3 Micro stores all of the user configuration in its configuration directory.
5 Micro uses `$MICRO_CONFIG_HOME` as the configuration directory. If this
6 environment variable is not set, it uses `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/micro` instead. If
7 that environment variable is not set, it uses `~/.config/micro` as the
8 configuration directory. In the documentation, we use `~/.config/micro` to
9 refer to the configuration directory (even if it may in fact be somewhere else
10 if you have set either of the above environment variables).
12 Here are the available options:
14 * `autoindent`: when creating a new line, use the same indentation as the
19 * `autosave`: automatically save the buffer every n seconds, where n is the
20 value of the autosave option. Also when quitting on a modified buffer, micro
21 will automatically save and quit. Be warned, this option saves the buffer
22 without prompting the user, so data may be overwritten. If this option is
23 set to `0`, no autosaving is performed.
27 * `autosu`: When a file is saved that the user doesn't have permission to
28 modify, micro will ask if the user would like to use super user
29 privileges to save the file. If this option is enabled, micro will
30 automatically attempt to use super user privileges to save without
33 default value: `false`
35 * `backup`: micro will automatically keep backups of all open buffers. Backups
36 are stored in `~/.config/micro/backups` and are removed when the buffer is
37 closed cleanly. In the case of a system crash or a micro crash, the contents
38 of the buffer can be recovered automatically by opening the file that was
39 being edited before the crash, or manually by searching for the backup in
40 the backup directory. Backups are made in the background for newly modified
41 buffers every 8 seconds, or when micro detects a crash.
45 * `backupdir`: the directory micro should place backups in. For the default
46 value of `""` (empty string), the backup directory will be
47 `ConfigDir/backups`, which is `~/.config/micro/backups` by default. The
48 directory specified for backups will be created if it does not exist.
50 default value: `""` (empty string)
52 * `basename`: in the infobar and tabbar, show only the basename of the file
53 being edited rather than the full path.
55 default value: `false`
57 * `clipboard`: specifies how micro should access the system clipboard.
59 * `external`: accesses clipboard via an external tool, such as xclip/xsel
60 or wl-clipboard on Linux, pbcopy/pbpaste on MacOS, and system calls on
61 Windows. On Linux, if you do not have one of the tools installed, or if
62 they are not working, micro will throw an error and use an internal
64 * `terminal`: accesses the clipboard via your terminal emulator. Note that
65 there is limited support among terminal emulators for this feature
66 (called OSC 52). Terminals that are known to work are Kitty (enable
67 reading with `clipboard_control` setting), iTerm2 (only copying),
68 st, rxvt-unicode and xterm if enabled (see `> help copypaste` for
69 details). Note that Gnome-terminal does not support this feature. With
70 this setting, copy-paste **will** work over ssh. See `> help copypaste`
72 * `internal`: micro will use an internal clipboard.
74 default value: `external`
76 * `colorcolumn`: if this is not set to 0, it will display a column at the
77 specified column. This is useful if you want column 80 to be highlighted
82 * `colorscheme`: loads the colorscheme stored in
83 $(configDir)/colorschemes/`option`.micro, This setting is `global only`.
85 default value: `default`
87 Note that the default colorschemes (default, solarized, and solarized-tc)
88 are not located in configDir, because they are embedded in the micro
91 The colorscheme can be selected from all the files in the
92 ~/.config/micro/colorschemes/ directory. Micro comes by default with three
95 You can read more about micro's colorschemes in the `colors` help topic
98 * `cursorline`: highlight the line that the cursor is on in a different color
99 (the color is defined by the colorscheme you are using).
101 default value: `true`
103 * `diffgutter`: display diff indicators before lines.
105 default value: `false`
107 * `divchars`: specifies the "divider" characters used for the dividing line
108 between vertical/horizontal splits. The first character is for vertical
109 dividers, and the second is for horizontal dividers. By default, for
110 horizontal splits the statusline serves as a divider, but if the statusline
111 is disabled the horizontal divider character will be used.
