Where Basalt keeps things
The folders and files Basalt and Basalt Host keep, what each one is, and what is safe to delete.
Basalt keeps nothing on the drive you share: everything it remembers is in a folder of its own.
Folders
| Folder | |
|---|---|
| Windows, host and app | %APPDATA%\Basalt\ |
| Linux desktop host | ~/.config/basalt/ |
| Host with no screen | /var/lib/basalt-host/ |
| Docker | The folder mounted at /config |
| Android | The app’s own private storage, which only Basalt can read |
Files
| File | What it is |
|---|---|
host.json |
The host’s identity, settings, paired devices and profiles |
client.json |
The drive this device is paired with |
host.log |
The host’s log, started afresh each time it starts (on a host with no screen, the log is in the system journal instead) |
library-*.json, collections-*.json |
The library’s index, rebuilt by a scan |
watched-*.json, stars-*.json |
Continue watching and starred files, for each device and each profile |
resolutions-*.json |
Each video’s measured picture size |
thumbs/, art/ |
Thumbnails, and downloaded posters |
What is safe to delete
- The index, thumbnails, posters and picture sizes can be deleted at any time, and are rebuilt as needed.
- Watch history and stars can be deleted too, but are not rebuilt: everyone’s Continue watching starts again.
host.jsonis the host itself. Deleting it makes a new host: every device pairs again, and profiles are lost. See Moving or rebuilding a host.
Device keys
Each device’s own key is kept by the device, not in these files: in its security chip where it has one, such as a TPM on a Windows computer or Android’s secure hardware, and protected by its system otherwise. It never leaves the device, and isn’t in any backup.
On Android, the app’s storage is left out of phone backups, so its pairing never travels to another phone. Clearing the app’s storage, or Forget this drive under More, means pairing again.
Something unclear, or not covered here? Ask in Help and setup, where the community and Refora Technologies answer, or write to us, and we will improve this page.