where does visual studio put user app.config files/settings

Question

I've looked in C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming and C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local for my application that I'm debugging in Visual Studio 2015, but can't find it there.

I'm trying to blow away the setting value, but can't find it.

Where do user settings go for visual studio projects i'm debugging?

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 05 '17 at 20:16

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If you mean the specific project's settings you are currently debugging, they are stored in

yourproject.exe.config

file located side by side with your exe in bin\debug (or bin\release) folder

answered Jan 05 '17 at 20:16

GeorgeT

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 05 '17 at 20:31

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The file is stored inside this path "bin/debug/app.config", if you make changes while debugging, those changes should appear there. Just remember that this file is overwritten with the "app.config" from the project root each time you run the application on Visual Studio IDE.

answered Jan 05 '17 at 20:31

Daniel Carbajal López

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It isn't being overwritten each time I run. Maybe if I do a clean, but in between normal build + runs, the settings are sticking. – Stealth Rabbi Jan 06 '17 at 14:27

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

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They are in the .suo and .usr file which is in a hidden ".vs" folder in the root directory of the project. An explanation of what these files hold can be found here You'll have to show hidden files in order to find it.

The whole folder is user specific. I sometimes find the need to delete the whole folder when VS is running very slow or when I have a setting I played with and want it back to default. VS will recreate the folder, but I would save a backup in case.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

Community

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answered Jan 05 '17 at 20:02

big_water

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I only see a .suo file, and it's basically not plain text. Does that seem right? I guess I can't edit it by hand. – Stealth Rabbi Jan 05 '17 at 20:07
@StealthRabbi, oh I see, you're trying to manually edit it for a specific setting value? – big_water Jan 05 '17 at 20:09
Either edit it, or just blow it away to go back to a default state. I deleted the .suo file, but it still seems to have the old values. – Stealth Rabbi Jan 05 '17 at 20:09
@StealthRabbi, which setting are you trying to change? – big_water Jan 05 '17 at 20:10
application-specific settings that I defined in Settings.settings / app.config. – Stealth Rabbi Jan 05 '17 at 20:11

where does visual studio put user app.config files/settings

3 Answers3