115 * `divreverse`: colorschemes provide the color (foreground and background) for
116 the characters displayed in split dividers. With this option enabled, the
117 colors specified by the colorscheme will be reversed (foreground and
118 background colors swapped).
120 default value: `true`
122 * `encoding`: the encoding to open and save files with. Supported encodings
123 are listed at https://www.w3.org/TR/encoding/.
125 default value: `utf-8`
127 * `eofnewline`: micro will automatically add a newline to the end of the
128 file if one does not exist.
130 default value: `true`
132 * `fastdirty`: this determines what kind of algorithm micro uses to determine
133 if a buffer is modified or not. When `fastdirty` is on, micro just uses a
134 boolean `modified` that is set to `true` as soon as the user makes an edit.
135 This is fast, but can be inaccurate. If `fastdirty` is off, then micro will
136 hash the current buffer against a hash of the original file (created when
137 the buffer was loaded). This is more accurate but obviously more resource
138 intensive. This option will be automatically disabled if the file size
141 default value: `false`
143 * `fileformat`: this determines what kind of line endings micro will use for
144 the file. Unix line endings are just `\n` (linefeed) whereas dos line
145 endings are `\r\n` (carriage return + linefeed). The two possible values for
146 this option are `unix` and `dos`. The fileformat will be automatically
147 detected (when you open an existing file) and displayed on the statusline,
148 but this option is useful if you would like to change the line endings or if
149 you are starting a new file. Changing this option while editing a file will
150 change its line endings. Opening a file with this option set will only have
151 an effect if the file is empty/newly created, because otherwise the fileformat
152 will be automatically detected from the existing line endings.
154 default value: `unix`
156 * `filetype`: sets the filetype for the current buffer. Set this option to
157 `off` to completely disable filetype detection.
159 default value: `unknown`. This will be automatically overridden depending
160 on the file you open.
162 * `hlsearch`: highlight all instances of the searched text after a successful
163 search. This highlighting can be turned off via `UnhighlightSearch` action
164 (triggered by Esc key by default) or toggled on/off via `ToggleHighlightSearch`
165 action. Note that these actions don't change `hlsearch` setting.
166 As long as `hlsearch` is set to true, after the next search the highlighting
169 default value: `false`
171 * `incsearch`: enable incremental search in "Find" prompt (matching as you type).
173 default value: `true`
175 * `ignorecase`: perform case-insensitive searches.
177 default value: `true`
179 * `indentchar`: sets the indentation character. This will not be inserted into
180 files; it is only a visual indicator that whitespace is present. If set to a
181 printing character, it functions as a subset of the "show invisibles"
182 setting available in many other text editors. The color of this character is
183 determined by the `indent-char` field in the current theme rather than the
186 default value: ` ` (space)
188 * `infobar`: enables the line at the bottom of the editor where messages are
189 printed. This option is `global only`.
191 default value: `true`
193 * `keepautoindent`: when using autoindent, whitespace is added for you. This
194 option determines if when you move to the next line without any insertions
195 the whitespace that was added should be deleted to remove trailing
196 whitespace. By default, the autoindent whitespace is deleted if the line
199 default value: `false`
201 * `keymenu`: display the nano-style key menu at the bottom of the screen. Note
202 that ToggleKeyMenu is bound to `Alt-g` by default and this is displayed in
203 the statusline. To disable this, simply by `Alt-g` to `UnbindKey`.
205 default value: `false`
207 * `matchbrace`: underline matching braces for '()', '{}', '[]' when the cursor
208 is on a brace character.
210 default value: `true`
212 * `mkparents`: if a file is opened on a path that does not exist, the file
213 cannot be saved because the parent directories don't exist. This option lets
214 micro automatically create the parent directories in such a situation.
216 default value: `false`
218 * `mouse`: mouse support. When mouse support is disabled,
219 usually the terminal will be able to access mouse events which can be useful
220 if you want to copy from the terminal instead of from micro (if over ssh for
221 example, because the terminal has access to the local clipboard and micro
224 default value: `true`
226 * `paste`: treat characters sent from the terminal in a single chunk as a paste
227 event rather than a series of manual key presses. If you are pasting using
228 the terminal keybinding (not Ctrl-v, which is micro's default paste
229 keybinding) then it is a good idea to enable this option during the paste
230 and disable once the paste is over. See `> help copypaste` for details about
231 copying and pasting in a terminal environment.
