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---
sidebar_position: 2
title: Settings reference
description: Complete reference of all configuration settings available in Podman Desktop
tags: [podman-desktop, settings, configuration]
keywords: [podman desktop, settings, configuration, preferences]
---
# Settings Reference
To customize your Podman Desktop experience, modify the `settings.json` file located in your user configuration directory. You can also adjust these settings, except for internal settings, through the **Settings > Preferences** page in Podman Desktop.
## Configuration File Location
Your user settings are stored in a JSON file at the following locations:
import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';
< Tabs groupId = "operating-systems" >
< TabItem value = "windows" label = "Windows" >
```
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%USERPROFILE%\.local\share\containers\podman-desktop\configuration\settings.json
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```
< / TabItem >
< TabItem value = "mac" label = "macOS" >
```
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~/.local/share/containers/podman-desktop/configuration/settings.json
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```
< / TabItem >
< TabItem value = "linux" label = "Linux" >
```
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~/.local/share/containers/podman-desktop/configuration/settings.json
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```
< / TabItem >
< / Tabs >
## User Settings
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| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `dockerCompatibility.enabled` | boolean | `false` | Enable Docker compatibility section |
| `editor.integrated.fontSize` | number | `10` | Editor font size (6-100 px) |
| `extensions.autoCheckUpdates` | boolean | `true` | Auto-check for extension updates |
| `extensions.autoUpdate` | boolean | `true` | Auto-install extension updates |
| `extensions.ignoreBannerRecommendations` | boolean | `false` | Disable recommendation banners |
| `extensions.ignoreRecommendations` | boolean | `false` | Disable extension recommendations |
| `feedback.dialog` | boolean | `true` | Show experimental feature feedback dialog |
| `kubernetes.Kubeconfig` | string | `"~/.kube/config"` | Path to kubeconfig file |
| `kubernetes.statesExperimental` | object | `null` | **EXPERIMENTAL:** New context monitoring. Example: `{}` |
| `preferences.appearance` | string | `"system"` | Theme: `"system"` , `"dark"` , or `"light"` |
| `preferences.ExitOnClose` | boolean | Platform | Quit app on close vs minimize to tray |
| `preferences.login.minimize` | boolean | `false` | Minimize on login |
| `preferences.login.start` | boolean | `true` | Start on login |
| `preferences.navigationBarLayout` | string | `"icon + title"` | Navigation style: `"icon + title"` or `"icon"` |
| `preferences.OpenDevTools` | string | `"undocked"` | DevTools position in dev mode |
| `preferences.TrayIconColor` | string | `"default"` | Tray icon color (requires restart) |
| `preferences.update.reminder` | string | `"startup"` | Update reminders: `"startup"` or `"never"` |
| `preferences.zoomLevel` | number | `0` | Zoom level (-3 to 3) |
| `preferences.{extensionId}.engine.autostart` | boolean | `true` | Autostart engine on launch (e.g., `preferences.podman.engine.autostart` ) |
| `proxy.enabled` | number | `0` | Proxy mode: 0=System, 1=Manual, 2=Disabled |
| `proxy.http` | string | `""` | HTTP proxy URL |
| `proxy.https` | string | `""` | HTTPS proxy URL |
| `proxy.no` | string | `""` | No-proxy pattern (comma-separated) |
| `registries.defaults` | array | `[]` | Default registries and mirrors for container image pulls. See [Managed configuration use cases ](/docs/configuration/managed-configuration-use-cases#configuring-default-registries-and-mirrors ) and [containers-registries.conf ](https://github.com/containers/image/blob/main/docs/containers-registries.conf.5.md ) |
| `statusbarProviders.showProviders` | object | `null` | **EXPERIMENTAL:** Show providers in status bar. Example: `{"remindAt": 1758312136049, "disabled": false}` |
| `tasks.manager` | object | `null` | **EXPERIMENTAL:** New task manager widget. Example: `{}` |
| `tasks.statusBar` | object | `null` | **EXPERIMENTAL:** Show tasks in status bar. Example: `{}` |
| `tasks.toast` | boolean | `false` | Show task creation notifications |
| `telemetry.enabled` | boolean | `true` | Send anonymous usage data to Red Hat |
| `terminal.integrated.fontSize` | number | `10` | Terminal font size (6-100 px) |
| `terminal.integrated.lineHeight` | number | `1` | Terminal line height (1-4) |
| `titleBar.searchBar` | object | `null` | **EXPERIMENTAL:** Enable titlebar searchbar. Example: `{}` |
| `userConfirmation.bulk` | boolean | `true` | Confirm bulk actions |
| `userConfirmation.fetchImageFiles` | boolean | `true` | Confirm fetching image layers |
| `window.restorePosition` | boolean | `true` | Restore window position on restart |
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## Internal Settings
These settings are automatically managed by Podman Desktop and should not typically be modified manually:
| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `exploreFeatures.expanded` | boolean | `true` | Explore features expanded state |
| `exploreFeatures.hiddenFeatures` | array | `null` | Hidden feature IDs |
| `extensions.developmentExtensionsFolders` | array | `[]` | Development extension folders |
| `extensions.registryUrl` | string | `"https://registry.podman-desktop.io/api/extensions.json"` | Extensions catalog URL |
| `learningCenter.expanded` | boolean | `true` | Learning center expanded state |
| `libpodApi.forImageList` | boolean | `true` | Use libpod API for images |
| `list.{listKind}` | array | Dynamic | Column preferences per list type (e.g., `list.containers` , `list.images` ) |
| `navbar.disabledItems` | array | `[]` | Disabled navigation items |
| `preferences.update.disableDifferentialDownload` | boolean | Platform | Disable differential download |
| `releaseNotesBanner.show` | string | `"show"` | Release notes banner state |
| `statusBar.pinnedItems` | array | `["podman"]` | Pinned status bar items |
| `telemetry.check` | boolean | `false` | Telemetry dialog shown |
| `welcome.version` | string | `"undefined"` | Welcome page version shown |
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| `window.bounds` | object | `null` | Window position and size. Example: `{"x": 2008, "y": 310, "width": 1022, "height": 795}` |
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## Example Configuration
```json
{
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"preferences.appearance": "dark",
"preferences.zoomLevel": 0,
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"telemetry.enabled": false,
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"terminal.integrated.fontSize": 12,
"editor.integrated.fontSize": 14,
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"preferences.update.reminder": "never",
"kubernetes.Kubeconfig": "~/.kube/config",
"preferences.login.start": true,
"extensions.autoUpdate": true,
"userConfirmation.bulk": true,
"proxy.http": "https://127.0.0.1:8081",
"statusbarProviders.showProviders": {
"remindAt": 1758312136049,
"disabled": false
},
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"window.bounds": {
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"x": 2008,
"y": 310,
"width": 1022,
"height": 795
}
}
```
## See Also
- [Managed Configuration ](/docs/configuration/managed-configuration ) - Deploy and lock settings across multiple machines
