What is the ".netbeans" directory? What is a userdir and where can I find it?

The NetBeans userdir is the directory where NetBeans stores user configuration data such as window layouts, editor settings, menu and toolbar customizations and various module settings.

Per default, the userdir is a (hidden) directory called .netbeans stored in the user's home directory. The home directory is ${HOME} on Unix-like systems, and %USERPROFILE% (usually set to C:\Documents and Settings\<username>) on Windows. As the name suggests, the userdir is unique per user. For each version of NetBeans installed, the userdir contains a unique subdirectory .netbeans/<nb-version>.

To find out your exact userdir location, go to the IDE's main menu, and choose Help > About NetBeans. (Mac: NetBeans > About NetBeans).

Examples

• A Windows user jdoe running NetBeans 5.0 is likely to find his userdir under
  C:\Documents and Settings\jdoe\.netbeans\5.0\
• A Windows Vista user jdoe running NetBeans 5.0 is likely to find his userdir under
  C:\Users\jdoe\.netbeans\5.0\
• A Linux user jdoe running NetBeans 5.0 is likely to find his userdir under
  /home/jdoe/.netbeans/5.0/
• A Mac OS X user jdoe running NetBeans 5.0 is likely to find his userdir under
  /Users/jdoe/.netbeans/5.0/ (To open this folder in the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder from the Finder menu, type /Users/jdoe/.netbeans/5.0/ into the box, and click Go.

Applies to: NetBeans 3.6, 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.5, 5.5.1, 6.0, 6.1, 6.5

Platforms: All

Links

• Can I change the default userdir?