233 default value: `false`
235 * `parsecursor`: if enabled, this will cause micro to parse filenames such as
236 file.txt:10:5 as requesting to open `file.txt` with the cursor at line 10
237 and column 5. The column number can also be dropped to open the file at a
238 given line and column 0. Note that with this option enabled it is not possible
239 to open a file such as `file.txt:10:5`, where `:10:5` is part of the filename.
240 It is also possible to open a file with a certain cursor location by using the
241 `+LINE,COL` flag syntax. See `micro -help` for the command line options.
243 default value: `false`
245 * `permbackup`: this option causes backups (see `backup` option) to be
246 permanently saved. With permanent backups, micro will not remove backups when
247 files are closed and will never apply them to existing files. Use this option
248 if you are interested in manually managing your backup files.
250 default value: `false`
252 * `pluginchannels`: list of URLs pointing to plugin channels for downloading and
253 installing plugins. A plugin channel consists of a json file with links to
254 plugin repos, which store information about plugin versions and download URLs.
255 By default, this option points to the official plugin channel hosted on GitHub
256 at https://github.com/micro-editor/plugin-channel.
258 default value: `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/micro-editor/plugin-channel/master/channel.json`
260 * `pluginrepos`: a list of links to plugin repositories.
264 * `readonly`: when enabled, disallows edits to the buffer. It is recommended
265 to only ever set this option locally using `setlocal`.
267 default value: `false`
269 * `rmtrailingws`: micro will automatically trim trailing whitespaces at ends of
270 lines. Note: This setting overrides `keepautoindent`
272 default value: `false`
274 * `ruler`: display line numbers.
276 default value: `true`
278 * `relativeruler`: make line numbers display relatively. If set to true, all lines except
279 for the line that the cursor is located will display the distance from the
282 default value: `false`
284 * `savecursor`: remember where the cursor was last time the file was opened and
285 put it there when you open the file again. Information is saved to
286 `~/.config/micro/buffers/`
288 default value: `false`
290 * `savehistory`: remember command history between closing and re-opening
291 micro. Information is saved to `~/.config/micro/buffers/history`.
293 default value: `true`
295 * `saveundo`: when this option is on, undo is saved even after you close a file
296 so if you close and reopen a file, you can keep undoing. Information is
297 saved to `~/.config/micro/buffers/`.
299 default value: `false`
301 * `scrollbar`: display a scroll bar
303 default value: `false`
305 * `scrollmargin`: margin at which the view starts scrolling when the cursor
306 approaches the edge of the view.
310 * `scrollspeed`: amount of lines to scroll for one scroll event.
314 * `smartpaste`: add leading whitespace when pasting multiple lines.
315 This will attempt to preserve the current indentation level when pasting an
318 default value: `true`
320 * `softwrap`: wrap lines that are too long to fit on the screen.
322 default value: `false`
324 * `splitbottom`: when a horizontal split is created, create it below the
327 default value: `true`
329 * `splitright`: when a vertical split is created, create it to the right of the
332 default value: `true`
334 * `statusformatl`: format string definition for the left-justified part of the
335 statusline. Special directives should be placed inside `$()`. Special
336 directives include: `filename`, `modified`, `line`, `col`, `opt`, `bind`.
337 The `opt` and `bind` directives take either an option or an action afterward
338 and fill in the value of the option or the key bound to the action.
340 default value: `$(filename) $(modified)($(line),$(col)) $(status.paste)|
341 ft:$(opt:filetype) | $(opt:fileformat) | $(opt:encoding)`
343 * `statusformatr`: format string definition for the right-justified part of the
346 default value: `$(bind:ToggleKeyMenu): bindings, $(bind:ToggleHelp): help`
348 * `statusline`: display the status line at the bottom of the screen.
