Help needed customizing the ini file directly.
I want to use an ini file I generated using the WinSCP GUI as a template customizable for other people. Since the ini file is a text file, it can be customized directly with a text editor or by using a utility like sed.
For a lot of what interests me, I can tell which variable in the ini file is doing what and I need help with some others. I have not been able to locate the answers in the documentation; I appreciate any help I can get.
The WinSCP version I have is 6.5.2 (Build 16354 2025-06-18). The ini file is listed at the bottom and I have the following questions:
For a lot of what interests me, I can tell which variable in the ini file is doing what and I need help with some others. I have not been able to locate the answers in the documentation; I appreciate any help I can get.
The WinSCP version I have is 6.5.2 (Build 16354 2025-06-18). The ini file is listed at the bottom and I have the following questions:
-
Interface=1appears twice; are they different?
- Which variable fixes the interface language and what values it can take?
- PuTTY is not installed, the GUI entry for PuTTY is empty and yet there are entries for it in the ini file!
- There is
KeyVersion=0, what does that mean?
- There is
OpenedSessionsPrivateKey2=11twice, what does that mean and why twice?
- There is
PublicKeyFile=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5C.ssh%5Cid_ed25519_me.ppk, this is a private key and not a public key, why is it saying public.
- There is
[SshHostKeys], that looks like it has two halves, what is it and how can I customize it? Will there have to be aknown_hostsfile when this is in the ini file?
- There is
[Configuration\LastFingerprints], is this the finger print of the server? Here it seems it implies multiple finger prints. Do you get multiple finger prints from a server?
- There is
[Configuration\CDCache], how do I customize this thing?
- There are other variables that have non zero values; which ones do I need to worry about?
- Can the WinSCP setup be made to prohibit the generation or alteration of sessions or work spaces? It seems you can prohibit the saving for work spaces; what about the ini, how do you prohibit WinSCP from changing the ini file without breaking WinSCP?
[Configuration\Interface] RandomSeedFile=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5Cwinscp.rnd PuttyRegistryStorageKey=Software%5CSimonTatham%5CPuTTY ConfirmOverwriting=1 ConfirmResume=1 AutoReadDirectoryAfterOp=1 SessionReopenAuto=5000 SessionReopenBackground=2000 SessionReopenTimeout=0 SessionReopenAutoStall=60000 TunnelLocalPortNumberLow=50000 TunnelLocalPortNumberHigh=50099 CacheDirectoryChangesMaxSize=100 ShowFtpWelcomeMessage=0 ExternalIpAddress= LocalPortNumberMin=0 LocalPortNumberMax=0 TryFtpWhenSshFails=1 ParallelDurationThreshold=10 MimeTypes= DontReloadMoreThanSessions=1000 ScriptProgressFileNameLimit=25 QueueTransfersLimit=2 ParallelTransferThreshold=-1 KeyVersion=0 SshHostCAsFromPuTTY=0 HttpsCertificateValidation=0 SynchronizationChecksumAlgs= CollectUsage=1 CertificateStorage= AWSAPI= ContinueOnError=0 ConfirmCommandSession=1 SynchronizeParams=66 SynchronizeOptions=5 SynchronizeModeAuto=-1 SynchronizeMode=0 MaxWatchDirectories=500 QueueBootstrap=0 