Final Cut Pro 3: How to delete the preferences file

One of the steps to follow when troubleshooting Final Cut Pro is to delete the Final Cut Pro Preferences file. Doing this restores Final Cut Pro to the settings you made when you installed the application. In Mac OS 9, the Final Cut Pro Preferences file is located in the Final Cut Pro Data folder within the Preferences folder, within the System folder. See Figure 1. In Mac OS X, it is located in the users Preferences folder (~/Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data) See Figure 2. This file contains user preferences for scratch disk settings, capture settings, window layouts, and so forth.

Figure 1 Final Cut Pro Preferences file in Mac OS 9

Figure 2 Final Cut Pro Preferences in Mac OS X

The preferences file can sometimes contain incorrect information, resulting in Final Cut Pro exhibiting unpredictable behaviors. This is easily fixed by following these steps:

Mac OS 9

1. Quit Final Cut Pro.

2. Drag the file Final Cut Pro Preferences from System Folder:Preferences:Final Cut Pro User Data:

3. Drag the file Final Cut Pro MOA Cache from System Folder:Preferences:Final Cut Pro User Data:

4. Open Final Cut Pro.

Important: Do not delete any of the other files in the Final Cut Pro User Data folder than the ones specified above in the Mac OS 9 section.

Mac OS X

1. Quit Final Cut Pro.

2. Drag the file Final Cut 3.x Preferences from ~/Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data/

3. Drag the file Final Cut Pro MOA Cache from ~/Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data/

4. Drag the file com.apple.FinalCutPro.plist from ~/Library/Preferences/

5. Open Final Cut Pro.

Important: Note: Do not delete any of the other files in the Final Cut Pro User Data folder than the ones specified above.

Depending on the situation, you may need to restart your computer. Once this process is completed Final Cut Pro reverts to its installed defaults. Reset all of your desired application preferences to match what they were before--in particular your Scratch Disk Preferences, and the selected Sequence Settings.

To avoid recreating all your custom settings in the event you have to delete the preferences file again, follow these steps to save a clean copy of the file:

1. Make a duplicate of the Final Cut Pro Preferences file immediately after it is installed and configured for the first time.
2. Put the file in a safe place.

If you have to delete the preferences file again, you can simply replace it with a duplicate of the saved, clean file. This preserves your desired preference settings, while eliminating any unwanted behaviors that may have been caused by a faulty Final Cut Pro Preferences file.