Game folders and files

v52.04 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

The location of Dwarf Fortress's game folders depends on the game version, preferences, and operating system. It is also possible for users to change the install drive or directory, like in Steam settings, thus these locations may vary.

Non-portable, user specific data folders were added in version 52.01, and allow different users to maintain their own settings and saves.

Game installation folder

The game's installation folder is where all the game's content is stored. You might want to go to this folder to browse raw files, or to check logs.

• Dwarf Fortress Classic is distributed in a zip archive. Depending on the operating system, the game folder is either df_##_##_win (with the version number, or the name chosen for the folder during extraction), df_osx or df_linux and will be located where you choose to extract it. This is where the game is run from. For example: C:\Games\Dwarf Fortress\
• Steam: The default locations are listed below. You can also find it through Steam by right-clicking "Dwarf Fortress" in your library and choosing Properties, then go to the Local files tab and click Browse local files. If you set a custom library location in Steam, it will end up there instead.
  • Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dwarf Fortress\
  • Linux: ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Dwarf Fortress/
• Itch.io: is also distributed as an archive file, so where you chose to extract it.

Game user data folder

The game's user data folder contains the saved games, preferences, and mods for the game. The location of this depends on the portable mode setting, defaulting to a non-portable, user-specific folder^v52.01. Changing it to YES creates the empty file prefs\portable.txt, changing back to NO removes it; manually creating or removing the file changes the setting.

Benefits of portable mode include: allows the game to be installed on an external drive and run on different computers, or allows to have multiple versions of the game installed using different data. Benefits of user-specific mode include: multiple users can use the same install each with their own custom data, and having updating with the Bay 12 Games and itch.io downloads be simply extracting the archives to a new folder.

• Non-Portable:
  • Windows: C:\Users\(Your username)\AppData\Roaming\Bay 12 Games\Dwarf Fortress\
  • Linux: /home/(Your username)/.local/share/Bay 12 Games/Dwarf Fortress/
• Portable:
  • All folders are located within the Dwarf Fortress game installation folder above

Note: On Windows, %APPDATA% is an environment variable that points to C:\Users\(Username)\AppData\Roaming. You can use winkey+R and type '%appdata%' to quickly jump there.

Saves folder

Saves are stored in the save folder in the above user data folder, each folder in that folder is a save (except current which is used by the game and should be left alone). All the files in each folder are part of the save. The saves list for each world in game has a Files button that opens a menu that allows you to delete the save or open the folder location.^v52.03

Mods folders

Further information: Modding

There are two folders where mods are stored, both in the above user data folder.

• Downloaded mods are stored in mods
• Mods actually used in saves are stored in data\installed_mods

When sharing modded saves, you probably want to include the installed mods folder.

Settings folder

Called settings in game, user preferences are stored in the prefs folder in the above user data folder. Many of the defaults are stored in the data\init folder in the installation folder.

Key

Dwarf Fortress	: Game folder
● crashlogs	: Created by the game when needed, the files it places here can be uploaded to the Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker or the Kitfox Games discord.
● data	: Contains game content.
● art	: Any images not loaded from vanilla graphics modules, for the main menu and classic ASCII mode.
● init	: Default game settings.
● installed_mods	: Folder of mod copies used when loading a world, actual location used depends on above portable mode setting.
● sound	: Contains all audio and music files used in the game.
● vanilla	: Contains all the vanilla modules and raw files.
● licenses	: Contains licenses for software libraries used in the game.
● mods	: Folder for downloaded mods before being used.
● mod_upload	: Folder for uploading mods to Steam.
● prefs	: Contains current game settings files, actual location used depends on above portable mode setting.
● macros	: Folder where macros are saved, actual location used depends on above portable mode setting.
● save	: Contains all save game files.

V · T · E Files
Settings	colors.txt • init.txt • interface.txt
Gameplay settings	announcements.txt • d_init.txt
Log files	errorlog.txt • gamelog.txt • map_rejection_log.txt
Other	arena.txt • embark_profiles.txt • world_gen.txt