QueueKeepDoneItems=1 QueueKeepDoneItemsFor=15 QueueAutoPopup=1 QueueRememberPassword=1 PuttySession=WinSCP%20temporary%20session PuttyPath= UsePuttyPwFile=2 PuttyPassword=0 TelnetForFtpInPutty=1 IgnoreCancelBeforeFinish=DFBC9A785634023F BeepOnFinish=0 BeepOnFinishAfter=176CC1166CC1363F BeepSound=SystemDefault KeepUpToDateChangeDelay=500 ChecksumAlg=sha1 SessionReopenAutoIdle=9000 Interface=1 ConfirmExitOnCompletion=1 SynchronizeSummary=1 SessionColors= FontColors= CopyShortCutHintShown=0 HttpForWebDAV=0 DefaultFixedWidthFontName= DefaultFixedWidthFontSize=0 CopyOnDoubleClick=2 CopyOnDoubleClickConfirmation=0 AlwaysRespectDoubleClickAction=0 DDDisableMove=0 DDTransferConfirmation2=2 DDTemporaryDirectory=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5C DDDrives= DDWarnLackOfTempSpace=1 DDWarnLackOfTempSpaceRatio=9A9999999999F13F DeleteToRecycleBin=1 DimmHiddenFiles=1 RenameWholeName=0 SelectDirectories=0 SelectMask=*.* ShowHiddenFiles=0 FormatSizeBytes=1 PanelSearch=0 ShowInaccesibleDirectories=1 ConfirmTransferring=1 ConfirmDeleting=1 ConfirmRecycling=1 ConfirmClosingSession=1 AutoStartSession= UseLocationProfiles=0 UseSharedBookmarks=0 LocaleSafe=0 DDFakeFile=1 DDExtTimeout=1000 DefaultDirIsHome=1 TemporaryDirectoryAppendSession=0 TemporaryDirectoryAppendPath=1 TemporaryDirectoryDeterministic=0 TemporaryDirectoryCleanup=1 ConfirmTemporaryDirectoryCleanup=1 PreservePanelState=1 DarkTheme=2 LastStoredSession=test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz AutoSaveWorkspace=0 AutoSaveWorkspacePasswords=0 AutoWorkspace=My%20Workspace PathInCaption=0 SessionTabNameFormat=2 MinimizeToTray=0 BalloonNotifications=1 NotificationsTimeout=10 NotificationsStickTime=2 CopyParamAutoSelectNotice=1 LockToolbars=0 SelectiveToolbarText=1 LargerToolbar=1 AutoOpenInPutty=0 RefreshRemotePanel=0 RefreshRemotePanelInterval=176CC1166CC1463F PanelFontName= PanelFontSize=0 PanelFontStyle=0 PanelFontCharset=1 NaturalOrderNumericalSorting=1 AlwaysSortDirectoriesByName=0 FullRowSelect=0 OfferedEditorAutoConfig=0 LastMonitor=0 VersionHistory=605020000,stable EnableQueueByDefault=1 OpenedStoredSessionFolders= AutoImportedFromPuttyOrFilezilla=0 GenerateUrlComponents=-1 GenerateUrlCodeTarget=0 GenerateUrlScriptFormat=0 GenerateUrlAssemblyLanguage=0 ExternalSessionInExistingInstance=1 ShowLoginWhenNoSession=1 KeepOpenWhenNoSession=1 DefaultToNewRemoteTab=1 LocalIconsByExt=0 FlashTaskbar=1 MaxSessions=100 BidiModeOverride=0 FlipChildrenOverride=0 ShowTips=1 TipsSeen= TipsShown=AC176A3F9461E640 FileColors= RunsSinceLastTip=23 HonorDrivePolicy=1 UseABDrives=1 LastMachineInstallations=2 ExtensionsDeleted= ExtensionsOrder= ExtensionsShortCuts= TimeoutShellOperations=1 TimeoutShellIconRetrieval=0 UseIconUpdateThread=1 AllowWindowPrint=0 StoreTransition=1 QueueTransferLimitMax=9 HiContrast=0 EditorCheckNotModified=0 SessionTabCaptionTruncation=1 LoadingTooLongLimit=15 RemoteThumbnailMask= RemoteThumbnailSizeLimit=51200 FirstRun=2025-06-28 [Configuration\Logging] Logging=1 LogFileName=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5CWinSCP.log LogFileAppend=1 LogSensitive=0 LogMaxSize=10485760 LogMaxCount=5 LogProtocol=2 LogActions=0 ActionsLogFileName=%25TEMP%25%5C!S.xml [Configuration\Usage\Values] FirstUse=2025-06-25T02:44:46.035Z