> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).
> Markdown versions of each page are available by appending .md to any URL.

# Launch Configurations (Legacy)

Launch Configurations (Legacy) let you save a configuration of windows, tabs, and panes. For new setups, use Tab Configs instead.

Caution

Launch Configurations have been replaced by [Tab Configs](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/). Existing Launch Configurations continue to work, but new features are not being added. For new setups, use [Tab Configs](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/).

## What is it

You can create Launch Configurations in the app or by adding a YAML file.

## Creating a Launch Configuration

### From the UI

1.  Set up the configuration of windows, tabs, and panes you would like to save.
2.  Open the [Command Palette](/terminal/command-palette/), and type in `Save New Launch Configuration`.
3.  Name the configuration file. The name field cannot be empty.
4.  Click the Save configuration button.

### With a YAML File

-   Launch Configurations files are generated when you create them with the UI and can also be created or modified manually.
-   Please see the below for [Launch Configuration YAML file locations, format, and examples](/terminal/sessions/launch-configurations/#launch-configuration-yaml-format).

## Using a Launch Configuration

-   [macOS](#tab-panel-806)
-   [Windows](#tab-panel-807)
-   [Linux](#tab-panel-808)

-   From the [Command Palette](/terminal/command-palette/), enter `Launch Configuration` to open and select Launch Configuration.
-   Right-clicking the new Tab **+** button to open a menu and select saved Launch Configuration.
-   From the macOS menu bar, **File** > **Launch Configurations**, where you can search through and open your saved Launch Configuration.
    -   Single-window launch configs can be launched into the active window from the launch configuration palette using `CMD-ENTER` on macOS.

-   From the [Command Palette](/terminal/command-palette/), enter `Launch Configuration` to open and select Launch Configuration.
-   Right-clicking the new Tab **+** button to open a menu and select saved Launch Configuration.
    -   Single-window launch configs can be launched into the active window from the launch configuration palette using `CTRL-ENTER` on Windows.

To open a WSL tab with a Launch Configuration, you must first set WSL as your default shell in Warp:

-   Go to **Settings** > **Features** > **Session** > **Startup shell for new sessions**.
-   Select your desired WSL distribution (e.g., Ubuntu) as the default shell.

After this, any Launch Configuration you open will use WSL as the shell.

-   From the [Command Palette](/terminal/command-palette/), enter `Launch Configuration` to open and select Launch Configuration.
-   Right-clicking the new Tab **+** button to open a menu and select saved Launch Configuration.
    -   Single-window launch configs can be launched into the active window from the launch configuration palette using `CTRL-ENTER` on Linux.

Tip

**Terminal Tip**  
You can open saved Launch Configurations via Alfred Workflow or [Raycast](/terminal/integrations-and-plugins/#raycast) Extension. See Joe Tannenbaum’s guide to [opening Warp Launch Configurations from Raycast and Alfred](https://blog.joe.codes/open-warp-launch-configurations-from-raycast-and-alfred). Credit to [@joetannenbaum](https://twitter.com/joetannenbaum/status/1633538768866009115)

## How it works

## Launch Configuration YAML format

All Launch Configuration yaml files are stored in the following location:

-   [macOS](#tab-panel-809)
-   [Windows](#tab-panel-810)
-   [Linux](#tab-panel-811)

```
$HOME/.warp/launch_configurations/
```

```
$env:APPDATA\warp\Warp\data\launch_configurations\
```

```
${XDG_DATA_HOME:-$HOME/.local/share}/warp-terminal/launch_configurations/
```

Caution

The `cwd:` value in the yaml code must contain an absolute path or `""`. Note that `~` or empty paths will result in the file not being visible on the list of options for Launch Configurations.

### Windows

Sample configuration that shows how windows are structured in launch configuration files.

```
# Warp Launch Configuration## This configuration has two windows,# each with one tab in different starting directories.
---name: Example Windowswindows:  - tabs:      - title: Documents        layout:          cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents        color: blue  - tabs:      - title: Warp User        layout:          cwd: /Users/warp-user        color: green
```

### Tabs

Here’s a sample configuration that shows how tabs are structured in launch configuration files.

-   Use the `title` field to set a custom tab name
-   Use the `color` field to set the tab color
    -   We currently support using the terminal colors (ANSI colors):
        
        `Red | Green | Yellow | Blue | Magenta | Cyan`
        
        The actual color values will be automatically derived from your Warp theme
        

```
# Warp Launch Configuration## This configuration has two tabs in the same window.
---name: Example Tabswindows:  - tabs:      - title: Documents        layout:          cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents        color: blue      - title: Warp User        layout:          cwd: /Users/warp-user        color: green
```

### Panes

Launch Configurations support setting split panes in each tab. Note that Warp also supports nesting split panes in launch configuration files.

```
# Warp Launch Configuration## This configuration is two windows, each with split panes.# The first window contains a vertically split tab with two panes.# The second window contains a horizontally split tab,# with a vertically split tab on the right.
---name: Example Paneswindows:  - tabs:      - title: Downloads and Warp User        layout:          split_direction: vertical          panes:            - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Downloads            - cwd: /Users/warp-user        color: blue  - tabs:      - title: Desktop, Documents, and Warp User        layout:          split_direction: horizontal          panes:            - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Desktop            - split_direction: vertical              panes:                - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents                - cwd: /Users/warp-user        color: green
```

### Active and Focus

Sample configuration that shows how a Window and Tab can be activated with a session in focus.

-   Use the `active_window_index` and `active_tab_index` fields to set your active Window and Tab.
-   Use the `is_focused` field to set which Pane is focused in each tab.

Caution

Note that when you use `- active_tab_index:` the `tabs:` field doesn’t need the `-` prefix, as this can cause syntax issues.

```
# Warp Launch Configuration## This configuration has two tabs, with the second tab active.# Two vertical split panes in the first tab and the top pane focused.# Two horizontal split panes in the second tab and the right pane focused.---name: Example Active and Focusactive_window_index: 0windows:  - active_tab_index: 1    tabs:      - title: Tab 1        layout:          split_direction: vertical          panes:            - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents              is_focused: true            - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents/Projects      - title: Tab 2        layout:          split_direction: horizontal          panes:            - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Downloads            - cwd: /Users/warp-user              is_focused: true
```

### Commands

Use the `commands` field to define a set of commands to run when a launch configuration is run.

Caution

You may need to use double quotes for commands with special characters. Commands in separate lines are chained together with `&&` when run, as such commands run after `ssh` commands may not execute.

```
# Warp Launch Configuration## This configuration has two windows,# the first window executes two commands on start,# the second window has a split pane that executes a command on start.
---name: Example Commandswindows:  - tabs:      - title: Documents        layout:          cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents          commands:            - exec: ls            - exec: code .        color: blue  - tabs:      - title: Downloads        layout:          split_direction: vertical          panes:            - cwd: /Users/warp-user/Downloads              commands:                - exec: curl http://example.com -o my.file                - exec: cp my.file my.file2            - cwd: /Users/warp-user              commands:                - exec: ssh user@remote.server.com        color: green
```