350 default value: `true`
352 * `sucmd`: specifies the super user command. On most systems this is "sudo" but
353 on BSD it can be "doas." This option can be customized and is only used when
356 default value: `sudo`
358 * `syntax`: enables syntax highlighting.
360 default value: `true`
362 * `tabmovement`: navigate spaces at the beginning of lines as if they are tabs
363 (e.g. move over 4 spaces at once). This option only does anything if
364 `tabstospaces` is on.
366 default value: `false`
368 * `tabsize`: the size in spaces that a tab character should be displayed with.
372 * `tabstospaces`: use spaces instead of tabs.
374 default value: `false`
376 * `useprimary` (only useful on unix): defines whether or not micro will use the
377 primary clipboard to copy selections in the background. This does not affect
378 the normal clipboard using Ctrl-c and Ctrl-v.
380 default value: `true`
382 * `wordwrap`: wrap long lines by words, i.e. break at spaces. This option
383 only does anything if `softwrap` is on.
385 default value: `false`
387 * `xterm`: micro will assume that the terminal it is running in conforms to
388 `xterm-256color` regardless of what the `$TERM` variable actually contains.
389 Enabling this option may cause unwanted effects if your terminal in fact
390 does not conform to the `xterm-256color` standard.
392 Default value: `false`
396 Plugin options: all plugins come with a special option to enable or disable
397 them. The option is a boolean with the same name as the plugin itself.
399 By default, the following plugins are provided, each with an option to enable
402 * `autoclose`: automatically closes brackets, quotes, etc...
403 * `comment`: provides automatic commenting for a number of languages
404 * `ftoptions`: alters some default options depending on the filetype
405 * `linter`: provides extensible linting for many languages
406 * `literate`: provides advanced syntax highlighting for the Literate
408 * `status`: provides some extensions to the status line (integration with
410 * `diff`: integrates the `diffgutter` option with Git. If you are in a Git
411 directory, the diff gutter will show changes with respect to the most
412 recent Git commit rather than the diff since opening the file.
414 Any option you set in the editor will be saved to the file
415 ~/.config/micro/settings.json so, in effect, your configuration file will be
416 created for you. If you'd like to take your configuration with you to another
417 machine, simply copy the settings.json to the other machine.
419 ## Settings.json file
421 The settings.json file should go in your configuration directory (by default
422 at `~/.config/micro`), and should contain only options which have been modified
423 from their default setting. Here is the full list of options in json format,
424 so that you can see what the formatting should look like.
435 "clipboard": "external",
437 "colorscheme": "default",
447 "fileformat": "unix",
448 "filetype": "unknown",
455 "keepautoindent": false,
462 "parsecursor": false,
466 "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/micro-editor/plugin-channel/master/channel.json"
470 "relativeruler": false,
471 "rmtrailingws": false,
484 "statusformatl": "$(filename) $(modified)($(line),$(col)) $(status.paste)| ft:$(opt:filetype) | $(opt:fileformat) | $(opt:encoding)",
485 "statusformatr": "$(bind:ToggleKeyMenu): bindings, $(bind:ToggleHelp): help",
489 "tabmovement": false,
491 "tabstospaces": false,
497 ## Global and local settings
499 You can set these settings either globally or locally. Locally means that the
500 setting won't be saved to `~/.config/micro/settings.json` and that it will only
501 be set in the current buffer. Setting an option globally is the default, and
502 will set the option in all buffers. Use the `setlocal` command to set an option
503 locally rather than globally.
505 The `colorscheme` option is global only, and the `filetype` option is local
506 only. To set an option locally, use `setlocal` instead of `set`.
508 In the `settings.json` file you can also put set options locally by specifying
509 either a glob or a filetype. Here is an example which has `tabstospaces` on for
510 all files except Go files, and `tabsize` 4 for all files except Ruby files:
515 "tabstospaces": false
520 "tabstospaces": true,
525 Or similarly you can match with globs:
530 "tabstospaces": false
535 "tabstospaces": true,