FirstVersion=605020000 LastReport=2025-06-28T22:54:02.314Z AnyBetaUsed=0 Installed=2025-06-25T02:44:46.303Z CurrentVersion=605020000 WindowsVersion=10.0.19045 WindowsProductName=Windows%2010%20Home WindowsProductType=101 Windows64=1 UWP=0 DefaultLocale=0409 Locale=0409 EncodingMultiByteAnsi=0 PixelsPerInch=96 PixelsPerInchMonitorsDiffer=0 WorkAreaWidth=1920 WorkAreaHeight=1160 ColorDepth=32 MonitorCount=1 NotUseThemes=0 ThemeDefaultFontSize=9 ThemeIconFontSize=9 SysColorWindow=FFFFFF SysColorBtnFace=F0F0F0 SysColorWindowText=000000 InProgramFiles=0 IsInstalled=1 IsInstalledMsi=0 Wine=0 NetFrameworkVersion=4.8.09037 NetCoreVersion=0 PowerShellVersion=5.1.19041.1 PwshVersion=0 MsXmlInstalled=1 ConfigurationIniFile=1 ConfigurationIniFileCustom=1 Unofficial=0 StoredSessionsCountSCP=0 StoredSessionsCountSFTP=1 StoredSessionsCountFTP=0 StoredSessionsCountFTPS=0 StoredSessionsCountWebDAV=0 StoredSessionsCountWebDAVS=0 StoredSessionsCountS3=0 StoredSessionsCountPassword=0 StoredSessionsCountColor=0 StoredSessionsCountNote=0 StoredSessionsCountAdvanced=1 StoredSessionsCountTunnel=0 UsingDefaultStoredSession=0 UsingStoredSessionsFolders=0 UsingWorkspaces=0 CopyParamsCount=0 Beta=0 Interface=1 ThemeDark=1 CustomCommandsCount=0 UsingLocationProfiles=0 UsingMasterPassword=0 UsingAutoSaveWorkspace=1 TreeVisible=1 MinimizeToTray=0 AnyHiddenToolbarButtons=1 LargerToolbar=1 FileColors=0 DragDropDrives=0 ShowingTips=1 KeepingOpenWhenNoSession=1 ShowingLoginWhenNoSession=1 DefaultingToNewRemoteTab=1 TipsCount=0 TipsSeen=0 CommanderNortonLikeMode=2 CommanderExplorerKeyboardShortcuts=0 ExplorerViewStyle=0 LastMonitor=0 ExternalEditors=notepad ExtensionsPortableCount=0 ExtensionsInstalledCount=9 ExtensionsUserCount=0 ExtensionsDeleted=0 ThemeMessageFontSize=9 ThemeMainInstructionFontSize=12 TypicalInstallation=0 InstallationParentProcess=explorer LastInstallationAutomaticUpgrade=0 ParentProcesses=explorer,powershell,winscp PixelsPerInchMainWindow=96 StartupSeconds1=0 StartupSecondsLast=0 StartupSecondsLastReal=0 StartupSequenceLast=M:0,T:0,S:0,X:0,C:0,G:1,N:0,B:0,A:0,F:1,E:3,R:0,D:0,W:0,U:0,O:0,J:0,I:0 OpenedSessionsFailedLastDate=2025-06-29 StartupSeconds2=0 StoredSessionsAdvancedSettings=PingType,UpdateDirectories [Configuration\Usage\PeriodCounters] MaxOpenedSessions=1 OpenedSessionsAdvanced=5 OpenedSessionsFailed=2 OpenedSessionsFailedRecovered=2 OpenedSessionsLogToFile2=13 OpenedSessionsPrivateKey2=11 OpenedSessionsSFTP=13 OpenedSessionsSFTP3=11 OpenedSessionsSSH2=11 OpenedSessionsSSHCipherAES=11 OpenedSessionsSSHOpenSSH=11 Runs=21 RunsNormal=21 RunsWithoutSession=15 SessionOpens=13 UpdateChecksSucceeded=1 [Configuration\Usage\LifetimeCounters] CommandLineDesktop=2 CommandLineSession2=1 ConsoleExternal=5 InstallationsCustomComponents=1 InstallationsCustomDir=1 InstallationsCustomInterface=1 InstallationsFirstCustom=1 InstallationsGettingStarted=1 InstallationsLaunch=1 InstallationsMachine=2 InstallationsUser=1 MaxOpenedSessions=1 OpenedSessionsAdvanced=5 OpenedSessionsFailed=5 OpenedSessionsFailedAfterCancel=1 OpenedSessionsFailedRecovered=2 OpenedSessionsLogToFile2=13 OpenedSessionsPrivateKey2=11 OpenedSessionsSFTP=16 OpenedSessionsSFTP3=11 OpenedSessionsSSH2=11 OpenedSessionsSSHCipherAES=11 OpenedSessionsSSHOpenSSH=11 Runs=46 RunsNormal=36 RunsWithoutSession=28 SessionOpens=17 UpdateChecksSucceeded=3 [Configuration\Interface\CopyParam] AddXToDirectories=1 Masks=*.