Guide:SkyrimPrefs INI

A comprehensive and advanced guide for editing the "SkyrimPrefs.ini" file for n00bs and gurus alike -- by the S.T.E.P. Team

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Skyrim INI Guide

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Guide Scope

This guide is intended to be the comprehensive reference to all parameters found within SkyrimPrefs.ini file for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim game. All of the user-configurable parameters contained within SkyrimPrefs.ini are listed and defined (or hopefully will be). Parameters are presented by INI section headings in the order that they appear by default within SkyrimPrefs.ini. Jump to a relevant INI section using the links below and navigate back to this "hub" using the link that appears at the top of each section page.

→ Default SkyrimPrefs INI (runtime 1.9.32.0.8)

The Basics

SkyrimPrefs.ini has 118 settings separated into 18 working sections. 11 of these are believed to be unused by the game, leaving 107 parameters to tweak. 31 additional parameters are mentioned here that are commonly placed in this file that do not do anything. Any additional parameters not listed here are most likely invalid. Each setting has a lowercase prefix and a name. The name identifies what the setting modifies. The prefix determines what kind of value the setting can accept. Below is a list of the different prefixes and their meanings.

• b-prefix accepts a Boolean value of 1 (true) or 0 (false).
• f-prefix accepts a floating point numeral value (any rational number, positive or negative, with or without a decimal, such as 5, 0, or -38.0003).
• i-prefix accepts an integer value (any whole number, positive or negative, without a decimal point, such as 5, -38, or 0).
• s-prefix accepts a string value (usually text, but may contain numbers, punctuation--anything really).
• u-prefix accepts an unsigned integer value (any whole number, only positive or 0, without a decimal point, such as 5, 38, or 0).

Many INI settings may be changed in-game, but some changes only work when the setting is in the INI file at startup. You can experiment with many settings in-game by doing the following:

1. Press the tilde (~) key to access the console.
2. Type setini "parameter:category" value where parameter is the name of the setting, category is the section it is under, and value is the value it is to be changed to.
3. Press enter

Credits

• Tannin for Mod Organizer's Configurator plugin.
• Sheson for some LOD parameters.

INI Parameters by Section

[Imagespace] [Display] [Grass] [Water] [MAIN] [Interface] [GamePlay]

[Controls] [Particles] [SaveGame] [AudioMenu] [Clouds] [General] [TerrainManager]

[Navmesh] [Trees] [Decals] [LOD] [Launcher] [BlurShaderHDR] [BlurShader]

[Imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField

bDoDepthOfField enables depth of field, a kind of blurring to imitate the human eye's perception. bDoDepthOfField is recommended to be enabled, but may be disabled for a slight performance gain.

Default is 1.

bDoDepthOfField=(0,1)

iRadialBlurLevel

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where Low and Medium is 0, High is 1, and Ultra is 2. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 0). However, changing the setting in Skyrim.ini may induce CTD whenever radial blur is applied!

iRadialBlurLevel=(...,-1,0,1,...)

[Display]

bDeferredShadows

bDeferredShadows enables deferred shadows.

Default is 1.

bDeferredShadows=(0,1)

bDrawLandShadows

bDrawLandShadows allows land objects such as rocks and mountains to cast shadows. It can be disabled for a slight performance gain.

Default is 0

bDrawLandShadows=(0,1)

bDrawShadows

bDrawShadows is believed to be unused by the game. This may have enabled shadows.

Default is 1.

bDrawShadows=(0,1)

bFXAAEnabled

bFXAAEnabled enables an almost zero-cost approximation of antialiasing using the FXAA technique. Do not use with SMAA or ENB AA.

Default is 0. Low, High, and Ultra presets are 0. Medium is 1.

bFXAAEnabled=(0,1)

bFloatPointRenderTarget

Enabling bFloatPointRenderTarget allows lighting to be rendered using floating point (decimal) values rather than only integer values. This increases the precision of lighting. It comes with a medium performance impact, and is recommended to be set to 0 if not using ENB. If using ENB, bFloatPointRenderTarget MUST be set to 1.

Default is 0 (although default set by the game without the value present is 1).

bFloatPointRenderTarget=(0,1)

bFull Screen

bFull Screen determines if the game is rendered fullscreen. This setting cannot be changed in-game.

Default is 0.

bFull Screen=(0,1)

bMainZPrepass

bMainZPrepass enables ZPrepass. Enabling ZPrepass tells the game not to render certain object to try to increase performance. It is recommended to remain disabled and to use ENBoost's ZPrepass instead. If set to 1, ENBoost's ZPrepass may not work.

