> 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 Caution Launch Configurations have been replaced by [Tab Configs](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/).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. Warp saves each tab group’s name, color, collapsed and pinned states, and tab membership. ### With a YAML File - Launch Configurations files are generated when you create them with the UI and can also be created or modified manually. - See [Launch Configuration YAML file locations, format, and examples](/terminal/sessions/launch-configurations/#launch-configuration-yaml-format). ## Using a Launch Configuration - [macOS](#tab-panel-829) - [Windows](#tab-panel-830) - [Linux](#tab-panel-831) - 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 `⌘+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-832) - [Windows](#tab-panel-833) - [Linux](#tab-panel-834) ```bash $HOME/.warp/launch_configurations/ ``` ```powershell $env:APPDATA\warp\Warp\data\launch_configurations\ ``` ```bash ${XDG_DATA_HOME:-$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. ```yaml # Warp Launch Configuration # # This configuration has two windows, # each with one tab in different starting directories. --- name: Example Windows windows: - 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 ```yaml # Warp Launch Configuration # # This configuration has two tabs in the same window. --- name: Example Tabs windows: - tabs: - title: Documents layout: cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents color: blue - title: Warp User layout: cwd: /Users/warp-user color: green ``` ### Tab groups Use `tab_groups` on a window to define groups. Set `group` on each tab to the zero-based position of its group in the `tab_groups` list. Tabs without `group` open outside a group. Each tab group supports: - **`name`** - The group name. - **`color`** - One of `black`, `red`, `green`, `yellow`, `blue`, `magenta`, `cyan`, or `white`. - **`collapsed`** - Whether the group opens collapsed. Defaults to `false`. - **`pinned`** - Whether the group opens pinned. Defaults to `false`. ```yaml title="grouped-development.yaml" --- name: Grouped development windows: - tabs: - title: API layout: cwd: /Users/warp-user/Projects/api group: 0 - title: Tests layout: cwd: /Users/warp-user/Projects/api commands: - exec: npm test group: 0 - title: Notes layout: cwd: /Users/warp-user/Documents tab_groups: - name: Backend color: blue collapsed: false pinned: false ``` Tabs in the same group must be adjacent in the `tabs` list. Warp opens a tab outside a group when its `group` index does not exist or when the same group appears again after a different group or ungrouped tab. Warp does not create groups without member tabs. ### Panes Launch Configurations support setting split panes in each tab. Note that Warp also supports nesting split panes in launch configuration files. ```yaml # 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 Panes windows: - 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. ```yaml # 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 Focus active_window_index: 0 windows: - 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. ```yaml # 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 Commands windows: - 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 ```