# Using profiles

> Keep several sets of settings in Settings Saver profiles and choose one per instance. Covers creating, switching, copying, renaming and deleting.

URL: https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/guides/profiles/ · Updated: 2026-11-06 · Applies to: Fabric, Quilt, Legacy Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, MC 1.7.10 - 26.3

A **profile** is one saved set of settings with its own list of excluded settings. Each instance picks
the profile it uses, so a PvP pack can use a `pvp` profile with a lower FOV and different keybinds
while every other instance uses `default`. By the end of this guide you have a second profile and an
instance that uses it.

## Before you start

Settings Saver is [installed](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/guides/installation/index.md). Open **Options**, **Settings Saver...**, then click
**Profile: default** to open the Profiles screen.

![The Profiles screen with a name typed in](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/_assets/menu-profiles.png)

The list shows every profile: `default` first, the others sorted by name. The one this instance uses
is marked **(in use)**. Click a profile to select it. Buttons that need a selection or a name stay
greyed out until you give them one.

## Create a profile and use it

1. Type a name, for example `pvp`, in **Name**.
2. Click **New**. The menu shows **Created 'pvp'** and the profile appears in the list. It starts
   empty, with the default excluded settings.
3. Select `pvp` and click **Use**. The menu shows **Now using 'pvp'**.
4. Click **Done**. The main menu now shows **Profile: pvp**.
5. Set the game up the way you want it for this profile, then click **Save settings to profile**.

The choice is stored in this instance's [config file](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/config/instance/index.md) as `profile=pvp`. Other
instances keep their own profile.

> **Warning:** Switching profiles applies nothing. The instance keeps its current settings, and only changes made
> from now on go to the new profile. To bring the new profile's settings into the game, click
> **Load settings from profile** after switching.

## Copy a profile

Select the profile to copy, type a new name and click **Duplicate**. The copy gets the source's saved
settings and its excluded settings. Duplicating `default` is a quick way to start a variant of your
usual settings.

## Rename a profile

Select it, type the new name and click **Rename**. You can also change only the capitalization
(`pvp` to `PvP`). If this instance uses the profile, it follows the new name.

Other instances that used the old name are not updated. At their next launch they can't find the
profile, log `Profile 'pvp' does not exist; using default` and use `default`. Select the renamed
profile in those instances again.

## Delete a profile

Select it and click **Delete**, then **Yes** to confirm. The profile's folder and everything saved in
it are deleted, which can't be undone. If this instance used it, it switches to `default`. Other
instances that used it fall back to `default` at their next launch, as with a rename.

## The default profile

`default` always exists. It can't be renamed or deleted (the buttons are greyed out and say why).
To empty it, close every game that uses it and delete the `vanilla` folder inside
`<store>/profiles/default/` (see [Where your settings are stored](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/guides/store-location/index.md)). Its
`profile.properties`, with the excluded settings, can stay.

New instances use `default` unless they name another profile. To make a different profile the
starting point for new instances, set `defaultProfile` in the [global config](https://xichil.dev/wiki/settings-saver/v0/config/global/index.md).

## Profile names

- 1 to 32 characters: letters, digits, spaces, `-` and `_`.
- No space at the start or end.
- `default` is reserved, in any capitalization.
- Names are unique regardless of case: `PvP` and `pvp` can't both exist.

If a name breaks a rule, the menu shows *Invalid name: …* with the reason and keeps **New**,
**Duplicate** and **Rename** greyed out.