Customize
Configure Red
Keep the embedded defaults and add only the settings you want to change.
Start with a small file
Red works without a configuration file. On macOS and Linux, create ~/.config/red/config.toml when you want to override a default. The welcome screen can create a starter file without replacing existing settings.
theme = "red.json"
scrolloff = 8
[search]
ignorecase = true
smartcase = true
[keys.normal]
"Ctrl-s" = "Save"Your file is layered over Red's embedded configuration, so it doesn't need to repeat unchanged settings.
Check a change
red --check-config
red -c 'wrap = false' path/to/file--check-config validates the effective user configuration and exits. The repeatable -c option applies a TOML override for one invocation.
Common sections
| Section | Controls |
|---|---|
| Top level | Theme, wrapping, scrolling, line numbers, release notes, diagnostics, and disabled plugins |
[search] | Incremental search, highlighting, wrapping, and case behavior |
[completion] | Automatic completion, buffer words, prefix length, and menu timing |
[agent] | Codex command, inline review behavior, followed tool calls, and explicitly enabled integrations |
[keys.MODE] | Mode-specific keybindings and chords |
[languages.ID] | Detection, comments, indentation, grammar, and language-server settings |
[plugin_config.ID] | Settings owned by an enabled plugin |