Default is 0.

bMainZPrepass=(0,1)

bShadowMaskZPrepass

bShadowMaskZPrepass enables ZPrepass on the shadow mask. Enabling this tells the game not to render shadows on certain objects to try to increase performance, but seems to fail and instead make performance worse with a side effect of increasing the quality of the shadows that are rendered? It would seem that freeing those resources merely gave shadows more to work with, thereby increasing the quality of the shadows cast, and causing shadows to be set more frequently? It is recommended to remain disabled and to use ENBoost's ZPrepass instead. If set to 1, ENBoost's ZPrepass may not work.

Default is 0.

bShadowMaskZPrepass=(0,1)

bShadowsOnGrass

bShadowsOnGrass is believed to be unused by the VANILLA game; however, it reportedly is used with ENB and should be enabled. This may enable/disable grass shadows.

Default is 1.

bShadowsOnGrass=(0,1)

bTransparencyMultisampling

bTransparencyMultisampling enables transparency antialiasing on textures for better quality. Recommended to be disabled for better performance.

Default is 0.

bTransparencyMultisampling=(0,1)

bTreesReceiveShadows

bTreesReceiveShadows enables trees to cast shadows on themselves. It may be disabled for a slight performance gain.

Default is 0.

bTreesReceiveShadows=(0,1)

fDecalLOD1

fDecalLOD1 sets the initial distance that decals are shown on LOD?

Default is 1000.

fDecalLOD1=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fDecalLOD2

fDecalLOD2 sets the secondary distance that decals are shown on LOD?

Default is 1500.

fDecalLOD2=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fGamma

fGamma sets the gamma brightness.

Default is 1.

fGamma=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fInteriorShadowDistance

fInteriorShadowDistance sets the distance shadows are rendered indoors?

Default is 3000.

fInteriorShadowDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd sets the ending distance leaves are animated?

Default is 4600.

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart sets the starting distance leaf animations are lessened?

Default is 3600.

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLightLODStartFade

fLightLODStartFade sets the distance when light will begin to fade. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Light Fade.

Default is 1000. Low is 200. Medium is 1000. High is 2500. Ultra is 3500.

fLightLODStartFade=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault sets something to do with meshes in LOD?

Default is 256.

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault sets the default percentage meshes fade?

Default is 1.2000000477.

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist sets the distance meshes begin to fade in LOD?

Default is 4096. Low and Medium presets are 4096. High and Ultra presets are 1e+007.

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance sets the distance tree meshes begin to fade in LOD?

Default is 2844.

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist sets the distance meshes begin to fade even more in LOD?

Default is 3072. Low and Medium presets are 3072. High and Ultra presets are 1e+007.

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance sets the distance tree meshes begin to fade even more in LOD?

Default is 2048.

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fShadowBiasScale

There are many theories as to what fShadowBiasScale controls!

This may set the amount of shadowing applied to objects. Higher values produce less shadowing, and lower values produce more shadowing. Increasing this may help with shadows popping in at expense to the amount of shadowing.

Alternatively, this may change the distance at which mipmaps of the shadow map are used? It might have a cap at 1?

Alternatively, this may control the angle that shadows are aligned to surfaces.

Default is 1. Low is 0.5. Medium is 0.3. High is 0.25. Ultra is 0.15.

fShadowBiasScale=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fShadowDistance

fShadowDistance sets the distance of shadows. It may also proportionately affect the resolution of shadows.

Default is 2500. Low is 2000. Medium is 2500. High is 4000. Ultra is 8000.

fShadowDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fShadowLODStartFade

fShadowLODStartFade sets the distance shadows begin to fade.

Default is 200.

fShadowLODStartFade=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fSpecularLODStartFade

fSpecularLODStartFade sets the distance specularity begins to fade. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Specularity Fade.

Default is 500. Low is 200. Medium is 500. High is 1000. Ultra is 2000.

fSpecularLODStartFade=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist sets the distance trees switch to their LOD versions?

Default is 3600. Low and Medium presets are 3600. High is 5000. Ultra is 1e+007.

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

iAdapter

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 0). This can be confirmed by observing that setting it to 1 in Skyrim.ini will change the adapter from the default while removing or setting the value to 0 will cause the game to use the default adapter. Conversely, the same experiment shows that the default adapter is still used despite any value entered for it in SkyrimPrefs.ini.

Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 0.

iAdapter=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iActorShadowCountExt

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets, however it appears to exist within the preset files, where its values for Low, Medium, and High presets are 2 and Ultra is 6.

iActorShadowCountExt=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iActorShadowCountInt

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets, however it appears to exist within the preset files, where its value for Low is 2, Medium and High is 4, and Ultra is 6.

iActorShadowCountInt=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iBlurDeferredShadowMask

iBlurDeferredShadowMask sets the amount of blurring applied to shadows. See also iShadowMaskQuarter. Lower values make sharper shadows. It is dependent upon bDeferredShadows being enabled. Higher values make softer shadows. Lowering this value may help reduce the aura or glow around the player. This should be set to at least 1 if using ENB shadows. The higher the value, the worse the performance. There is believed to be a soft cap at 32.

Default is 5. Low is 0. Medium is 1. High and Ultra presets are 3.

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iMaxAnisotropy

iMaxAnisotropy sets the level of anisotropic filtering. It is recommended to be set to 0 and force either driver AF or ENBoost AF in its place.

Default is 8. Low and Medium presets are 1. High is 8. Ultra is 16.

iMaxAnisotropy=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iMaxDecalsPerFrame

iMaxDecalsPerFrame sets the maximum number of decals displayed per frame.

Default is 10. Low is 0. Medium is 10. High is 30. Ultra is 100.

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame sets the maximum number of decals displayed on skin per frame. Dependent upon and should be a value equal to or less than iMaxDecalsPerFrame.

Default is 3. Low is 0. Medium is 3. High is 10. Ultra is 25.

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iMultiSample

iMultiSample sets the level of antialising. Recommended to leave off and use other methods of AA such as SMAA.

Default is 0. Low is 1. Medium is 4. High is 8. Ultra is 16.

iMultiSample=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iPresentInterval

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files where its default is 1. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 1). This can be confirmed by observing that setting it to 0 in Skyrim.ini will turn off VSync while removing or setting the value to 1 enables VSync. Conversely, the same experiment shows that VSync remains enabled despite any value entered for it in SkyrimPrefs.ini.

iPresentInterval=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iScreenShotIndex

iScreenShotIndex sets the number of the screenshot made when bAllowScreenshot is enabled in Skyrim.ini. It increases incrementally with each screenshot taken.

Default is 0.

iScreenShotIndex=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowFilter

iShadowFilter sets the shadow filter to be used? 4 may cause CTD? 5 may be buggy? Possibly different variations of (bilinear?) filtering. There may only be 5?

Default is 3.

iShadowFilter=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowMapResolution

iShadowMapResolution sets the resolution of shadows (in pixels?).

Default is 1024. Low is 512. Medium is 1024. High is 2048. Ultra is 4096.

iShadowMapResolution=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 2048.

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 1024.

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowMaskQuarter

iShadowMaskQuarter changes the clarity or crispness of shadows. Higher is crisper. See also iBlurDefferedShadowMask. Lowering this value may help reduce the aura or glow around the player, and also increase performance. There is believed to be a soft cap at 32. The way this does this may be a form of aliasing, and perhaps values of 1-3 multisample and values of 4 and higher supersample?

Alternatively, this may determine how many quarters of an object are being visually aligned to the players viewpoint where 3 = 75% standard and 4 is 100% with a soft cap at 4.

Default is 4. Low and Medium presets are 3. High and Ultra presets are 4.

iShadowMaskQuarter=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowMode

iShadowMode sets the shadow mode to be used? 4 may be buggy in some areas, particularly around waterfalls which may be either too-bright or too dark? There may only be 5?

Default is 3.

iShadowMode=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iShadowSplitCount

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 2.

iShadowSplitCount=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iSize H

iSize H sets the height of the monitor resolution in pixels. This setting cannot be changed in-game.

Default is 480.

iSize H=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iSize W

iSize W sets the width of the monitor resolution in pixels. This setting cannot be changed in-game.

Default is 640.

iSize W=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iTexMipMapMinimum

iTexMipMapMinimum sets the minimum mipmap for textures to be used.

Default is 0.

iTexMipMapMinimum=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iTexMipMapSkip

iTexMipMapSkip changes the texture quality (determined by the number of mipmaps to skip).

Default is 0. Low quality is 2. Medium quality is 1. High quality is 0. Low preset is 1. Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 0.

iTexMipMapSkip=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iWaterMultiSamples

iWaterMultiSamples sets the level of antialising applied to the water. Recommended to leave off and use other methods of AA such as SMAA.

