tty7/docs/reference/configuration.mdx

---
title: "config.json"
description: "Every key tty7 reads, its type, and its default."
---

| | |
|---|---|
| macOS / Linux | `~/.config/tty7/config.json` |
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\tty7\config.json` |
| Windows, portable mode | `<folder of tty7-app.exe>\data\config.json` |
| Override the whole directory | `TTY7_CONFIG_DIR`, or `--config-dir` |

Every key is optional — a missing one means its default, so you only write what
you change. Out-of-range numbers are clamped rather than rejected, and an
unrecognised enum value falls back to the default with a log line instead of
failing the file.

```json
{
  "font_family": "JetBrains Mono",
  "font_size": 14,
  "theme_follow_system": true,
  "theme_preset_light": "one_light",
  "theme_preset_dark": "dracula",
  "macos_option_as_alt": true,
  "scrollback_limit": 50000
}
```

## Where the directory comes from

The config directory holds everything an instance keeps, not just
`config.json`: themes, sessions, scrollback, history, and the background
server's socket. The first of these wins:

1. `--config-dir <dir>` on the command line — `tty7-app.exe --config-dir D:\tty7-data`,
   or `tty7-app --config-dir ~/tty7-alt` elsewhere. The app hands it on to the
   server it starts, so the whole instance moves.
2. The `TTY7_CONFIG_DIR` environment variable. Unlike a flag it also reaches
   launches you do not control — Explorer's **Open in tty7**, a desktop file,
   the `tty7` command in another terminal.
3. **Windows portable mode**: a `data` folder next to `tty7-app.exe` in an
   unzipped portable ZIP (the one carrying a `.tty7-portable` file). See
   [Installation](/getting-started/installation).
4. The platform default in the table above.

Two directories are two independent instances, each with its own server and
sessions.

## Typography

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `font_family` | string | `"Hack"` | Primary face. Hack is bundled. |
| `font_fallbacks` | string[] | platform list | Ordered fallbacks. Stock platform faces are appended to whatever you write. |
| `font_family_bold` | string | — | A distinct bold face. |
| `font_family_italic` | string | — | A distinct italic face. |
| `font_features` | object | — | OpenType tags, e.g. `{"calt": true, "liga": 1}`. Four alphanumeric characters per tag. |
| `font_thicken` | bool | `true` | macOS: let font smoothing thicken strokes, light text most. `false` draws glyphs at their own weight. Applies after a restart. |
| `font_size` | number | `15` | Terminal text size in px (4–256). |
| `line_height` | number | `1.4` | Multiple of the font size (0.5–4). |
| `ui_font_size` | number | `16` | The interface's root size in px (12–24). |
| `ui_font_family` | string | — | The face for everything outside the grid. Unset means the system UI font. |

[More about fonts →](/customization/fonts)

## Theme and window

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `theme_preset` | string | `"light"` | Active theme id. |
| `theme_follow_system` | bool | `false` | Follow the OS appearance. |
| `theme_preset_light` | string | `"light"` | Used when following the system. |
| `theme_preset_dark` | string | `"dark"` | Used when following the system. |
| `theme_legible_palette` | bool | `true` | Brighten or darken bright ANSI colours that would be unreadable on the background. |
| `window_opacity` | number | — | 0.2–1.0. Unset means "follow the theme". |
| `window_blur` | bool | — | Blur behind a translucent window (macOS). Unset means "follow the theme". |
| `window_backdrop` | enum | `"auto"` | Windows only: `auto`, `blur`, `mica`, `mica-alt`, `acrylic`, `off`. |
| `dim_inactive_panes` | bool | `true` | Dim panes that are not focused. |
| `startup_mode` | enum | `"normal"` | `normal`, `maximized`, `fullscreen`. |
| `remember_window_size` | bool | `true` | Reopen at the last size and position. |
| `restore_session` | bool | `true` | Reopen the last window's tabs, splits, and directories. |
| `gui_language` | enum | `"en"` | `en`, `zh-CN`, `ja-JP`. Anything else falls back to `en`. |

Built-in theme ids: `light`, `one_light`, `catppuccin_latte`, `rose_pine_dawn`,
`dark`, `dracula`, `harbor`, `one_dark_pro`, `rose_pine`. Your own themes take
their id from the file name. [More about themes →](/customization/themes)

