# Custom location for preferences.txt not working with Processing 4.5.2

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/custom-location-for-preferences-txt-not-working-with-processing-4-5-2/47872>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [February 13, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/custom-location-for-preferences-txt-not-working-with-processing-4-5-2/47872 "2026-02-13T15:33:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![glv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/glv/32/18785_2.png) [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/custom-location-for-preferences-txt-not-working-with-processing-4-5-2/47872/1 "2026-02-13T15:33:06Z")

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Hello,

See here for context:

> [@Can I install Processing 4.4.4 on local drive?](https://discourse.processing.org/t/can-i-install-processing-4-4-4-on-local-drive/46917/8):
>
> \*\*\* UPDATE \*\*\* [Preferences · processing/processing4 Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/processing/processing4/wiki/Preferences#sketchbook-and-settings-location) To change the default location of the preferences.txt file I used the lib folder here for Processing 4.4.7 and 4.4.10 and it worked: Yay! slight_smile

_This no longer works with Processing 4.5.2._

Processing 4.5.2 behavior on Windows 10:

- Create a _settings.txt_ and save it in the _correct lib folder_.
- Launching Processing 4.5.2 creates a _preference.txt_ file in the _new location_ and updates the _default location_.
- Changes to the preferences are only saved to the _default location_ but it reads the _new location_ so any **changes made are not applied**.
- I can manually copy them over (default to new) and it will work.

New location defined in _settings.txt_:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/6/1/619ab277022d169951056ab7fb5caca8f2fcd744.png)

New location:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/2/d/2df67f7b48ea971cd8099be21183206942b191bf.png)

Default location:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/2/9/29f81b2a7f59038410391f46e6b1e5de946c1506.png)

I was curious what would happen if I started with a clean slate and deleted all the files in folders (from above) and got this error:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/c/5/c582fa73f6acf78ca4375d165acbad65e69be0b6.png)

It also created a _preferences.txt folder_ (should be a file) in the default location:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/a/a/aa4e5842d2ba3192d588e929fe19e05b07094152.png)

Once I restored the files in the _default location_ it would not crash.

I create custom Processing environments and this is necessary for some of my projects.

This is an initial discussion. I will follow-up with an issue if it is not resolved here.

`:)`

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**Author:** ![moon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/moon/32/21773_2.png) [@moon](https://discourse.processing.org/u/moon)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/custom-location-for-preferences-txt-not-working-with-processing-4-5-2/47872/2 "2026-02-13T21:54:02Z")

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@glv thanks for reporting this! if you’re able, would you be able to file an issue in the github repo?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/glv/32/18785_2.png) [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2026, 5:58pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/custom-location-for-preferences-txt-not-working-with-processing-4-5-2/47872/3 "2026-02-15T17:58:24Z")

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> [@moon](#):
>
> @glv thanks for reporting this! if you’re able, would you be able to file an issue in the github repo?

Done!

A bit verbose but reflects my working environment:

_[Custom preferences.txt location not working in Processing 4.5.2 · Issue #1435 · processing/processing4 · GitHub](https://github.com/processing/processing4/issues/1435)_

`:)`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![moon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/moon/32/21773_2.png) [@moon](https://discourse.processing.org/u/moon)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/custom-location-for-preferences-txt-not-working-with-processing-4-5-2/47872/4 "2026-02-17T14:42:59Z")

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thank you so much! i’m trying to thank you but i need to use at minimum 20 letters 😛