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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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 157 settings separated into 21 sections. 3 additional parameters are mentioned here that are commonly placed in this file that do not work. 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. Low, Medium, and High presets are 2. Ultra is 6.

iActorShadowCountExt=

iActorShadowCountInt

It is uncertain that this value is used by the game. 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 believed that this value is erroneously included in SkyrimPrefs.ini when it should be located in the Display section of Skyrim.ini instead. This mistake occurs when set in the Skyrim Launcher as well. The setting is similar to vertical sync and is believed to fix many engine and physics bugs when left on.

iPresentInterval=1

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=

[NavMesh]

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)