## Tabs, sidebar, panels

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `tab_bar_position` | enum | `"left"` | `left` (sidebar) or `top` (strip). |
| `new_tab_position` | enum | `"after-current"` | Or `end`. |
| `ssh_tab_title` | enum | `"dynamic"` | What an SSH tab is called: `dynamic` (the title the remote side sets), `profile-name` (the saved host's name, a `~/.ssh/config` alias, or the address typed for a quick connect), or `hostname` (the address dialled). A tab you renamed keeps its name. |
| `sidebar_auto_grouping` | bool | `true` | Groups unpinned tabs by repository (SSH tabs by host). Off: a flat list below the pinned groups, which show either way. Pinned groups and folds are stored with the workspace, not here. |
| `sidebar_diff_preview` | bool | `true` | Clicking a row's `+N −M` opens the diff overlay. |
| `sidebar_width` | number | `220` | Pixels (100–2000). |
| `sidebar_collapsed` | bool | `false` | |
| `right_panel_visible` | bool | `false` | |
| `right_panel_width` | number | `260` | Pixels (100–2000). |
| `right_panel_tab` | enum | `"info"` | `info`, `changes`, `files`. |
| `diff_view` | enum | `"split"` | Or `unified`. Global, not per file. |
| `document_layout` | enum | `"dock"` | Where an open file or diff is drawn: `dock` beside the terminal, or `fill` over the workspace. What a fresh tab starts as — each tab keeps its own from there. |
| `document_ratio` | number | `0.5` | The docked column’s share of the terminal column (0.2–0.8). Named widths are `0.333`, `0.5`, `0.667`. |
| `scm_graph_expanded` | bool | `false` | Whether the history section starts open. |
| `editor_soft_wrap` | bool | `false` | Whether files open in the code panel with soft wrap on. Follows the status bar's Wrap toggle — whatever it was last left at. |
| `editor_markdown_preview` | bool | `false` | Whether Markdown files open rendered rather than as source. Follows the Preview / Edit toggle the same way. |
| `show_tray_icon` | bool | `true` | The tray / menu bar status item. |

## Terminal

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `shell` | object | — | `{"program": "fish", "args": ["-l"]}`. Unset uses the platform default. `args` you write are launched verbatim, which also turns off [shell integration](/reference/shell-integration) for that shell — leave them out to keep it. |
| `custom_shells` | array | `[]` | Extra entries for the new-tab menu: `[{"label": "Ubuntu", "program": "wsl.exe", "args": ["-d", "Ubuntu"]}]`. Launched exactly as written, listed after the detected shells — in the menu's **Other Shells…** list until you have opened it, and in the palette as *Shell:* followed by its label. Give an entry arguments and tty7 also skips [shell integration](/reference/shell-integration) for it, so it has no prompt marks, working-directory tracking, or command-finished notifications; an entry with no arguments, on a shell tty7 recognizes, is integrated like the detected row beside it. An entry with no `program` is skipped; with no `label` it is named after its program. |
| `working_directory` | object | `{"strategy":"inherit"}` | `strategy` is `inherit`, `home`, or `custom`; `path` is used when custom. |
| `env` | object | `{}` | Extra environment variables for every pane. |
| `scrollback_limit` | number | `10000` | Lines per pane (100–100,000). New panes only. |
| `cursor_style` | enum | `"block"` | `block`, `bar`, `underline`. |
| `prompt_cursor_style` | enum | `"follow"` | The cursor at the shell prompt: `follow`, `block`, `bar`, `underline`. `follow` uses `cursor_style` everywhere; any other value leaves `cursor_style` to the programs the shell runs, e.g. `bar` here with `cursor_style: "block"` gives a bar at the prompt and a block in a TUI that sets no shape of its own. A shell prompt in vi mode keeps its own shapes. |
| `cursor_blink` | bool | `true` | |
| `bell` | enum | `"visual"` | `none`, `visual`, `audible`, `both`. |
| `per_pane_history` | bool | `false` | Give each pane its own shell history file. |

## Mouse and scrolling

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `mouse_scroll_multiplier` | number | `1.0` | 0.1–10. |
| `smooth_scroll` | bool | `true` | Ease each wheel notch. Trackpads unaffected. |
| `mouse_reporting` | bool | `true` | Let full-screen apps handle clicks and scrolling. |
| `mouse_zoom_modifier` | enum | `"platform"` | Modifier that makes the wheel resize the font: `platform` (⌘ on macOS, Ctrl elsewhere), `ctrl`, `alt`, `none`. |
| `mouse_hide_while_typing` | bool | `true` | |
| `focus_follows_mouse` | bool | `false` | |