Default is 0. Low and Medium presets are 1. High and Ultra presets are 4.

iWaterMultiSamples=(...,-1,0,1,...)

sD3DDevice

sD3DDevice appears to only be used by the Skyrim Launcher to detect the correct preset. It has been verified that it is not used by the game itself, just the Launcher. If Skyrim is not using the correct graphics card, fix that elsewhere (i.e., the driver).

sD3DDevice="Name of Graphics Card"

[Grass]

b30GrassVS

b30GrassVS enables DirectX 3 filters on grass visuals???

Default is 0. Low and Medium are 0. High and Ultra presets are 1.

b30GrassVS=(0,1)

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance sets the maximum distance grass can go before fading.

Default is 7000.

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance sets the minimum distance grass can go before fading.

Default is 400.

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fGrassStartFadeDistance

fGrassStartFadeDistance sets the distance grass will begin to fade. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Grass Fade.

Default is 3500. Low is 0. Medium is 3000. High is 5000. Ultra is 7000.

fGrassStartFadeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[Water]

bUseWaterDepth

bUseWaterDepth enables depth effect to water.

Default is 1.

bUseWaterDepth=(0,1)

bUseWaterDisplacements

bUseWaterDisplacements enables water displacement.

Default is 1.

bUseWaterDisplacements=(0,1)

bUseWaterReflections

bUseWaterReflections enables water reflections.

Default is 1.

bUseWaterReflections=(0,1)

bUseWaterRefractions

bUseWaterRefractions enables water refractions.

Default is 1.

bUseWaterRefractions=(0,1)

iWaterReflectHeight

iWaterReflectHeight sets the height of water reflections.

Default is 512.

iWaterReflectHeight=(...,-1,0,1,...)

iWaterReflectWidth

iWaterReflectWidth sets the width of water reflections.

Default is 512.

iWaterReflectWidth=(...,-1,0,1,...)

[MAIN]

bCrosshairEnabled

bCrosshairEnabled enables the crosshair. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Crosshair.

Default is 1.

bCrosshairEnabled=(0,1)

bGamepadEnable

bGamepadEnable enables the use of a controller. Setting this to 1 fixes not being able to use a controller with the game. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Controller.

Default is 0.

bGamepadEnable=(0,1)

bSaveOnPause

bSaveOnPause enables autosaves at intervals of time specified by the length of fAutosaveEveryXMins. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Save on Menu Character in combination with fAutosaveEveryXMins.

Default is 1.

bSaveOnPause=(0,1)

bSaveOnRest

bSaveOnRest enables autosaves upon sleeping. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Save on Rest.

Default is 1.

bSaveOnRest=(0,1)

bSaveOnTravel

bSaveOnTravel enables autosaves upon traveling to different locations. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Save on Travel.

Default is 1.

bSaveOnTravel=(0,1)

bSaveOnWait

bSaveOnWait enables autosaves upon waiting. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Save on Wait.

Default is 1.

bSaveOnWait=(0,1)

fHUDOpacity

fHUDOpacity sets the opacity of the HUD. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as HUD Opacity.

Default is 1.

fHUDOpacity=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance sets the distance for neverfade objects (the references under a base element with the neverfade flag always show to maximum draw distance). fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell multiplies this value.

Default is 150000.

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[Interface]

bDialogueSubtitles

bDialogueSubtitles enables subtitles for important dialogue. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Dialogue Subtitles.

Default is 0.

bDialogueSubtitles=(0,1)

bGeneralSubtitles

bGeneralSubtitles enables subtitles for all dialogue. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as General Subtitles.

Default is 0.

bGeneralSubtitles=(0,1)

bShowCompass

bShowCompass enables the compass.

Default is 1.

bShowCompass=(0,1)

fMouseCursorSpeed

fMouseCursorSpeed sets the speed of the mouse cursor (AKA lock sensitivity). It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Lock Sensitivity.

Default is 1.

fMouseCursorSpeed=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers enables floating quest markers. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Show Floating Markers.

Default is 1.

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=(0,1)

bShowQuestMarkers

bShowQuestMarkers enables quest markers?

Default is 1.

bShowQuestMarkers=(0,1)

iDifficulty

iDifficulty sets the game difficulty. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Difficulty. 0 is easy. 1 is apprentice. 2 is adept. 3 is expert. 4 is master. 5 is legendary.

Default is 2 (adept).

iDifficulty=(...,-1,0,1,...)

