Where is my Quake Live config located?
Id software has done a great job hiding your Quake Live config so let's try and find it. I'll explain how to find your Quake Live config for Windows XP, Windows Vista and GNU/Linux separately.
Short version:
In Windows XP type the following in your adress bar:
%appdata%\id Software\quakelive\home\baseq3
In Windows Vista and Windows 7 type the following in your adress bar:
%userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\id Software\quakelive\home\baseq3
In GNU/Linux type the following in your adress bar:
~/.quakelive/quakelive/home/baseq3
See below for MacOS!
Long version:
Windows XP
The map where your Quake Live config is stored, is a hidden map by default. To be able to see that map, do the following:
- On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
- Click the View tab.
- Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
You can now find your Quake Live config in %appdata%\id Software\quakelive\home\baseq3 (you can copy and paste this location in your address bar).
Using %appdata% will take you to the correct folder location of the Quake Live config, which in the English version of Windows XP would look something like this:
C:\documents and settings\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\id Software\quakelive\home\baseq3
Windows Vista and Windows 7
On your Vista computer, the map also will be hidden. You can show hidden files in Vista by doing the following
- Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Folder Options.
- Click the View tab.
- Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.
You can now find your Quake Live config in %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\id Software\quakelive\home\baseq3 (you can copy and paste this location in your address bar).
Using %userprofile% will take you to the correct folder location of the Quake Live config, which in the English version of Windows VISTA would look something like this:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\id Software\quakelive\home\baseq3
GNU/Linux
First remember: GNU/Linux is CASE SENSITIVE! "This" is not the same as "tHIS"!
Just like in Windows, the folder is hidden in GNU/Linux. This is how to unhide the files in Thunar or Nautilus (note: if you just enter the location in the address bar the content will be shown!)
- Open Thunar and click on the View menu.
- Click on "Show Hidden Files".
You can now find your Quake Live config in ~/.quakelive/quakelive/home/baseq3 (you can copy and paste this location in your address bar of Thunar or Nautilus).
Using ~ will take you to your HOME folder in which the Quake Live folder is located similar to %appdata% in Windows, which would look something like this:
/home/USERNAME/.quakelive/quakelive/home/baseq3
MacOS
On a Mac, it will be located in Macintosh HD/Users/USERNAME/Library/Application Support/QuakeLive/quakelive/home/baseq3/.
Thanks to dabarrr for this information!
Now you know where the Quake Live config is located in Windows Vista, Windows XP and GNU/Linux! Make sure to check our post on how customize your config as well, you might find it very useful.

February 28th, 2009 - 18:07
Cant find such a file
(((
March 3rd, 2009 - 05:43
It should be there
I tried following the guide in vista and it got me there nicely. Don’t know about Win XP though.
March 3rd, 2009 - 08:07
Hello webmaster
I would like to share with you a link to your site
write me here preonrelt@mail.ru
March 29th, 2009 - 15:12
there’s only npquakezero.dll and pbsvc.exe even if i have hidden files and folders shown
June 23rd, 2009 - 23:45
ALL XP users:
Make sure you are looking in the directory…
C:documents and settingsUSERNAMEAppDataLocalLowid Softwarequakelivehomebaseq3
…and NOT IN…
C:documents and settingsAll_UsersAppDataLocalLowid Softwarequakelivehomebaseq3
July 14th, 2009 - 17:07
i dont have an AppData folder, any help?
September 24th, 2009 - 13:49
Just copy %appdata%id Softwarequakelivehomebaseq3 into your address bar, and press Enter.
October 7th, 2009 - 12:37
Access to the Resource C:Documents and SettingsJoshuaappdata%id Softwarequakelivehomebaseq3 has been been disallowed.
All I get.
October 22nd, 2009 - 19:00
Me too. No such directory. Quake live is there somewhere, but it’s just “somewhere”. I can’t even locate idsoftware directory when I search whole HDD. I would really like to set my bindings and maybe some scripts, but this is insane. I have application that don’t even exist on my HDD.
October 31st, 2009 - 09:54
Ok, everyone who cant find the folder by browsing to it manually. You MUST have “show hidden files and folders” ENABLED.
To do this in XP: Go to My Computer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> Look for, and check “Show Hidden Files and Folders”. Hit apply.
To do this in Vista: Go to Computer -> Press Alt -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> Look for, and check “Show Hidden Files and Folders”. Hit apply.
November 1st, 2009 - 18:29
CarnageHeart, as explained in the Long Version… :p
November 4th, 2009 - 01:42
How about a Mac? Where would it be for Mac?
November 4th, 2009 - 12:32
I don’t have a Mac, but as soon as I know I’ll put it up
November 13th, 2009 - 09:20
On a Mac, it will be located in Macintosh HD/Users/[yourusername]/Library/Application Support/QuakeLive/quakelive/home/baseq3/.
November 20th, 2009 - 11:58
good updating inferno!!! <3
November 21st, 2009 - 19:40
OSX paths, anyone?
January 22nd, 2010 - 19:03
if u r using lastxp >
C:UsersAdministratorApplication Dataid Softwarequakelivehomebaseq3
January 30th, 2010 - 19:13
I use Windows 7 and in the vista location, there is only a copy of the config file. Anything I change in the file is changed again into previous state, each time i run QL.
July 28th, 2012 - 17:56
i’m using windows 7 and all i get is this
Windows can’t find ‘C:\Users\BlueSnow15\AppData\Roamingid\Softwarequakelivehomebaseq3′. Check the spelling and try again.
D: