> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/LizardByte/Sunshine/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuration Overview

> Learn how to configure Sunshine using the web UI or configuration files

Sunshine works with default settings for most users, but offers extensive configuration options when you need more control over streaming behavior, performance, and compatibility.

## Accessing Configuration

### Web UI (Recommended)

The easiest way to configure Sunshine is through the web interface:

1. Open your web browser
2. Navigate to `https://localhost:47990`
3. Log in with your credentials
4. Browse the configuration sections in the UI

The web UI provides a user-friendly interface for all configuration options with descriptions and validation.

### Configuration Files

For advanced users, Sunshine can be configured by editing configuration files directly. The configuration file is located in different directories depending on your operating system:

| Operating System | Configuration Directory          |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------- |
| Docker           | `/config`                        |
| FreeBSD          | `~/.config/sunshine`             |
| Linux            | `~/.config/sunshine`             |
| macOS            | `~/.config/sunshine`             |
| Windows          | `%ProgramFiles%\Sunshine\config` |

The main configuration file is `sunshine.conf` in this directory.

## Custom Configuration Path

You can specify a custom configuration file location by passing the full path as the first argument when starting Sunshine:

```bash theme={null}
sunshine ~/my-custom-config/sunshine.conf
```

## Application Configuration

Applications that can be launched from Moonlight are configured separately in `apps.json`, which is stored in the same directory as the configuration file by default. You can customize this location in the main configuration file.

## Configuration Sections

Sunshine's configuration is organized into several categories:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="General Settings" icon="gear" href="/configuration/general">
    Locale, logging, credentials, and system tray options
  </Card>

  <Card title="Audio/Video" icon="video" href="/configuration/audio-video">
    Encoder selection, resolution, bitrate, and HDR settings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Input Configuration" icon="gamepad" href="/configuration/input">
    Gamepad emulation, keyboard, and mouse settings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Network Settings" icon="network-wired" href="/configuration/network">
    Port configuration, UPnP, and encryption settings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Applications" icon="window" href="/configuration/apps">
    Configure applications and games to stream
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Editing Configuration Files

<Warning>
  While you can manually edit the configuration file, it's recommended to use the web UI to avoid syntax errors and ensure valid values.
</Warning>

If you choose to edit configuration files manually:

1. Stop Sunshine before making changes
2. Open `sunshine.conf` in a text editor
3. Edit the desired options using the format: `option_name = value`
4. Save the file
5. Restart Sunshine for changes to take effect

## Configuration File Locations

### Main Configuration Files

<ParamField path="sunshine.conf" type="file">
  Main configuration file containing all Sunshine settings
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="apps.json" type="file">
  Application definitions for games and programs that can be launched from Moonlight
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="sunshine_state.json" type="file">
  Current state and user credentials for the web UI
</ParamField>

### Log Files

<ParamField path="sunshine.log" type="file">
  Main log file for troubleshooting and debugging
</ParamField>

### SSL Certificates

Located in the `credentials` subdirectory:

<ParamField path="credentials/cakey.pem" type="file">
  Private key for web UI and Moonlight pairing (RSA-2048 recommended)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="credentials/cacert.pem" type="file">
  Certificate for web UI and Moonlight pairing
</ParamField>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="General Settings" icon="gear" href="/configuration/general">
    Configure locale, logging, and system settings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Audio/Video" icon="video" href="/configuration/audio-video">
    Optimize encoding settings for your hardware
  </Card>
</CardGroup>