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Configuration Storage

WinSCP can store its configuration both to Windows registry and INI file. When installed, the configuration is stored by default into the registry. Portable versions use by default an INI file (if possible). To switch the storage see Storage tab of Preferences window.

Note that configuration of restrictions and enforcements by administrator, is always stored in Windows registry.

Removing Configuration
Transferring or Backing up the Configuration
Registry Key
INI File Location
Auto-selecting Storage
Portable Configuration
Pre-configuring WinSCP

Removing Configuration

You can clean up all configuration data stored on your machine.

Transferring or Backing up the Configuration

You can export your configuration into an INI file using Export button on Preferences dialog. To import the configuration on another location, copy the INI file into the directory that WinSCP is installed. If you do not have a write permissions to the installation directory, you can point WinSCP to a different location.

After copying the INI file you can change the configuration storage to make WinSCP import the settings from an INI file to the registry.

Registry Key

If you use registry as configuration storage, the configuration is stored under following key.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Martin Prikryl\WinSCP 2]

INI File Location

INI file is located in the directory from which WinSCP was started. The INI file has an .ini extension and the same name as the executable. To use INI file, you need to have write access to the directory.

You may also use an INI file in a different folder or with a different name using /ini switch.

Auto-selecting Storage

On startup, WinSCP is first looking for an INI file is located in the directory from which WinSCP was started1. If it does not find one, it looks for presence of its key in registry (The key is created by installer, so installed WinSCP uses registry by default). If it does not find that either, it creates an INI file in the default location.