How to delete preferences in QuarkXPress
When QuarkXPress behaves erratic, in most cases corrupt preferences are the cause.
Deleting preferences will fix that, as QuarkXPress creates new, fresh preferences upon the next start if it doesn’t find any.
The only thing you will loose is any customization you have done to preferences. Existing documents are not changed and are not affected.
Where to find preferences:
As Apple and Microsoft recommend, by default QuarkXPress stores user-specific files such as preferences in the user folder. Each version of QuarkXPress uses a separate folder, so that different versions of QuarkXPress installed on the same machine do not interfere with each other.
Before deleting preferences, first quit QuarkXPress.
On MacOS
On MacOS / OS X, QuarkXPress stores its preferences in the user Library. Careful, MacOS offers TWO Libraries, a global one and a user one. Preferences are stored in the user library.
Easiest to get to the folder is by going into Finder and choosing:
Go > Go to Folder and then pasting the path in there:
- For QuarkXPress 2018:
~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2018/ - For QuarkXPress 2017:
~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2017/ - For QuarkXPress 2016:
~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2016/ - For QuarkXPress 2015:
~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2015/ - For QuarkXPress 10:
~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 10/ - For QuarkXPress 9:
~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 9/
(make sure to copy the tilde ~ in the path)
Delete everything in that folder. Restart QuarkXPress.
Please also watch this 30 sec video:
On Windows
On Windows, QuarkXPress stores its preferences in the local app data directory of the user. Though using the same concept, Microsoft did rename the folders in the different versions of Windows.
To find preferences, easiest is to
Press Windows-key and R (for “Run”) and paste the following path in there:
- For QuarkXPress 2018:
%localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2018\ - For QuarkXPress 2017:
%localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2017\ - For QuarkXPress 2016:
%localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2016\ - For QuarkXPress 2015:
%localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2015\ - For QuarkXPress 10:
%localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 10\ - For QuarkXPress 9:
%localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 9\
(make sure to copy the percent sign % in the path)
Delete everything in that folder. Restart QuarkXPress.
Please also watch this 30 sec video:
Going forward – better than deleting
As you loose all customization, maybe next time it’s a better idea to make a backup of preferences after you have tailored them to your need.
And then – instead of deleting – you replace them with the backup of your preferences.
Both an engineer and a layout artist, Matthias bridges the gap between technology and people.
Before joining Quark, Matthias pioneered print, Web, and multimedia products for multiple German publishing companies. Since 1997 he has played a central role in shaping Quark’s desktop and enterprise software.
Starting 2003 Matthias has focused on Quark’s interactive and digital publishing solutions. He is an active participant in design and publishing communities and represents Quark in the Ghent PDF Workgroup.
Since February 2014 Matthias heads Quark’s Desktop Publishing business unit and is therefore responsible for QuarkXPress.