[Controls]

bAlwaysRunByDefault

bAlwaysRunByDefault determines if the character will always run by default.

Default is 1.

bAlwaysRunByDefault=(0,1)

bGamePadRumble

bGamePadRumble enables controller vibration. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Vibration.

Default=1

bGamePadRumble=(0,1)

bInvertYValues

bInvertYValues determines if the mouse is inverted over the y-axis (up and down movement). It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Invert Y.

Default is 0.

bInvertYValues=(0,1)

bMouseAcceleration

It has been verified that this setting no longer does anything. The game does not recognize it at all. It probably was removed in an official patch due to its unpopularity. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin appears to be from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 1. It used to allow the mouse to accelerate.

bMouseAcceleration=(0,1)

bUseKinect

bUseKinect enables the use of Kinect.

Default is 0.

bUseKinect=(0,1)

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity determines the controller heading sensitivity.

Default is 1.8999999762.

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fMouseHeadingSensitivity

fMouseHeadingSensitivity determines the mouse heading sensitivity.

Default is 0.0125000002.

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[Particles]

iMaxDesired

iMaxDesired determines the maximum amount of particles to be rendered.

Default is 750.

iMaxDesired=(...,-1,0,1,...)

[SaveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins

fAutosaveEveryXMins sets the time between autosaves made on a timer in minutes if bSaveOnPause is enabled. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Gameplay menu as Save on Menu Character in combination with bSaveOnPause.

Default is 15.

fAutosaveEveryXMins=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[AudioMenu]

All of these settings can and should be changed in the in-game Settings > Audio menu. The only setting that can reasonably be changed in this section is fAudioMasterVolume, since the in-game menu limits this value to a maximum of 1, and it can be raised higher in the INI. The other values depend upon various mods installed and are limited to a maximum of 7 different sections in addition to the master volume.

fAudioMasterVolume

fAudioMasterVolume sets the master volume level. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Audio menu as Master Volume; however, it can be increased to higher values if set manually in the INI (which will default back to 1 if later you change audio settings in-game).

Default is 1.

fAudioMasterVolume=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fVal#

See the beginning of this section. This determines how loud this particular section of sound is.

uID#

See the beginning of this section. This identifies the sound group to be modified in the corresponding fVal#.

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel0Distance

fCloudLevel0Distance is believed to be unused by the game.

Default is 16384.

fCloudLevel0Distance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fCloudLevel1Distance

fCloudLevel1Distance is believed to be unused by the game.

Default is 32768.

fCloudLevel1Distance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fCloudLevel2Distance

fCloudLevel2Distance is believed to be unused by the game.

Default is 262144.

fCloudLevel2Distance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fCloudNearFadeDistance

fCloudNearFadeDistance is believed to be unused by the game.

Default is 9000.

fCloudNearFadeDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[General]

bEnableStoryManagerLogging

bEnableStoryManagerLogging enables story manager logging?

Default is 0.

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=(0,1)

fBrightLightColorB

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 1.

fBrightLightColorB=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fBrightLightColorG

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 1.

fBrightLightColorG=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fBrightLightColorR

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 1.

fBrightLightColorR=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent sets the event for storry manager logging?

Default is -1.

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=(...,-1,0,1,...)

[TerrainManager]

bShowLODInEditor

bShowLODInEditor is believed to be unused by the game.

Default is 0.

bShowLODInEditor=(0,1)

fBlockLevel0Distance

fBlockLevel0Distance sets the maximum distance for object LOD level 4 (higher levels are farther away).

Default is 20480. Low is 15000. Medium is 20480. High is 25000. Ultra is 35000.

fBlockLevel0Distance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fBlockLevel1Distance

fBlockLevel1Distance sets the maximum distance for object LOD level 8 (higher levels are farther away).

Default is 32768. Low is 25000. Medium is 32768. High is 40000. Ultra is 70000.

fBlockLevel1Distance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fBlockMaximumDistance

fBlockMaximumDistance sets the maximum distance for object LOD level 16 (higher levels are farther away).

Default is 100000. Low is 75000. Medium is 100000. High is 150000. Ultra is 250000.

fBlockMaximumDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fSplitDistanceMult

fSplitDistanceMult is the distance multiplier for landscape LOD levels.

Default is 0.75. Low is 0.4. Medium is 0.75. High is 1.1. Ultra is 1.5.

fSplitDistanceMult=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fTreeLoadDistance

fTreeLoadDistance sets the maximum distance that tree LOD is loaded.

