Troubleshooting: *.ini files

Couldn't parse *.ini files - What to do?

You may see this error message when starting the tool or switching profiles:

If you're using an older version, it probably looks like this:

The error message means that one of your *.ini files could not be read by the tool.
If you edited the file before, you might have introduced a typo.

You have two options on how to fix it:

• Reset the file to default (easy), or
• fix the typo.

Reseting the file to default (easy)

⚠️ This will reset some (or all) of your settings.

If you're getting the new error message, just click on "Reset *.ini file to default" and accept the warning.
This will reset it and load the defaults.

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If you're on an older version however, do this:
The tool should tell you which file could not be read.

1. Move the invalid *.ini file into the recycle bin (or move all three if you aren't sure)
2. Start Fallout 76. This will create new, valid *.ini files.
3. Open the tool again.

Fixing the typo

If you don't want to lose any settings, you'll need to fix the syntax error (aka. typo).
You can click on "\/ Show details" and then on "Open *.ini file in text editor":

To name a few typos:

• Check if there's a missing bracket, e.g. [General should be [General]

• Check if there are too many brackets, e.g. [General]] should be [General]

• Check if there's an invalid key=value pair, e.g. a newline:

sResourceArchive2List=..., ..., ...,
something.ba2

• Everything has to be on one line:

sResourceArchive2List=..., ..., ..., something.ba2

• Check if there's a comment that doesn't start with a semicolon ';'.

; This is a valid comment
[AudioMenu]
fVal0=0.8 ; This is *NOT* a valid comment (at least not for the tool)

• Check if there's a key=value pair that is not separated by an equals sign '='.

; This is valid:
fVal0=0.8
; This is invalid:
fVal0 0.8

Error while loading UI - What to do?

You may see this error message when starting the tool in an older version:

This error message pops up when a value in an *.ini file isn't formatted correctly.
As an example, expected would be:

[AudioMenu]
fVal0=0.8

But given would be:

[AudioMenu]
fVal0=

Which isn't a number and therefore causes this error. (fVal0 is just an example)

Unless you got a warning about invalid entries, I'm afraid, you may not be able to do much.

You could:

• update the tool to v1.9.0 or newer (since it is more forgiving), or
• reset your *.ini files to default

Reseting the file to default

1. Move all *.ini files into the recycle bin (Fallout76.ini, Fallout76Prefs.ini, and Fallout76Custom.ini; if you're on Game Pass: Project76.ini, Project76Prefs.ini, and Project76Custom.ini)
2. Start Fallout 76. This will create new, valid *.ini files.
3. Open the tool again.