Move / Reset FreeCAD Settings

 If you want to move your FreeCAD settings between versions or installations, you can do that by backing up and restoring the configuration folder. This folder saves your preferences, custom toolbars, and any macros you've set up. Also, if you're working with older project files, you can update them using the “Migrate” option under the PartDesign menu.

Steps to Do It:

  1. Find the Configuration Folder:

    • On Windows: Go to C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData\Roaming\FreeCAD. If you don’t see the AppData folder, you might need to enable the option to show hidden files.

    • On Linux/macOS: The folder is usually at ~/.config/FreeCAD.

  2. Backup the Folder:

    • Copy the entire FreeCAD folder and save it somewhere safe.

  3. Restore When Needed:

    • If you're installing a new version or setting up on another computer, just copy the saved FreeCAD folder back to its original spot in your user profile.

Resetting FreeCAD to Default Settings on

How to reset FreeCAD to its default state (including UI and toolbars), follow these steps:


Close FreeCAD before proceeding.

On Windows:

Either delete or for safety move the primary configuration files, which are located in the following paths:

User settings: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\FreeCAD\user.cfg

System settings: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\FreeCAD\system.cfg

Note this directory may differ and could be something like or C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\FreeCAD\ or you could use the shortcut in windows explorer or cmd :

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\FreeCAD\

and find the files from there

On Linux:

Either delete or for safety move the primary configuration files, which are located in the following paths:

User settings: /home/username/.FreeCAD/user.cfg

System settings: /home/username/.FreeCAD/system.cfg

Toolbar configuration is stored separately in:

$HOME/.config/FreeCAD/FreeCAD.conf

For convenience, you can save these commands in a batch file (e.g., fc3dReset.bat) to create a one-click solution i.e for windows if you wanted to delete the files or change the script to, say, rename them .

del %AppData%\FreeCAD\system.cfg

del %AppData%\FreeCAD\user.cfg

By following these steps, you can reset FreeCAD to its default state. Save the relevant commands in a script for ease of use if needed.

Note: This may not reset the colour theme which can be reset from the preferences.

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