The file that stores the current state of the application is called preferences (com.captureone.captureoneXX) in macOS and config (user.config) in Windows. It contains everything from window sizes to the current Next Capture Naming format.
Resetting this file can help with troubleshooting by clearing the application cache and returning Capture One to a ‘vanilla’ state. Your documents, recipes, styles, and saved workspaces (be sure to save yours first!) will remain unchanged. However, the menus that use them will be reset to their default values.
Here’s a limited list of parameters that will be reset to their default values so you know what to expect: show the Activity window, enabled Auto Adjust tools, Before After enabled and it’s mode, Brush size, Adjustments Clipboard selected adjustments, Workspace, Toolbar, Keyboard Shortcuts set, Preview Size in pixels etc.
- Reset the preferences file in macOS
- Reset the config file in Windows
- Reset the preferences using a script (macOS) or utility (Windows)
Reset the preferences file in macOS
The plist is a document that stores the application’s preferences list. Its name is ‘com.phaseone.captureone##’ for Capture One 12 and older, or ‘com.captureone.captureone##’ for Capture One 20 and newer. The ## stands for the application version number. The plist is located in ~/Library/Preferences/ To restore it to its original, default state, launch Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app). You’ll see an empty prompt:
Copy and paste the strings below depending on the version of Capture One you have. Then press Enter.
Capture One 23:
defaults delete com.captureone.captureone16
Capture One 20:
defaults delete com.captureone.captureone13
For Capture One 12 and older versions (use the number that corresponds to your Capture One version instead of '12'):
defaults delete com.phaseone.captureone12
There won't be a confirmation that it's completed, though if something goes wrong it will notify you.
Reset the config file in Windows
Capture One's config file is a document named 'user.config', which resides in a folder named after the Capture One version you are using:
C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Capture_One\
To reset the preference file, open File Explorer and type '%localappdata%' in the search bar, then hit the Enter key.
Alternatively, you can use Windows Run (Win + R):
For Capture One 22, 15.3.0 and newer versions, navigate to:
⇾ Capture_One ⇾ CaptureOne_StrongName_xxxx ⇾ 15.x.x
For Capture One 22 15.2.2 and older versions, navigate to:
⇾ Capture_One ⇾ CaptureOne.exe_StrongName_xxxx ⇾ 15.x.x
In both cases, "xxxx" is a long random word made of random characters and numbers.
"15.x.x" reflect the major version of the app. Capture One 23 will be 16.x.x.
Quit Capture One if not already done, then delete the 'user.config' file found within the version folder, and restart Capture One.
Reset the preferences using a script (macOS) or utility (Windows)
To make things easier, you can try running the script or utility attached to this article.
For macOS, simply open the UserPrefReset.applescript.zip archive, double-click the script file. In the Script Editor app on your Mac, click the Run button in the toolbar, or press Command-R, to execute the commands in your script.
For Windows, open the CO_Preferences_reset_Win_GUI_.zip archive, double-click the CO_Preferences_reset_Win_GUI_.exe file to run it. You can close Capture One beforehand or click the Close Capture One button. Make sure to back up your catalog if Capture One prompts you to. Then hit Delete user.config file. Exit the app when done.