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Where Shotwork keeps its files

Shotwork keeps its settings, downloaded components and caches in one folder for each user of the computer. Your shot lists, reels, footage and songs are never stored there; they stay wherever you saved them.

The folder

Platform Folder
Windows %LOCALAPPDATA%\Shotwork
macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Shotwork
Use a different folder

Set the environment variable SHOTWORK_DATA_DIR to a folder path before starting Shotwork, and everything below lives there instead. It is how a clean first launch can be rehearsed without touching a real install.

What is inside

Name What it holds If you delete it
ffmpeg, libmpv The two components Shotwork downloaded. Downloaded again when needed: libmpv at the next launch, ffmpeg when an action needs it.
bootstrap_paths.json Where those components were found. Found again.
settings.json Window layout, recent files, snapping, the timeline color shade and how the Library shows shots. Those settings go back to their defaults.
hotkeys.json Only the hotkeys you changed. Every hotkey goes back to its default.
presets Your field presets, one file each. Your own presets are gone; the built-in ones remain.
overlay_templates Your overlay templates, one file each. Your templates are gone.
logos The logo pool, and which value each logo stands for. The pool and every assignment are gone.
library.json Which shot lists and reels your Library lists. The Library starts empty; each file returns when you open or save it.
tags.json, field_values.json The words autocomplete offers. Rebuilt as you use tags and values again.
music.json Your music library. The songs themselves stay where they are. The music library starts empty.
thumbnails One small picture per shot. Rebuilt: see Settings › Thumbnail Cache….
beat_grids Each song's beat analysis. Each song is analyzed again the next time it is used.
beat_this_engine The downbeat engine, if you installed it. Remove it from Settings › Downbeat Engine… instead. See Downbeat engine.
music_beds, still_previews, gap_preview.mp4 Preview media for reels. Made again when a reel needs them.
recovery Autosave snapshots of work you have not saved. That unsaved work is gone.
first_run_complete A marker that the rights notice was shown. The rights notice shows again at the next launch.