## Input and clipboard

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `prompt_editor` | bool | `true` | tty7 edits the shell prompt. Off sends every key at the prompt to the shell, so its own line editor (ZLE, readline) owns editing. Shell integration stays on. |
| `tab_completion` | bool | `true` | tty7's completion menu on <kbd>⇥</kbd>. Off hands the key to the shell. Needs `prompt_editor`. |
| `history_search` | bool | `true` | tty7's fuzzy history on <kbd>⌃ R</kbd>. Off hands the key to the shell. Needs `prompt_editor`. |
| `smart_select` | bool | `true` | Double-click grabs URLs, paths, bracket pairs, CJK words. |
| `word_separators` | string | see below | Characters that end a word. Used when smart selection is off. |
| `copy_on_select` | bool | `false` | |
| `clipboard_trim_trailing_spaces` | bool | `false` | |
| `macos_option_as_alt` | bool | `false` | <kbd>⌥</kbd>+key sends the escape chord instead of typing a special character. |
| `keybindings` | object | `{}` | `{"SplitRight": "cmd-d"}`. [Syntax →](/customization/keybindings) |
| `keybinding_preset` | string | `"default"` | Or `"tmux"`. |
| `prefix` | string | `"ctrl-b"` | The tmux preset's prefix. |

The default `word_separators` are a comma, a box-drawing bar, a backtick, a
pipe, a colon, both quote characters, a space, the six bracket characters, the
angle brackets, and a tab:

```json
{ "word_separators": ",│`|:\"' ()[]{}<>\t" }
```

## Links

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `link_url` | bool | `true` | Underline and open URLs on ⌘/Ctrl-click. |
| `link_file_open` | string | `internal` | What a file link opens: `internal` (tty7's editor, at the line), `system` (the OS file association), `command`. A file on another machine always uses `internal`. |
| `link_file_command` | string | — | Command for file links under `link_file_open: command`. `{path}`, `{line}`, `{column}` are substituted; a flag whose value is missing is dropped. |
| `ssh_loopback_forward` | bool | `true` | Forward the ports a remote pane starts serving, and open its `localhost:PORT` links through those forwards. |

## Notifications

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `notify_on_command_finish` | enum | `"unfocused"` | `never`, `unfocused`, `always`. |
| `notify_threshold_secs` | number | `10` | How long a command must run to qualify (1–3600). |

## Agents

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `agent_commands` | object | `{}` | Map a wrapper command to an agent slug: `{"cc": "claude"}`. |
| `agent_launch` | object | `{}` | The command line quick launch types for an agent, by slug: `{"claude": "claude --dangerously-skip-permissions"}`. Unset agents launch as their bare binary. [More →](/agents/overview#quick-launch) |
| `agent_frecency` | object | `{}` | Written by tty7: how often and how recently each agent ran, to order quick launch. |
| `restore_agent_sessions` | bool | `true` | Relaunch an agent conversation when a lost pane is restored. |
| `install_cli_on_path` | bool | `true` | Put the bundled `tty7` command on PATH at launch. |

[Agent slugs →](/agents/overview#your-own-wrapper)

## SSH

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `verify_host_keys` | bool | `true` | |
| `ssh_warn_on_close` | bool | `false` | Confirm before closing a live connection. |

### servers.json

The saved hosts are not in `config.json`: they live in `servers.json` in the
same directory, so `config.json` can be synced between machines without taking
your list of servers along. The file is written with mode `0600` and read as
forgivingly as `config.json`; if it cannot be parsed, tty7 keeps a copy at
`servers.json.corrupt` and saves nothing until it is repaired.

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `ssh_profiles` | array | `[]` | Managed from **Settings → SSH**. Secrets live in the OS keychain, never here. |
| `ssh_profile_frecency` | object | `{}` | How often and how recently each host is used, for ranking. Written by the app. |

An older `config.json` that still holds `ssh_profiles` is split the first time
a newer tty7 reads it: `servers.json` is written first, and only then are the
two keys removed from `config.json`, leaving the rest of it as it was. If both
files hold hosts, `servers.json` wins, and the copy in `config.json` is dropped
the next time settings are saved.

Each object in `ssh_profiles` can also set:

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `remote_clipboard_write` | bool | `false` | Allow programs on that SSH host to write PNG, JPEG, GIF, or WebP images to this machine's clipboard with OSC 5522. |

## Updates and network

| Key | Type | Default | |
|---|---|---|---|
| `check_for_updates` | bool | `true` | |
| `update_channel` | enum | `"stable"` | Or `nightly`. |
| `auto_download_updates` | bool | `true` | Fetch and verify in the background so installing is a restart. Packages are ~25–30 MB and a check happens every six hours. |
| `http_proxy` | string | — | For tty7's *own* traffic only — update checks, downloads, remote-server installs. `http://…` or `socks5://…`. Programs in a pane are unaffected. |

[Updates →](/reference/updates)

## Keys tty7 manages itself

`shell_frecency` and `command_frecency` record how often and how recently you
open a shell or run a command, so the new-tab menu and the palette can rank
them. They are written by the app; there is no reason to edit them.

<Note>
  If the file cannot be parsed, tty7 starts on defaults, keeps your original at
  `config.json.corrupt`, and logs the reason. It never silently overwrites what
  you wrote.
</Note>