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
GUIDE FORUM THREAD
INI TWEAKING REFERENCE FORUM
SUPPORT FORUM
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.
The Basics
SkyrimPrefs.ini has 117 settings separated into 18 working sections. 3 additional sections ([NavMesh], [BlurShaderHDR], and [BlurShader]) and 27 additional parameters are mentioned here that are commonly placed in this file that are not believed to do anything. 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).
- r-prefix accepts a color value in RGB format (e.g. 93,216,234).
- s-prefix (also S and str) accepts a string value (usually text, but may contain numbers, punctuation--anything really).
- u-prefix (also ui) accepts an unsigned integer value (any whole number, only positive or 0, without a decimal point, such as 5, 38, or 0).
INI settings may be changed in-game by doing the following:
- Press the tilde (~) key to access the console.
- 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. - Press enter
- Type
saveini
and press enter. This saves the INI change to the INI files. - Type
refreshini
. This refreshes the INI settings, hopefully applying the change made.
Credits
- Tannin for Mod Organizer's Configurator plugin, from which the majority of these values were retrieved.
INI Parameters by Section
[Imagespace]
bDoDepthOfField
Enables depth of field. Default is 1.
bDoDepthOfField=(0,1)
iRadialBlurLevel
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game (it does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files. It is believed that this parameter is supposed to be inside Skyrim.ini instead.). Low and Medium presets are 0. High is 1. Ultra is 2.
iRadialBlurLevel=
[Display]
bDeferredShadows
Enables deferred rendering of shadows. Dependent upon bDrawShadows. Default is 1.
bDeferredShadows=(0,1)
bDrawLandShadows
Enables landscape shadows. Dependent upon bDrawShadows. Default is 0
bDrawLandShadows=(0,1)
bDrawShadows
Enables shadows. Default is 1.
bDrawShadows=(0,1)
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
Necessary for ENB to work. Default is 1.
bFloatPointRenderTarget=(0,1)
bFull Screen
Determines if the game is rendered fullscreen. Default is 0.
bFull Screen=(0,1)
bMainZPrepass
Default is 0.
bMainZPrepass=(0,1)
bShadowMaskZPrepass
Default is 0.
bShadowMaskZPrepass=(0,1)
bShadowsOnGrass
Enables grass shadows. Default is 1.
bShadowsOnGrass=(0,1)
bTransparencyMultisampling
Default is 0.
bTransparencyMultisampling=(0,1)
bTreesReceiveShadows
Enables tree shadows. Default is 0.
bTreesReceiveShadows=(0,1)
fDecalLOD1
Default is 1000. Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 500.
fDecalLOD1=
fDecalLOD2
Default is 1500. Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 1000.
fDecalLOD2=
fGamma
Default is 1.
fGamma=
fInteriorShadowDistance
Default is 3000.
fInteriorShadowDistance=
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd
Default is 4600.
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart
Default is 3600.
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=
fLightLODStartFade
Default is 1000. Low is 200. Medium is 1000. High is 2500. Ultra is 3500.
fLightLODStartFade=
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault
Default is 256.
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault
Default is 1.2.
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist
Default is 4096. Low and Medium presets are 4096. High and Ultra presets are 1e+007.
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance
Default is 2844.
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist
Default is 3072. Low and Medium presets are 3072. High and Ultra presets are 1e+007.
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance
Default is 2048.
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=
fShadowBiasScale
Default is 1. Low is 0.5. Medium is 0.3. High is 0.25. Ultra is 0.15.
fShadowBiasScale=
fShadowDistance
Default is 2500. Low is 2000. Medium is 2500. High is 4000. Ultra is 8000.
fShadowDistance=
fShadowLODStartFade
Default is 200.
fShadowLODStartFade=
fSpecularLODStartFade
Default is 500. Low is 200. Medium is 500. High is 1000. Ultra is 2000.
fSpecularLODStartFade=
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist
Default is 3600. Low and Medium presets are 3600. High is 5000. Ultra is 1e+007.
