MakeHuman2 uses JSON-based configuration files to store application settings and preferences. There are two types of configuration files:

1. makehuman2_default.conf: The default system configuration shipped with MakeHuman2
2. makehuman2.conf: The user's personal configuration file

These files control application behavior, UI preferences, data locations, API settings, and keyboard shortcuts.

File Locations and loading order

System Default Configuration

The default configuration is included with the application:

<SystemDir>/data/makehuman2_default.conf This file provides the baseline settings when no user configuration exists. User Configuration

The user configuration file is stored in platform-specific locations:

macOS	~/Library/Application Support/MakeHuman2/makehuman2.conf
Linux	~/.config/makehuman2/makehuman2.conf
Windows	%APPDATA%\makehuman2\makehuman2.conf

Configuration Loading Process

When MakeHuman2 starts, it loads configuration settings in this priority order:

• Check for user configuration: If makehuman2.conf exists in the user config folder, load it
• makehuman2.conf not available: it is the first start, ask user for his home path with GUI, the "typical home path" is proposed, rest is taken from makehuman2_default.conf
• Apply defaults: Any missing keys are filled in with hardcoded default values
• Override with environment:The `MH_HOME_LOCATION` environment variable can override path_home (aka <UserDataDir>)

If the configuration is incomplete or this is the first run, MakeHuman2 will automatically create a user configuration file with all necessary settings.

File Format

Both configuration files use JSON format: { "basename": null, "noSampleBuffers": false, "redirect_messages": false, "remember_session": false, "theme": "makehuman.qss", "units": "metric", "apihost": "127.0.0.1", "apiport": 12345 }

Configuration Options

basename string or null Default: null	Specifies which base mesh to load at startup (e.g., hm08, mh2bot) - If null, the application shows the base mesh selection screen - If set to a valid base name, that mesh loads automatically	"basename": "hm08"
noSampleBuffers Boolean Default: false	Controls OpenGL multisampling (method to display multiple transparent layers) false - Enable multisampling for smoother rendering (recommended) true - Disable multisampling (may improve performance on older hardware)	"noSampleBuffers": false
redirect_messages Boolean Default: false	Controls whether application messages and errors are logged to a file. false - Messages only appear in the console true - Messages are written to the log file specified in path_error Related Setting: Requires path_error to be set (automatically added to user config).	"redirect_messages": false
remember_session Boolean Default: false	Controls whether MakeHuman2 saves and restores the working session. false - Start fresh each time true - Restore the last loaded character and settings on startup	"remember_session": true
theme String Default: makehuman.qss	Specifies the Qt stylesheet file used for the application UI. - Theme files are located in data/themes/ and can be added also in user data - Must be a valid .qss file	"theme": "makehuman.qss"
units String Default: "metric"	Sets the measurement system used throughout the application. "metric"- Centimeters, meters, kilograms "imperial"- Inches, feet, pounds	"units": "imperial"
apihost String Default: "127.0.0.1"	The IP address the MakeHuman2 API server listens on, this allows external applications (like Blender) to communicate with MakeHuman2. "127.0.0.1" - normally used, when blender is on same box.	"apihost": "127.0.0.1"
apiport Integer Default: 12345	The TCP port number the MakeHuman2 API server listens on. If this port is already in use, you may need to change it to another available port.	"apiport": 12345
path_home String Default: none	Absolute path to the user data folder where MakeHuman2 stores custom content. Not in default config. Used as UserDataDir in documentation. This path will contain all user and downloaded content, such as clothes etc.	"path_home": "/Users/foo/makehuman2"
path_error String Default: none	Absolute path to the folder where error logs are stored. Not in default config. It is only used when redirect_messages is true	"path_error": "/Users/foo/makehuman2/log"
keys Object (key-value pairs) Default: none	Defines custom keyboard shortcuts for camera navigation and other viewport controls. Each key represents an action, and its value is the keyboard shortcut (or array of shortcuts) assigned to that action. Not in default config. Format: - Single shortcut: String value (e.g., "Num+9") - Multiple shortcuts: Array of strings (e.g., ["Num+9", "Alt+T"])	"keys": { "Top": "Num+9", "Front": "Num+2", "Zoom-In": ["Num++", "Ctrl+="], "Pan-Left": "Shift+Left", "Toggle Perspective": "Num+0" }

