Configuration

Polychromatic’s uses JSON to store its data. The location is based on the XDG spec, which is usually:

~/.config/polychromatic/
~/.cache/polychromatic/

Preferences can be changed via the Controller’s Edit → Preferences.

Preferences is accessible via the Edit menu bar

You can manually edit the JSON files based on the specifications below. Note that changes take effect on the next launch and invalid syntax will cause the file to be reinitialised (appending .bak to the file name)

It is usually necessary to restart the application (or editor windows) for new preferences to take effect.

Folder Structure

Folder/File	Purpose
backends/	Backends may use this to store runtime or persistent data
custom_icons/	Copies of imported images for effects, presets or tray icons
effects/	Storage for custom software effects
states/	Internal data noting a device’s current software status
colours.json	Your saved colours list
preferences.json	Application configuration

Obsolete Folders

These were previously used in previous versions (<= 0.3.12) and can be safely deleted.

Folder/File	Purpose
backups/	Copies of old effects (v0.3.12)
profiles/	Storage for keyboard graphic mappings (v0.3.12)

preferences.json

Group	Value	Data Type	Purpose
	`config_version`	int	Internally keeps track of preference version. (Don’t touch!)
`controller`	`landing_tab`	int	Starting from `0`, open a tab index at start-up.
`controller`	`show_menu_bar`	bool	Keep the menu bar visible. Press Alt to reveal if hidden.
`controller`	`system_qt_theme`	bool	Use the system’s Qt theme. Dependant on current theme and environment.
`controller`	`window_behaviour`	int	`0` - Always open in center `1` - Remember last position/size `2` - Let window manager decide
`controller`	`toolbar_style`	int	`0` - System default `1` - Icons only `2` - Text only `3` - Text alongside icons `4` - Text under icons
`custom`	`use_dpi_stages`	bool	Use custom DPI values (mice only)
`custom`	`dpi_stage_{1..5}`	int	5 keys defining the custom DPI value. For example, `"dpi_stage_1": 800, "dpi_stage_2": 1600`
`editor`	`hide_key_labels`	bool	Hide text labels for keyboards/keypads in the editor.
`editor`	`live_preview`	bool	Show the changes on the physical device while in the editor.
`editor`	`show_saved_colour_shades`	bool	Generate light/dark variants of each of your saved colours in the dock.
`editor`	`suppress_confirm_dialog`	bool	Don’t prompt confirmation for actions such as deleting a layer/frame.
`editor`	`system_cursors`	bool	Don’t use custom cursors in the editor.
`tray`	`autostart`	bool	Start tray applet when the user logs in?
`tray`	`autostart_delay`	int	How long (in seconds) to wait before autostarting. This helps some desktop environments that suffer from a race condition which causes the applet to display incorrectly or show no devices.
`tray`	`mode`	int	`0` - Use Default `1` - AppIndicator3 (GTK) `2` - GTK Status Icon (Legacy)
`tray`	`icon`	str	Relative path from data directory, `custom_icons` or an absolute path to the tray icon.

Software Updates

When major changes happen to the application that affects save data, the next run under the new version will automatically update its configuration. Old versions will be copied to a separate file or folder.

As a result, downgrading the software isn’t supported without first restoring the old save data manually.