Emacs Init: Intro

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

What is Init File

Emacs init file is a file emacs loads when it starts up. It is used to customize emacs.

Emacs init file is also known as “dot emacs file”.

Where is Init File

Can i delete the emacs init file

Yes. (if you don't have anything important you put there.)

Can i delete the emacs init directory

Mostly yes.

You lose packages that you personally installed, and your bookmark, and command history, etc.

How to find out if emacs init is loaded?

put this in your Emacs Init File:

(set-background-color "gray")

If emacs starts with new background color, then it's loaded.

Start Emacs Without Loading Init File

Load Init File Without Restarting Emacs

Alt+x eval-buffer

Once the code is evaluated, effect are immediate.

Restart Emacs

Alt+x restart-emacs (new in Emacs 29 (date 2023))

or start emacs by

emacs --debug-init

Reference

Thanks To

Emacs init file topics