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=
iAdapter
Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 0.
iAdapter=
iActorShadowCountExt
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game. It is never placed in the game by any normal means, not even by the Launcher, however it appears to exist within the preset files, and would need to be inserted manually. Low, Medium, and High presets are 2. Ultra is 6.
iActorShadowCountExt=
iActorShadowCountInt
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game. It is never placed in the game by any normal means, not even by the Launcher, however it appears to exist within the preset files, and would need to be inserted manually. Low is 2. Medium and High presets are 4. Ultra is 6.
iActorShadowCountInt=
iBlurDeferredShadowMask
Default is 5. Low is 0. Medium is 1. High and Ultra presets are 3.
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=
iMaxAnisotropy
Determines how many levels of anisotropic filtering are applied. Default is 8. Low and Medium presets are 1. High is 8. Ultra is 16.
iMaxAnisotropy=
iMaxDecalsPerFrame
Determines the maximum number of decals displayed per frame. Default is 10. Low is 0. Medium is 10. High is 30. Ultra is 100.
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame
Determines 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=
iMultiSample
Determines how many levels of antialising are applied. Default is 0. Low is 1. Medium is 4. High is 8. Ultra is 16.
iMultiSample=
iPresentInterval
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game (it does not appear in game-generated INIs--only ones created by the Skyrim Launcher via the preset files. It is believed that this parameter is supposed to be inside Skyrim.ini instead.). The setting is similar to vertical sync and is believed to fix many engine and physics bugs when left on. Default is 1.
iPresentInterval=
iScreenShotIndex
Default is 0.
iScreenShotIndex=
iShadowFilter
Default is 3.
iShadowFilter=
iShadowMapResolution
Default is 1024. Low is 512. Medium is 1024. High is 2048. Ultra is 4096.
iShadowMapResolution=
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=
iShadowMaskQuarter
Default is 4. Low and Medium presets are 3. High and Ultra presets are 4.
iShadowMaskQuarter=
iShadowMode
Default is 3.
iShadowMode=
iShadowSplitCount
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game.
iShadowSplitCount=
iSize H
The height of the monitor resolution in pixels. Default is 480.
iSize H=
iSize W
The width of the monitor resolution in pixels. Default is 640.
iSize W=
iTexMipMapMinimum
Default is 0. Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 4.
iTexMipMapMinimum=
iTexMipMapSkip
Default is 0. Low is 1. Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 0.
iTexMipMapSkip=
iWaterMultiSamples
Determines how many levels of antialising are applied to the water. Default is 0. Low and Medium presets are 1. High and Ultra presets are 4.
iWaterMultiSamples=
sD3DDevice
This setting appears to only be used by the Skyrim Launcher to detect the correct preset. It is not accessed by the game itself. If Skyrim is not using the correct graphics card, fix that elsewhere (i.e., the driver).
sD3DDevice="Name of Graphics Card"
[Grass]
b30GrassVS
Default is 0. Low and Medium are 0. High and Ultra presets are 1.
b30GrassVS=(0,1)
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance
Default is 7000.
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance
Default is 400.
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=
fGrassStartFadeDistance
Default is 3500. Low is 0. Medium is 3000. High is 5000. Ultra is 7000.
fGrassStartFadeDistance=
[Water]
bUseWaterDepth
Default is 1.
bUseWaterDepth=(0,1)
bUseWaterDisplacements
Default is 1.
bUseWaterDisplacements=(0,1)
bUseWaterReflections
Default is 1.
bUseWaterReflections=(0,1)
bUseWaterRefractions
Default is 1.
bUseWaterRefractions=(0,1)
iWaterReflectHeight
Default is 512.
iWaterReflectHeight=
iWaterReflectWidth
Default is 512.
iWaterReflectWidth=
[MAIN]
bCrosshairEnabled
Enables the crosshair. Default is 1.
bCrosshairEnabled=(0,1)
bGamepadEnable
Enables the use of a controller. Default is 0.
bGamepadEnable=(0,1)
bSaveOnPause
Enables autosaves upon pauses. Default is 1.
bSaveOnPause=(0,1)
bSaveOnRest
Enables autosaves upon sleeping. Default is 1.
bSaveOnRest=(0,1)
bSaveOnTravel
Enables autosaves upon traveling to different locations. Default is 1.
bSaveOnTravel=(0,1)
bSaveOnWait
Enables autosaves upon waiting. Default is 1.
bSaveOnWait=(0,1)
fHUDOpacity
The opacity of the HUD. Default is 1.
fHUDOpacity=
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance
Default is 150000.