*html;%20*.htm;%20*.txt;%20*.php;%20*.php3;%20*.cgi;%20*.c;%20*.cpp;%20*.h;%20*.pas;%20*.bas;%20*.tex;%20*.pl;%20*.js;%20.htaccess;%20*.xtml;%20*.css;%20*.cfg;%20*.ini;%20*.sh;%20*.xml FileNameCase=0 PreserveReadOnly=0 PreserveTime=1 PreserveTimeDirs=0 PreserveRights=0 IgnorePermErrors=0 Text=rw-r--r-- TransferMode=0 ResumeSupport=0 ResumeThreshold=102400 ReplaceInvalidChars=1 LocalInvalidChars=/%5C:*%3F"<>| CalculateSize=1 IncludeFileMask= ClearArchive=0 RemoveCtrlZ=0 RemoveBOM=0 CPSLimit=0 NewerOnly=0 EncryptNewFiles=1 ExcludeHiddenFiles=0 ExcludeEmptyDirectories=0 Queue=0 QueueNoConfirmation=1 QueueParallel=1 CopyParamList=-1 [Configuration\Interface\NewDirectory2] Valid=00 [Configuration\Interface\SynchronizeChecklist] WindowParams=0;-1;-1;1090;700;0;96 ListParams=1;1|150,1;100,1;80,1;130,1;25,1;100,1;80,1;130,1;@96|0;1;2;3;4;5;6;7 [Configuration\Interface\FindFile] WindowParams=646,481,96 ListParams=1;1|125,1;181,1;80,1;122,1;@96|0;1;2;3|/1 [Configuration\Interface\ConsoleWin] WindowSize=570,430,96 [Configuration\Interface\LoginDialog] WindowSize=660,430,96 SiteSearch=1 [Configuration\History\PuttyPath] 0=%25ProgramFiles%25%5CPuTTY%5Cputty.exe 1=%25ProgramFiles%25%5CPuTTY%5Cputty.exe%20-t%20-m%20"%25TEMP%25%5Cputty.txt"%20!`cmd.exe%20/c%20echo%20cd%20'!/'%20;%20/bin/bash%20-login%20>%20"%25TEMP%25%5Cputty.txt"` 2=kitty.exe 3=kitty.exe%20-cmd%20"cd%20'!/'"%20!U@!@%20-P%20!#%20-title%20"!N" 4=%25SystemRoot%25%5CSysnative%5COpenSSH%5Cssh.exe%20!U@!@%20-p%20!# 5=%25SystemRoot%25%5CSysnative%5COpenSSH%5Cssh.exe%20!U@!@%20-p%20!#%20-t%20"cd%20!/%20;%20/bin/bash" [Configuration\History\SpeedLimit] 0=Unlimited 1=8192 2=4096 3=2048 4=1024 5=512 6=256 7=128 8=64 9=32 10=16 11=8 [Configuration\Interface\Editor] FontName2=Consolas FontSize=11 FontStyle=0 FontCharset=1 FontColor=0 BackgroundColor=0 WordWrap=0 FindText= ReplaceText= FindMatchCase=0 FindWholeWord=0 FindDown=1 TabSize=8 MaxEditors=500 EarlyClose=2 SDIShellEditor=0 WindowParams= Encoding=0 WarnOnEncodingFallback=1 WarnOrLargeFileSize=1 AutoFont=1 DisableSmoothScroll=0 [Configuration\Interface\QueueView] Height=140 HeightPixelsPerInch=96 Layout=70,250,250,80,80,80,100,;96 Show=1 LastHideShow=1 ToolBar=1 Label=1 FileList=0 FileListHeight=90 FileListHeightPixelsPerInch=96 [Configuration\Interface\Updates] Period=0 LastCheck=E55D6B339561E640 HaveResults=1 ShownResults=0 BetaVersions=2 ShowOnStartup=1 AuthenticationEmail= Mode= ConnectionType=1 ProxyHost= ProxyPort=8080 ForVersion=605020000 Version=0 Message= Critical=0 Release= Disabled=0 Url= UrlButton= NewsUrl= NewsWidth=0 NewsHeight=0 DownloadUrl= DownloadSize=0 DownloadSha256= AuthenticationError= OpenGettingStarted=0 DownloadingUrl= TipsWidth=0 TipsHeight=0 TipsUrl= Tips= TipsIntervalDays=7 TipsIntervalRuns=5 DotNetVersion= ConsoleVersion= [Configuration\Interface\Explorer] ToolbarsLayout2=Queue=1::0+-1,Menu=1:TopDock:0+0,Buttons=1:TopDock:2+0,Selection=0:TopDock:3+0,Session=0:TopDock:6+0,Preferences=1:TopDock:4+0,Sort=0:TopDock:5+0,Address=1:TopDock:1+0,Updates=1:TopDock:4+393,Transfer=1:TopDock:4+171,CustomCommands=0:TopDock:7+0,PixelsPerInch=96 