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Rust client.cfg — full guide

Updated 2026-08-20 · Windows 10 / 11 · Rust

Everything you type into the Rust console disappears on the next update. The config file is how you make settings permanent — and how you keep FOV 90 from resetting to 70 every patch.

Where the file lives · A config worth starting from · Why it resets anyway · Commands worth knowing

Where the file lives

In your Rust installation folder, under cfg/client.cfg. Find the install through Steam: right-click Rust → Manage → Browse local files. If the file is not there, launch the game once and quit — Rust creates it.

Edit it with Notepad while Rust is closed. If the game is running when you save, it overwrites your file on exit and your changes vanish. This is the number one reason people think editing the config does not work.

A config worth starting from

cfg/client.cfg

graphics.fov "90"

gc.buffer "2048"
gc.incremental_enabled "True"

effects.shadowquality "0"
effects.shadowcascades "0"
effects.waterquality "0"
effects.waterreflections "False"
effects.maxgibs "0"
grass.displacement "False"
mesh.quality "175"

client.lerp "0"
client.interpolationtime "0.075"

audio.master "0.7"
audio.musicvolume "0"

Note audio.musicvolume "0" — the menu music is loud and hides footsteps in the first seconds after spawning.

Why it resets anyway

You edited it while Rust was open. Close the game first, always.
The file is read-only or in a protected folder. Check the file properties.
A big patch rewrote it. Keep a copy of your config somewhere else and paste it back.
You verified game files. That can restore the default config.

Keeping a backup copy outside the Rust folder takes ten seconds and saves you redoing this after every major update.

Commands worth knowing

Command	What it does
graphics.fov	Field of view, 70–90. Higher sees more.
gc.buffer	Garbage collection buffer. 2048 or 4096.
client.lerp	Interpolation delay. 0 for lowest latency.
mesh.quality	Object detail distance. 150–200.
effects.maxgibs	Debris from explosions. 0 during raids.
audio.musicvolume	Menu and ambient music.
csm.shadowcascades	Shadow cascade count.

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FAQ

Where is client.cfg on Windows?

Inside the Rust install folder at cfg/client.cfg. Reach the folder through Steam: right-click Rust → Manage → Browse local files.

Why do my config changes disappear?

Almost always because Rust was running when you saved the file. Close the game completely, then edit and save.

Can I get banned for editing client.cfg?

No. It is Rust's own settings file and every value in it is something the game itself writes. You are not modifying the game.

How to increase FPS in Rust → Best Rust graphics settings for FPS → Best Rust settings for a low end PC → How to reduce ping in Rust →