Audacity Configuration Error

Linked This page is linked to in the Audacity app from the help button in the warning/error dialog.

Do not rename or delete this page unless and until the corresponding link in the app is changed. Pseudo renames can be achieved with a DISPLAYTITLE. If a rename is absolutely necessary then a redirect must be left behind.

This is essentially a landing page in the Manual for the handling of errors (via a help button) that occur in the Audacity application.

• There is also an entry in FAQ:Errors so that this page will get pulled into the released Manual.

Editors BEWARE - this page has a DISPLAYTITLE

This error message is telling you that one of your Audacity configuration files is unwritable. The file may be locked or the device it is on may be locked or full.

Contents

1. Audacity settings file not accessible
2. Remediation
3. Location of the configuration files
   • Windows
   • Mac
   • Linux

Audacity settings file not accessible

You get the following error message when one of your Audacity configuration files becomes locked (sometimes Virus Checker apps will do this).

This means that Audacity cannot write to, or read from, that file.

The configuration files that may be affected are:

• audacity.cfg - Audacity's basic settings, for example Preferences settings
• pluginregistry.cfg - manages which plugins are enabled and disabled
• pluginsettings.cfg - manages the settings for parameters in plugins

The message will show which of the three files is affected.

Remediation

In order to proceed you will need to unlock the file. Once it is unlocked you can then use the Retry button to continue.

Alternatively you can abort and close Audacity with the Quit Audacity button.

Clicking the help button will bring you to this page.

Location of the configuration files

Windows

The configuration files are stored in a folder called audacity in the >Appdata>Roaming folder in your user directory.

• The full pathname is: C:\Users\<your username>\Appdata\Roaming\audacity

Mac

The configuration files are stored in a folder called audacity in the Library/Application Support folder in your user directory.

• The full pathname is: <your username>/Library/Application Support/audacity

Linux

The configuration files are stored in a folder called audacity-data.

To access this:

1. open the "home" folder (opens "/home/user-name" in the default file browser),
2. use Ctrl + H to show hidden folders (works in most common file browsers, or "View menu > Show hidden files"),
3. you will then see ./audacity-data.