.CFG File Extension

A CFG file is a generic preference file that stores settings and configuration information. It is used by various programs, which means different CFG files may store data in different formats. CFG files typically should not be opened manually but may be saved in a text format that can be viewed in a text editor.

Generic configuration files are often named "config.cfg". Text-based CFG files often contain one variable and value per line in the following format:

var1=low
var2=med
var3=high

To test if a program automatically generates a default CFG file, move the configuration file out of the default directory when the program is not running. Then open the program and check the directory to see if a new CFG file has been created. Also, a CFG file can sometimes be moved or deleted to revert to a program's default settings.

NOTE: Linux configuration files typically use the .CONF extension rather than CFG.

Settings file used by Celestia, a 3D universe simulation program; saved in a plain text format and specifies the data files to load when the program is started; can be edited by the user, but should be done so carefully since improper changes to the file can cause Celestia's loading process to fail.

Celestia configuration files contain references to .STC, .SSC, .DSC data files, .CEL scripts, .TXF font definitions, and other startup parameters.

Three-dimensional model configuration file used by Cal3D, an open source character animation toolkit; saved in a plain text format and contains references to model components; used for putting all model components together.

CFG files contain references to Cal3D skeleton files (.CSF or .XSF extension), animation files (.CAF or .XAF extension), meshes (.CMF or .XMF files), and materials (.CRF or .XRF files). They also store the root directory for the referenced files and the model scale.

XML keyboard configuration file used by MAME arcade video game emulators; contains keyboard mappings and hotkeys used for playing a game; used for configuring keyboard controls based on the player's preferences.

Separate CFG files can be saved for different games. This gives players the ability to customize controls separately depending on the game being played.

Preferences file created by LightWave 3D, a modeling and rendering application for still frames and animation sequences; saves various application configuration options; used for remembering presets for the user.

Game file used by The Battle for Wesnoth, a free turn-based strategy game for Mac, Windows, and Linux; contains source code written in the Wesnoth Markup Language (WML), a proprietary language used for creating scenarios, campaigns, units, and other game content for The Battle for Wesnoth.

CFG files can be edited using any text editor. Some WML syntax highlighting plugins have been developed for text editors such as Emacs and Vi.

Contains connection information for connecting to a Citrix server; may include hostname, IP address, server port, username, password, etc; multiple CFG files may be used by Citrix client software to connect to various servers.

A CFG file is a configuration file used by M.U.G.E.N, a free sprite-based game engine used to create 2D fighting games. It contains settings that control a fighting game's gameplay, sounds, and appearance. CFG files used with M.U.G.E.N are typically named mugen.cfg.

Because they are plain text documents, you can open mugen.cfg or any other M.U.G.E.N CFG file with any text editor. In Windows, you can open a CFG file with Microsoft Notepad or Microsoft WordPad. In macOS, you can use Apple TextEdit.