Options.txt file

The Options.txt file can enable a few experimental and unsupported features in Ableton Live. Available options may change or be removed in future updates without warning. 

• How to create an Options.txt file
• Adding options to the Options.txt file
• Example Options
  
• Troubleshooting Options.txt file

Note: it is not recommended to install the option -EnableArmOnSelection when using Push 2 or Push 3 to control Live.

How to create an Options.txt file

1. Create a new plain text file using a text editor
2. Name it Options.txt
3. Place it inside the Preferences folder for the current version of Live, following the instructions below

Windows

1. In Windows Explorer's address bar, type %AppData%
2. Select Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming
   
3. Open the folder Ableton
4. Find and open the folder for your current version of Live, for example Live 11.2.6
5. Open the folder Preferences. Place the Options.txt file inside this folder.

macOS

1. In Finder, select the Go Menu, then hold down the Option key on your keyboard.
2. Open the Library folder that appears.
   
3. Scroll down to open the enclosed folders Preferences > Ableton
   This opens the path, Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton (usually hidden).
4. Open the folder for your current version of Live, for example Live 11.2.6
   Place the Options.txt file into this folder.

Where to find Live's Preferences folder

Windows
\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Ableton\Live x.x.x\Preferences\

MacOS
/Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live x.x.x/

Note: Here's how to access hidden folders on Windows and Mac OS X.

Adding options to the Options.txt file

• Add one option per line with the correct format; each option begins with a hyphen, and some options may also require an underscore.
• If you use the wrong format, you will get an error message when opening Live.
• You need to restart Live to activate the option(s).
• The file format of the Options.txt must be plain text.

Example Options

DisableGraphicsHardwareAcceleration

Line to add to Options.txt file: -DisableGraphicsHardwareAcceleration

Disables the Metal-based UI rendering that is enabled by default in Live 11.2

PluginAutoPopulateThreshold

Line to add to Options.txt file: -_PluginAutoPopulateThreshold=64

Auto-populates the plug-in parameter list if a plug-in has a number of less or equal than X parameters.

Default = 64
Min = 1
Max = 128

128 will always populate the list with max. 128 parameters, regardless of how many parameters the plug-in has.

DontCombineAPCs

Line to add to Options.txt file: -DontCombineAPCs

Deactivates the APC combination mode: won't align and sync the session rings of multiple APCs so they can be moved independently.

EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins (Windows only)

Line to add to Options.txt file: -_EnsureKeyMessagesForPlugins

This option solves a problem with certain VST plug-ins (such as NI's Reaktor), where keyboard data does not reach the plug-in.

DisableAppleSiliconBurstWorkaround

Line to add to Options.txt file: -DisableAppleSiliconBurstWorkaround

On Silicon Mac computers, this option reverts to the energy-saving behavior present in versions of Live prior to 11.3.25. This may result in less reliable performance at higher buffer sizes.

Troubleshooting Options.txt file

If you are experiencing unexpected behavior in Live or on Push when controlling Live, please try temporarily deleting or moving the options.txt file to rule out one of these options as the cause.

Specifically, it is not recommended to install the option:

-EnableArmOnSelection

when using Push 2 or Push 3 to control Live.