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=
[Interface]
bDialogueSubtitles
Enables subtitles for important dialogue. Default is 0.
bDialogueSubtitles=(0,1)
bGeneralSubtitles
Enables subtitles for all dialogue. Default is 0.
bGeneralSubtitles=(0,1)
bShowCompass
Enables the compass. Default is 1.
bShowCompass=(0,1)
fMouseCursorSpeed
The lock sensitivity of the mouse. Default is 1.
fMouseCursorSpeed=
[GamePlay]
bAllowDragonFlightLocationDiscovery
bAllowDragonFlightLocationDiscovery=(0,1)
bAllowHavokGrabTheLiving
bAllowHavokGrabTheLiving=(0,1)
bEssentialTakeNoDamage
bEssentialTakeNoDamage=(0,1)
bHealthBarShowing
bHealthBarShowing=(0,1)
bInstantLevelUp
bInstantLevelUp=(0,1)
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers
Default is 1.
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=(0,1)
bShowQuestMarkers
Default is 1.
bShowQuestMarkers=(0,1)
bTrackProgress
bTrackProgress=(0,1)
iActorsDismemberedPerFrame
iActorsDismemberedPerFrame=
iDetectionPicks
iDetectionPicks=
iDifficulty
Default is 2 (adept).
iDifficulty=
[Controls]
bAlwaysRunByDefault
Determines if the character will always run by default. Default is 1.
bAlwaysRunByDefault=(0,1)
bGamePadRumble
Enables controller rumble.
bGamePadRumble=(0,1)
bInvertYValues
Determines if the mouse is inverted over the y-axis (up and down movement). Default is 0.
bInvertYValues=(0,1)
bMouseAcceleration
Determines if the mouse is allowed to accelerate as it moves. Or perhaps it used to, as it appears to no longer have any affect in-game.
bMouseAcceleration=(0,1)
bUseKinect
Enables Kinect. Default is 0.
bUseKinect=(0,1)
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity
Determines the controller heading sensitivity. Default is 1.9.
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=
fMouseHeadingSensitivity
Determines the mouse heading sensitivity. Default is 0.0125.
fMouseHeadingSensitivity=
[Particles]
iMaxDesired
Determines the maximum amount of particles rendered. Default is 750.
iMaxDesired=
[SaveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins
The time between autosaves made on a timer in minutes. Default is 15.
fAutosaveEveryXMins=
[AudioMenu]
fAudioMasterVolume
Default is 1.
fAudioMasterVolume=
fVal7
Default is 1.
fVal7=
uID7
Default is 0.
uID7=
fVal6
Default is 1.
fVal6=
uID6
Default is 0.
uID6=
fVal5
Default is 1.
fVal5=
uID5
Default is 0.
uID5=
fVal4
Default is 1.
fVal4=
uID4
Default is 0.
uID4=
fVal3
Default is 0.5.
fVal3=
uID3
Default is 466532.
uID3=
fVal2
Default is 0.8.
fVal2=
uID2
Default is 554685.
uID2=
fVal1
Default is 0.8.
fVal1=
uID1
Default is 1007612.
uID1=
fVal0
Default is 1.
fVal0=
uID0
Default is 94881.
uID0=
[Clouds]
fCloudLevel0Distance
Default is 16384.
fCloudLevel0Distance=
fCloudLevel1Distance
Default is 32768.
fCloudLevel1Distance=
fCloudLevel2Distance
Default is 262144.
fCloudLevel2Distance=
fCloudNearFadeDistance
Default is 9000.
fCloudNearFadeDistance=
[General]
bEnableStoryManagerLogging
Default is 0.
bEnableStoryManagerLogging=(0,1)
fBrightLightColorB
fBrightLightColorB=
fBrightLightColorG
fBrightLightColorG=
fBrightLightColorR
fBrightLightColorR=
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent
Default is -1.