Keyboard Actions

Action	Default Shortcut	Description
Top	Num+9	View from top
Bottom	Num+7	View from bottom
Left	Num+4	View from left
Right	Num+6	View from right
Front	Num+2	View from front
Back	Num+8	View from back
Zoom-In	Num++	Zoom camera in
Zoom-Out	Num+-	Zoom camera out
Pan-Left	Shift+Left	Pan camera left
Pan-Right	Shift+Right	Pan camera right
Pan-Up	Shift+Up	Pan camera up
Pan-Down	Shift+Down	Pan camera down
Rotate-Left	Ctrl+Left	Rotate camera left
Rotate-Right	Ctrl+Right	Rotate camera right
Rotate-Up	Ctrl+Up	Rotate camera up
Rotate-Down	Ctrl+Down	Rotate camera down
Stop Animation	Esc	Stop animation playback
Toggle Perspective	Num+0	Toggle perspective/orthographic

Key Notation

Qt key sequence format is used:

• Ctrl - Control key (⌃ on macOS)
• Shift - Shift key (⇧)
• Alt - Alt key (⌥ Option on macOS)
• Meta - Meta key (⊞ Windows key / ⌘ Command on macOS)
• Num+ - Numeric keypad keys
• + - Combines modifiers with keys (e.g., Ctrl+Z)
• Regular keys use their character (e.g., A, F1, Space)

Platform-Specific Modifiers:

On macOS, you can use Command (⌘) and Option (⌥) keys:

• Meta+Key - Uses Command key (⌘)
• Alt+Key - Uses Option key (⌥)
• Ctrl+Key - Uses Control key (⌃)

You can mix and match modifiers based on your preference. For example: "keys": { "Zoom-In": ["Num++", "Ctrl+=", "Meta+="], "Zoom-Out": ["Num+-", "Ctrl+-", "Meta+-"], "Pan-Left": ["Shift+Left", "Alt+Left"] } This allows Ctrl+= Cmd+= (Meta), and Num++ to all zoom in.

Customization

You can customize shortcuts in two ways:

Through the Preferences Window

• Open Edit → Preferences → Input tab
• Select an action in the table
• Press the desired key combination
• Click "Change" to apply
• Click "Save" to write to configuration file

Manual Editing

• Edit makehuman2.conf directly
• Add or modify the "keys" object
• Only include actions you want to customize
• Restart MakeHuman2 to apply changes

Notes:

• If the "keys" object is not present, default shortcuts are used
• You can assign multiple shortcuts to the same action using an array
• Duplicate shortcuts across different actions are allowed but may cause conflicts
• Invalid key sequences are ignored and fall back to defaults
• Changes take effect immediately when saved through the Preferences window
• On macOS, `Meta` corresponds to Command (⌘) and `Alt` corresponds to Option (⌥)
• If you edit the file manually, ensure the JSON is valid. Use a JSON validator if unsure.

macOS-Friendly Example:

For macOS users who prefer Command and Option keys:

"keys": { "Top": ["Num+9", "Meta+T"], "Front": ["Num+2", "Meta+F"], "Zoom-In": ["Num++", "Meta+=", "Ctrl+="], "Zoom-Out": ["Num+-", "Meta+-", "Ctrl+-"], "Pan-Left": ["Shift+Left", "Alt+Left"], "Pan-Right": ["Shift+Right", "Alt+Right"], "Rotate-Left": ["Ctrl+Left", "Meta+Left"], "Rotate-Right": ["Ctrl+Right", "Meta+Right"], "Toggle Perspective": ["Num+0", "Meta+P"]

This configuration uses:

• Meta (⌘ Command) for view changes and zoom
• Alt (⌥ Option) for panning
• Both Ctrl and Meta for rotation, allowing flexibility

Environment Variable Override

The environment variable MH_HOME_LOCATION can override the "path_home" (UserDataDir) setting:

macOS/Linux:

export MH_HOME_LOCATION="/path/to/custom/location" python makehuman.py Windows: set MH_HOME_LOCATION=C:\path\to\custom\location python makehuman.py This is useful for:

• Testing with different data folders
• Running multiple configurations
• Development and debugging