Save preferences

When you start Maya, it looks for its prefs folder in the default location, unless you have set the MAYA_APP_DIR environment variable to a different path. See File path variables.

If preferences do not exist, for example, the first time you run the application, Maya starts up using the default settings.

After you customize Maya, your new settings are stored in the prefs folder, so that each time you start the application your settings are used instead of the default settings. Most preferences are saved as text files of MEL commands.

If you delete (or move) a preference file (or the entire prefs folder), Maya uses the default settings again.

You can customize the default location of your preferences folder. See Customize the location of your preferences folder for more information.

To save Maya preferences

1. Select File > Save Preferences.
   Note:

   If you run out of disk space while saving preferences, your preferences may become corrupt or irretrievable. Ensure that your hard drive has space available to save preferences. If the disk runs out of space, free up some space before exiting the application.

Default location of preferences files

Maya stores preferences files in the following path:

Windows

• ..\Documents\maya\<version>\prefs

Mac OS X

• /Users/<username>/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/<version>/prefs
  Note: To open the Preferences directory:

  • Select Finder > Go, press Alt, and the Library folder appears in the menu.
  • From the Terminal window, navigate to the Preferences directory and type open.

Linux

• ~<username>/maya/2016.5/prefs

Related topics

• Customize the location of your preferences folder