Default is 25000. Low is 12500. Medium is 25000. High is 40000. Ultra is 75000.

fTreeLoadDistance=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[NavMesh]

This entire section is not even be used by the game. It and its possible settings are listed here for completion's sake.

fCoverSideHighAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.8.

fCoverSideHighAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fCoverSideLowAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.65.

fCoverSideLowAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fEdgeDistFromVert

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 10.

fEdgeDistFromVert=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fEdgeFullAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 1.

fEdgeFullAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fEdgeHighAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.75.

fEdgeHighAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fEdgeLowAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.5.

fEdgeLowAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fEdgeThickness

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 10.

fEdgeThickness=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 25.

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fObstacleAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.5.

fObstacleAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fPointSize

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 2.5.

fPointSize=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fTriangleFullAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.7.

fTriangleFullAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fTriangleHighAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.35.

fTriangleHighAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fTriangleLowAlpha

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs or in Launcher presets. Its origin is from the SkyrimPrefs.ini file that resides inside the extra Skyrim directory inside the main Skyrim directory, where it is set to 0.2.

fTriangleLowAlpha=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees

bRenderSkinnedTrees enables skinned trees.

Default is 1.

bRenderSkinnedTrees=(0,1)

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender sets the maximum amount of skinned trees that can be rendered.

Default is 40.

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=(0,1,2,...)

[Decals]

bDecals

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where Low is 0 and Medium, High, and Ultra are 2. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 1).

bDecals=(0,1)

bSkinnedDecals

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where Low is 0 and Medium, High, and Ultra are 2. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 1).

bSkinnedDecals=(0,1)

uMaxDecals

uMaxDecals determines the maximum number of decals.

Dependent upon:

• bDecals=1 in Skyrim.ini

Default is 100. Low is 0. Medium is 100. High is 250. Ultra is 1000.

uMaxDecals=(0,1,2,...)

uMaxSkinDecals

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where Low is 0, Medium is 35, High is 50, and Ultra is 100. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 35).

uMaxSkinDecals=(0,1,2,...)

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor

This parameter does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where Low is 0, Medium is 20, High is 40, and Ultra is 60. It has been empirically verified that changing this setting in SkyrimPrefs.ini has no effect in game, but instead must be changed inside Skyrim.ini, otherwise the default value shall be used (which is 20).

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=(0,1,2,...)

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultActors

fLODFadeOutMultActors sets the actor fade distance. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Actor Fade.

Default is 6. Low is 2.5. Medium is 3. High is 6. Ultra is 15.

fLODFadeOutMultActors=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLODFadeOutMultItems

fLODFadeOutMultItems sets the item fade distance. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Item Fade.

Default is 3. Low is 1. Medium is 2.5. High is 7.5. Ultra is 15.

fLODFadeOutMultItems=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLODFadeOutMultObjects

fLODFadeOutMultObjects sets the object fade distance. It is changeable in the in-game Settings > Display menu as Object Fade.

Default is 5. Low is 2.5. Medium is 3.5. High is 4.5. Ultra is 15.

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell sets the multiplier against fSkyCellRefFadeDistance for the distance that neverfades fade.

Default is 1.

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=(...,-0.0001,0,0.0001,...)

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection

bEnableFileSelection determines if the Skyrim Launcher will have Data greyed out and unclickable or not. Setting it to 1 will allow Data to be accessed in the Launcher. It is not toggleable in the Launcher, so one must add the line manually. It has been verified that it is not used by the game itself, just the launcher.

Default=0

bEnableFileSelection=(0,1)

bShowAllResolutions

bShowAllResolutions determines if the Skyrim Launcher will show all resolutions. Toggleable in the in the GUI. It has been verified that it is not used by the game itself, just the launcher.

bShowAllResolutions=(0,1)

uLastAspectRatio

uLastAspectRatio tells the aspect ratio last shown in the Skyrim Launcher. 3 is widescreen 16:9. 4 is widescreen 16:10. 1 is standard 4:3 or 5:4. It has been verified that it is not used by the game itself, just the launcher.

uLastAspectRatio=(4,3,1)

[BlurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where its value for Low is 0, and Medium, High, and Ultra is 1.

bDoHighDynamicRange=(0,1)

[BlurShader]

bUseBlurShader

It has been verified that this setting is completely bogus. The game does not recognize the setting at all. It does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files, where its value for all three is 0.

bUseBlurShader=(0,1)