupport	boolean	true
movie	boolean	true
mpegmovies	boolean	true
mt32_device	string	auto	auto alsa seq fluidsynth mt32 timidity
mtropolis_debug_at_start	boolean	false
mtropolis_mod_auto_save_at_checkpoints	boolean	true
mtropolis_mod_dynamic_midi	boolean	true
mtropolis_mod_minimum_transition_duration	boolean	true
mtropolis_mod_obsidian_widescreen	boolean	false
mtropolis_mod_sound_gameplay_subtitles	boolean	false
multi_midi	boolean
music_driver [scummvm]	string	auto	null auto seq (Unix) sndio (Unix) alsa (Unix) CAMD (Amiga) core (Mac) coremidi (Mac - hardware) windows (Windows) fluidsynth mt32 adlib pcspk pcjr cms timidity
music_driver [game]	string	auto	The same options as music_driver in [scummvm] plus: towns C64 pc98 segacd
music_mute	boolean	false	Mutes the game music.
music_volume	integer	192	0-256
mute	boolean	false
native_mt32	boolean	false
NaughtyMode	boolean	true
noanimwhileturning	boolean	false
nodelaymillisfl	boolean	false
ntsc	boolean
object_labels	boolean	true
opl2lpt_parport		null
opl3_mode	boolean	false
opl_driver	string		auto mame db nuked alsa op2lpt op3lpt rwopl3
original_gui	boolean	true
original_menus	boolean	false
originalsaveload	boolean	false
outputchannels	integer		Allows the user to specify the number of audio output channels; 1 for mono or 2 for stereo
output_rate	integer		Sensible values are: 11025 22050 44100
palette_mods	boolean	false
platform	string
portaits_on	boolean	true
prefer_digitalsfx	boolean	true
prerecorded_sounds	boolean	true
renderer	string	default	opengl opengl_shaders software
render_mode	string	default	hercGreen hercAmber cga ega vga amiga fmtowns pc9821 pc9801 2gs atari macintosh
repeatwillihint	boolean
restored	boolean	true
retrowaveopl3_bus	string		Specifies how the RetroWave OPL3 is connected: serial (connected to a USB port using a PotatoPi) spi (connected as a HAT using SPI)
retrowaveopl3_disable_buffer	boolean	false
retrowaveopl3_port	string		Specifies the serial port that the RetroWave OPL3 is connected to. For example: COM3 ttyACM2
retrowaveopl3_spi_cs	string		Specifies the GPIO chip and line that the RetroWave OPL3 is connected to. Use the format <chip>,<line>.
rgb_rendering	boolean	false
rootpath	string
savepath	string
save_slot	integer	autosave	Specifies the saved game slot to load
scalemakingofvideos	boolean	false
scanlines	boolean	false
screenshotpath	string	See screenshotpath	Specifies where screenshots are saved
semi_smooth_scroll	boolean	false
sfx_mute	boolean	false	Mutes the game sound effects.
sfx_volume	integer	192
shorty	boolean	false
show_fps	boolean	false
ShowItemCosts	boolean	false
silver_cursors	boolean	false
sitcom	boolean	false
skip_support	boolean	true
skiphallofrecordsscenes	boolean	false
slim_hotspots	boolean	true
smooth_scrolling	boolean	true
sound	boolean	true
speech_mute	boolean	false
speech_volume	integer	192
speedrun_mode	boolean	false
stretch_mode	string		center pixel-perfect fit stretch fit_force_aspect
studio_audience	boolean	true
subtitles	boolean	false
talkspeed	integer	60	0 - 255
tempo	integer	100	Sets the music tempo, in percent, for SCUMM games. 50-200
targetedjump	boolean	true
TextWindowAnimated	boolean	true
themepath	string	none
transition_mode	boolean	false	For Riven, this is a string with 4 options Disabled Fastest Normal Best
transparent_windows	boolean	true
transparentdialogboxes	boolean	false
trim_fmtowns_to_200_pixels	boolean	false
tts_enabled	boolean	false
tts_enabled_objects	boolean	false
tts_enabled_speech	boolean	false
tts_narrator	boolean	false
use_cdaudio	boolean	true	If true, ScummVM uses audio from the game CD.
versioninfo	string		Shows the ScummVM version that created the configuration file.
unlockAlllevels	boolean	false
usecd	boolean	false
use_crawl_subs	boolean	true
usehighres	boolean	false
use_linear_filtering	boolean	true
version	boolean	false
voice	boolean	true
venusenabled	boolean	true
vsync	boolean	true
wallcollision	boolean	false
water_effects	boolean
widescreen_mod	boolean	false
window_style	boolean	true
windows_cursors	boolean	false
zip_mode	boolean

Screenshot path

The default location for the screenshotpath depends on your system.

Windows

In %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ScummVM Screenshots

macOS

On the Desktop.

Linux

In the XDG Pictures user directory, for example ~/Pictures/ScummVM Screenshots

Any other OS

In the current directory.