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=
[TerrainManager]
bShowLODInEditor
Default is 0.
bShowLODInEditor=(0,1)
fBlockLevel0Distance
Default is 20480. Low is 15000. Medium is 20480. High is 25000. Ultra is 35000.
fBlockLevel0Distance=
fBlockLevel1Distance
Default is 32768. Low is 25000. Medium is 32768. High is 40000. Ultra is 70000.
fBlockLevel1Distance=
fBlockMaximumDistance
Default is 100000. Low is 75000. Medium is 100000. High is 150000. Ultra is 250000.
fBlockMaximumDistance=
fSplitDistanceMult
Default is 0.75. Low is 0.4. Medium is 0.75. High is 1.1. Ultra is 1.5.
fSplitDistanceMult=
fTreeLoadDistance
Default is 25000. Low is 12500. Medium is 25000. High is 40000. Ultra is 75000.
fTreeLoadDistance=
This entire section is believed to not be used in-game. It and its possible settings are listed here for completion's sake.
fCoverSideHighAlpha
fCoverSideHighAlpha=
fCoverSideLowAlpha
fCoverSideLowAlpha=
fEdgeDistFromVert
fEdgeDistFromVert=
fEdgeFullAlpha
fEdgeFullAlpha=
fEdgeHighAlpha
fEdgeHighAlpha=
fEdgeLowAlpha
fEdgeLowAlpha=
fEdgeThickness
fEdgeThickness=
fLedgeBoxHalfHeight
fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=
fObstacleAlpha
fObstacleAlpha=
fPointSize
fPointSize=
fTriangleFullAlpha
fTriangleFullAlpha=
fTriangleHighAlpha
fTriangleHighAlpha=
fTriangleLowAlpha
fTriangleLowAlpha=
[Trees]
bRenderSkinnedTrees
Default is 1.
bRenderSkinnedTrees=(0,1)
uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender
Default is 40.
uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=0 or higher
[Decals]
bDecals
Determines if decals are enabled. Low is 0. Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 1.
bDecals=(0,1)
bSkinnedDecals
Determines if skinned decals are enabled. Dependent upon bDecals being enabled. Low is 0. Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 1.
bSkinnedDecals=(0,1)
uMaxDecals
Determines the maximum number of decals. Dependent upon bDecals being enabled. Default is 100. Low is 0. Medium is 100. High is 250. Ultra is 1000.
uMaxDecals=0 or higher
uMaxSkinDecals
Determines the maximum number of skin decals. Dependent upon bDecals being enabled. Dependent upon and must be equal to or less than uMaxDecals. Low is 0. Medium is 35. High is 50. Ultra is 100.
uMaxSkinDecals=0 or higher
uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor
Determines the maximum number of skin decals per character. Dependent upon bDecals being enabled. Dependent upon and must be equal to or less than uMaxDecals and uMaxSkinDecals. Low is 0. Medium is 20. High is 40. Ultra is 60.
uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=0 or higher
[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultActors
Default is 6. Low is 2.5. Medium is 3. High is 6. Ultra is 15.
fLODFadeOutMultActors=
fLODFadeOutMultItems
Default is 3. Low is 1. Medium is 2.5. High is 7.5. Ultra is 15.
fLODFadeOutMultItems=
fLODFadeOutMultObjects
Default is 5. Low is 2.5. Medium is 3.5. High is 4.5. Ultra is 15.
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell
Default is 1.
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=
[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection
Determines if the Skyrim Launcher will allow the selection of plugins in Data. Not toggleable in the in the GUI. It is probably not used in-game.
bEnableFileSelection=(0,1)
bShowAllResolutions
Determines if the Skyrim Launcher will show all resolutions. Toggleable in the in the GUI. It is probably not used in-game.
bShowAllResolutions=(0,1)
uLastAspectRatio
The aspect ratio shown in the Skyrim Launcher. It is probably not used in-game. 3 is widescreen 16:9. 4 is widescreen 16:10. 1 is standard 4:3 or 5:4.
uLastAspectRatio=(4, 3, 1)
[BlurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game. Low is 0. Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 1.
bDoHighDynamicRange=(0,1)
[BlurShader]
bUseBlurShader
It is uncertain that this value is used by the game. Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets are 0.
bUseBlurShader=(0,1)