Storing Little Arms Launcher data in a custom folder

Little Arms Launcher can store its data in a location you choose by setting the environment variable LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA.

You set a parent folder only (for example, Documents). The Launcher then creates or uses a subfolder with the usual name inside it—for example:

Platform	Parent folder you set	Where data is stored
macOS	~/Documents	~/Documents/Little Arms Launcher
Windows	C:\Users\You\Documents	C:\Users\You\Documents\Little Arms Launcher

The examples below use Documents as the parent folder. You can use Desktop, a network drive, or another path your account can read and write.

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Quick start

Before you begin (all platforms)

1. Quit Little Arms Launcher if it is open.

2. Choose your parent folder and note the full path. You configure the parent only—not the Little Arms Launcher subfolder.

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macOS

Apps opened from the Dock or Applications folder do not read variables from .zshrc. Use a Launch Agent so the variable is set when you log in.

1. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal) and run:

mkdir -p ~/Library/LaunchAgents

1. Create the Launch Agent file. Open TextEdit, choose Format → Make Plain Text, then copy and paste:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>com.littlearms.launcher-user-data</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>/bin/sh</string>
    <string>-c</string>
    <string>launchctl setenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA "$HOME/Documents"</string>
  </array>
  <key>RunAtLoad</key>
  <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

To use a different parent folder, change "$HOME/Documents" (for Desktop, use "$HOME/Desktop"; for a fixed path, use "/Volumes/YourShare/YourFolder").

1. Save the file in TextEdit: File → Save, press Cmd+Shift+G, go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents, and save as com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist.

2. Load the Launch Agent in Terminal (use the same parent path as in step 4):

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist
launchctl setenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA "$HOME/Documents"

1. Log out and back in (or restart your Mac).

2. Open Little Arms Launcher from Applications. Data should be in your parent folder, for example ~/Documents/Little Arms Launcher.

3. Optional: In Terminal, run launchctl getenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA — you should see your parent path.

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Windows

Windows applies user and system environment variables to desktop apps, shortcuts, and the Start menu—no extra setup beyond setting the variable.

1. Open Environment Variables:

   • Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter.

   • Open the Advanced tab → Environment Variables…

   On Windows 11 you can also search Settings for “environment variables” and choose Edit environment variables for your account.

2. Add a user variable (under User variables for …, not System variables, unless your IT team instructs otherwise):

   • Click New…

   • Variable name: LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA

   • Variable value: your parent folder path, for example C:\Users\YourName\Documents

   • Click OK on each dialog to save.

3. Sign out and back in (or restart Windows) so every app session picks up the new variable.

4. Open Little Arms Launcher from the Start menu or desktop shortcut—not from an old Command Prompt window opened before step 4.

5. Confirm data location — Files should appear under your parent folder, for example:

   C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Little Arms Launcher

6. Optional: Open a new Command Prompt and run:

echo %LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA%

You should see your parent folder path.

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Full guide

What this does

LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA tells the Launcher which parent directory to use. The app creates or uses a subfolder named like the default location (for example Little Arms Launcher, or Little Arms Launcher Beta for Beta builds). You do not need to create that subfolder yourself.

macOS (detailed)

Create the Launch Agent

1. Open Terminal and run mkdir -p ~/Library/LaunchAgents.

2. Create com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist with the XML from the macOS quick start section.

3. Save it to ~/Library/LaunchAgents/.

Path examples for the plist:

Parent folder	Value in launchctl setenv
Documents	"$HOME/Documents"
Desktop	"$HOME/Desktop"
Fixed path	"/Volumes/YourShare/YourFolder"

Load and verify

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist
launchctl setenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA "$HOME/Documents"

Log out and back in, then open the Launcher from Applications. Confirm data under your parent folder (for example ~/Documents/Little Arms Launcher).

Change or remove (macOS)

Change folder: Quit the Launcher, edit the plist, then:

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist
launchctl setenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA "/your/new/parent/path"

Log out and back in. Existing data stays in the old folder until you move it.

Remove: Quit the Launcher, then:

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.littlearms.launcher-user-data.plist
launchctl unsetenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA

Log out and back in. The default location is ~/Library/Application Support/Little Arms Launcher (or the Beta/Alpha name for those builds).

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Windows (detailed)

Set the variable (graphical)

1. Win + R → sysdm.cpl → Enter.

2. Advanced → Environment Variables…

3. Under User variables, New…

   • Name: LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA

   • Value: parent path, e.g. C:\Users\YourName\Documents

4. OK through all dialogs.

5. Sign out and back in (or restart).

Set the variable (Command Prompt, current user)

Run in Command Prompt (replace the path with yours):

setx LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA "C:\Users\YourName\Documents"

Close any open Launcher windows, sign out and back in, then start the Launcher again. setx does not affect already-running programs.

Verify

Open a new Command Prompt:

echo %LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA%

Open the Launcher from the Start menu and check for data under Documents\Little Arms Launcher (or your chosen parent).

Change or remove (Windows)

Change folder: Quit the Launcher, update the user variable in Environment Variables (or run setx with the new path), sign out and back in.

Remove: Quit the Launcher, delete the LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA user variable, sign out and back in. Default data location:

C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Little Arms Launcher

(Beta/Alpha builds use the matching folder name.)

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Troubleshooting

Problem	macOS	Windows
Launcher still uses the default folder	Log out/in after setup. Run launchctl getenv LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA before opening the app.	Sign out/in after setup. Open Launcher from Start menu, not an old terminal. Run echo %LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA% in a new cmd window.
Works in Terminal only	.zshrc is not enough; use the Launch Agent steps above.	N/A — set the variable in Windows Environment Variables, not only in a single cmd session.
Permission errors	Ensure the parent folder exists and is writable (check network drives).	Same — verify read/write access to the parent path.
Beta or Alpha build	Set only the parent path; subfolder name matches the build.	Same.

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For IT / lab administrators

Platform	Recommended deployment
Windows	Set LITTLE_ARMS_LAUNCHER_USER_DATA as a User or System environment variable via Group Policy, Intune, or SCCM. Applies to GUI apps without extra steps.
macOS	Deploy the Launch Agent plist to each user’s ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ via Jamf, Intune, Kandji, or a login script that runs launchctl setenv.

In both cases, set the parent directory path only. The Launcher creates the Little Arms Launcher (or Beta/Alpha) subfolder automatically.