ToolbarsButtons=Reconnect=ReconnectSession:0 DirViewParams=0;1|150,1;70,1;150,1;79,1;62,1;55,0;20,0;150,0;125,0;@96|6;7;8;5;0;1;2;3;4 LastLocalTargetDirectory=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDocuments SessionsTabs=1 StatusBar=1 WindowParams=102;189;1062;909;0;96 ViewStyle=0 ShowFullAddress=1 DriveView=1 DriveViewWidth=180 DriveViewWidthPixelsPerInch=96 [Configuration\Interface\Commander] ToolbarsLayout2=Queue=1::0+-1,Menu=1:TopDock:0+0,Preferences=1:TopDock:1+228,Session=0:TopDock:1+602,Sort=0:TopDock:2+0,Commands=1:TopDock:1+0,Updates=1:TopDock:1+596,Transfer=1:TopDock:1+341,CustomCommands=0:TopDock:3+0,RemoteHistory=1:RemoteTopDock:0+172,RemoteNavigation=1:RemoteTopDock:0+252,RemotePath=1:RemoteTopDock:0+0,RemoteFile=1:RemoteTopDock:1+0,RemoteSelection=1:RemoteTopDock:1+345,LocalHistory=1:LocalTopDock:0+207,LocalNavigation=1:LocalTopDock:0+287,LocalPath=1:LocalTopDock:0+0,LocalFile=1:LocalTopDock:1+0,LocalSelection=1:LocalTopDock:1+329,Toolbar2=0:BottomDock:1+0,CommandLine=0:BottomDock:0+0,PixelsPerInch=96 ToolbarsButtons= CurrentPanel=0 LocalPanelWidth=000000000000E03F SwappedPanels=0 SessionsTabs=1 StatusBar=1 WindowParams=-1;-1;1090;700;0;96 ExplorerStyleSelection=2 PreserveLocalDirectory=0 CompareByTime=1 CompareBySize=0 TreeOnLeft=0 ExplorerKeyboardShortcuts=0 SystemContextMenu=0 [Configuration\Interface\Commander\LocalPanel] DirViewParams=0;1;0|150,1;70,1;120,1;150,1;55,0;55,0;@96|5;0;1;2;3;4 ViewStyle=3 StatusBar=1 DriveView=0 DriveViewHeight=100 DriveViewHeightPixelsPerInch=96 DriveViewWidth=100 DriveViewWidthPixelsPerInch=96 LastPath= [Configuration\Interface\Commander\RemotePanel] DirViewParams=0;1;0|150,1;70,1;150,1;79,1;62,1;55,0;20,0;150,0;125,0;@96|6;7;8;0;1;2;3;4;5 ViewStyle=3 StatusBar=1 DriveView=0 DriveViewHeight=100 DriveViewHeightPixelsPerInch=96 DriveViewWidth=100 DriveViewWidthPixelsPerInch=96 LastPath= [Configuration\Interface\Commander\OtherLocalPanel] DirViewParams=0;1;0|150,1;70,1;120,1;150,1;55,0;55,0;@96|5;0;1;2;3;4 ViewStyle=3 LastPath= [Configuration\Security] UseMasterPassword=0 MasterPasswordVerifier= [Configuration\Interface\Editor\0] FileMask=*.* Editor=0 ExternalEditor= ExternalEditorText=0 SDIExternalEditor=1 DetectMDIExternalEditor=0 [Configuration\Interface\Editor\1] FileMask=*.* Editor=1 ExternalEditor=notepad.exe ExternalEditorText=0 SDIExternalEditor=1 DetectMDIExternalEditor=0 [Sessions\test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz] HostName=www.xxx.yyy.zzz UserName=test1 PublicKeyFile=C:%5CUsers%5Cme%5CDesktop%5CWinSCP%5C.ssh%5Cid_ed25519_me.ppk PingType=1 UpdateDirectories=0 [Configuration] JumpList=test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz JumpListWorkspaces= [SshHostKeys] ssh-ed25519@22:www.xxx.yyy.zzz=0x38b5e50d44215a82a816c15bbf0c441dedac8e60aac57e539a3cf1c2bfae5865,0xb8675226d18fb32a77d417398a96ddc78c96ac449015945cb866347b60666f [Configuration\LastFingerprints] www.xxx.yyy.zzz:22:ssh=ssh-ed25519%20255%20LNz4OlkJrcd+XmLU9zsp1GvbfCzHjCJAKTQJE7+16Vk [Configuration\CDCache] test1@www.xxx.yyy.zzz=412F3D2F2F0D0A2F666F72743D2F2F0D0A2F61646D696E3D2F2F0D0A2F666F72742F69645374616D704469723D2F2F0D0A2F666F72742F64696763686B4469722F696E4469723D2F2F0D0A2F666F72742F64696763686B4469723D2F2F0D0A
