---
title: "Configuration.yaml"
description: "Configuring Home Assistant via text files."
related:
  - docs: /docs/configuration/yaml/
    title: YAML syntax
  - docs: /docs/configuration/secrets
    title: Storing credentials in `secrets.yaml` file
  - docs: /common-tasks/os/#backups
    title: Creating and restoring backups
  - docs: /integrations/backup/docs/tools/dev-tools/#reloading-the-yaml-configuration
    title: Creating backups for Home Assistant Container and Core
  - docs: /docs/tools/dev-tools/#reloading-the-yaml-configuration
    title: Reloading the YAML configuration from developer tools
  - docs: /common-tasks/os/#configuring-access-to-files
    title: Configuring file access on the Operating System
  - docs: /common-tasks/supervised/#configuring-access-to-files
    title: Configuring file access on Supervised
  - docs: docs/configuration/troubleshooting/
    title: Troubleshooting the configuration
---

While you can configure most of Home Assistant from the user interface, for some integrations, you need to edit the `configuration.yaml` file. This file contains {% term integrations %} to be loaded along with their configurations. Throughout the documentation, you will find snippets that you can add to your configuration file to enable specific functionality.

<p class='img'>
<img src='/images/docs/configuration/config-yaml_via-file-editor.png' alt='Screenshot of an example of a configuration.yaml file, accessed using the File editor add-on on a Home Assistant Operating System installation.'>
Example of a configuration.yaml file, accessed using the File editor add-on on a Home Assistant Operating System installation.
</p>

## Editing `configuration.yaml`

How you edit your `configuration.yaml` file depends on your editor preferences and the [installation method](/installation/#advanced-installation-methods) you used to set up Home Assistant.

### To set up access to the files and prepare an editor

Before you can edit a file, you need to know how to access files in Home Assistant and setup an editor.
File access depends on your [installation method](/installation/#advanced-installation-methods). If you use {% term "Home Assistant Operating System" %} or {% term "Home Assistant Supervised" %}, you can use editor add-ons, for example, but not if you use {% term "Home Assistant Core" %} or {% term "Home Assistant Container" %}.

1. To set up file access, follow the steps for your [installation method](/installation/#advanced-installation-methods):

   - [Configure file access on the Operating System](/common-tasks/os/#configuring-access-to-files):
     - If you are unsure which option to choose, install the [file editor add-on](/common-tasks/os/#installing-and-using-the-file-editor-add-on).
     - Alternatively, use the [VS Code add-on](/common-tasks/os/#installing-and-using-the-visual-studio-code-vsc-add-on). This editor offers live syntax checking and auto-fill of various Home Assistant entities. But it looks more complex than the file editor.
     - If you prefer to use a file editor on your computer, use the [Samba add-on](/common-tasks/os/#installing-and-using-the-samba-add-on).
   - [Configure file access on Supervised](/common-tasks/supervised/#configuring-access-to-files):
     - Using the [File editor add-on](/common-tasks/supervised/#installing-and-using-the-file-editor-add-on).
     - Using the [VS Code add-on](/common-tasks/supervised/#installing-and-using-the-visual-studio-code-vsc-add-on).
     - Using the [Samba add-on](/common-tasks/supervised/#installing-and-using-the-samba-add-on).

2. To look up the path to your configuration directory, go to {% my system_health title="**Settings** > **System** > **Repairs**" %}.
   - Select the three dots menu and select **System information**.

    ![Show system information option](/images/screenshots/System_information_menu.png)

3. Find out the location of the **Configuration directory**.

    ![Screenshot showing the top of the system information panel](/images/screenshots/system_information.png)
   - Unless you changed the file structure, the default is as follows:     - 
     - {% term "Home Assistant Operating System" %}: the `configuration.yaml` is in the `/config` folder of the installation.
     - {% term "Home Assistant Container" %}: the `configuration.yaml` is in the config folder that you mounted in your container.
     - {% term "Home Assistant Core" %}: the `configuration.yaml` is in the config folder passed to the `hass` command (default is `~/.homeassistant`).

## Validating the configuration

After changing configuration or automation files, you can check if the configuration is valid. A configuration check is also applied automatically when you reload the configuration or when you restart Home Assistant.

The method for running a configuration check depends on your [installation type](/installation/#advanced-installation-methods). Check the common tasks for your installation type:

- [Configuration check on Operating System](/common-tasks/os/#configuration-check)
- [Configuration check on Supervised](/common-tasks/supervised/#configuration-check)
- [Configuration check on Container](/common-tasks/container/#configuration-check)
- [Configuration check on Core](/common-tasks/core/#configuration-check)

## Reloading the configuration to apply changes

For configuration changes to become effective, the configuration must be reloaded. Most integrations in Home Assistant (that do not interact with {% term devices %} or {% term services %}) can reload changes made to their configuration in `configuration.yaml` without needing to restart Home Assistant.

1. Under **Settings**, select the three dots menu (top right), select **Restart Home Assistant** > **Quick reload**.

   ![Settings, three dot menu, restart Home Assistant](/images/docs/configuration/settings_restart_ha.png)

2. If you find that your changes were not applied, you need to restart.
   - Select **Restart Home Assistant**.
   - Note: This interrupts automations and scripts.

   ![Reload and restart buttons](/images/docs/configuration/reload_restart.png)

## Troubleshooting the configuration

If you run into trouble while configuring Home Assistant, refer to the [configuration troubleshooting page](/docs/configuration/troubleshooting/) and the [`configuration.yaml` examples](/examples/#example-configurationyaml).