Files and Folders
Rezure keeps everything it works with in one folder, C:\rezure, separate from the app's install folder. Reinstalling, updating, or rolling back the app leaves it alone.
If C:\ isn't writable on your machine, Rezure uses %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rezure instead. To put it somewhere else entirely, another drive, say, set a REZURE_HOME environment variable to the folder you want before starting Rezure.
The layout
C:\rezure
├── www\ your projects
├── dumps\ database exports
├── bin\ runtimes Rezure downloaded and verified
├── custom\ runtimes you added yourself
├── data\ service state (generated)
├── etc\ settings and your own config
├── current\ the PHP link used by "PHP everywhere"
├── stickers\ downloaded stickers
├── rezure.db projects and pending usage data
├── AGENTS.md notes for AI coding agents
├── CLAUDE.md
└── docs\how-rezure-works.mdwww\: projects
Each folder is a project, served as <folder>.test. See Projects.
dumps\: exports
Every database export, named <database>-<YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS>.sql (or .bak for SQL Server LocalDB). Exports from a remote connection get the connection's name as a prefix.
bin\: downloaded runtimes
One folder per runtime and version, all checked against a published checksum: bin\php\8.4.x, bin\mariadb\11.4.x, bin\postgres\18.6, bin\node\22.x, bin\composer\2.x, bin\nginx, bin\mailpit, bin\cloudflared.
Deleting a version's folder (with Rezure closed) removes that version completely.
custom\: your own runtimes
Builds you downloaded yourself and want Rezure to use: custom\php, custom\mysql, custom\node, and the same for the other runtimes. They're found automatically but not checksum-verified.
data\: service state
Generated and managed by Rezure. Don't edit anything here by hand; most of it is rewritten on every start.
| Path | What |
|---|---|
data\nginx\ | Nginx config, one virtual host per project in vhosts\, and logs\error.log |
data\php\ini\ | The generated php.ini for each PHP version |
data\php\<version>\extensions.json | Your extension toggles for that version |
data\php\tmp\ | PHP sessions and uploads in progress |
data\mariadb\data\ | The default MariaDB data directory, your databases |
data\postgres\<major>\ | PostgreSQL data, one folder per major version, your databases |
data\mssql\ | SQL Server LocalDB database files, your databases |
data\mailpit\mailpit.db | Mail caught by Mailpit |
data\installers\ | Microsoft installers Rezure ran, and their logs |
The database folders hold your actual data. Back them up (or better, export the databases) before deleting data\.
etc\: settings
| File | What |
|---|---|
settings.json | Your Settings, plus active versions, appearance, and which services the Services page shows |
profiles.json | MySQL/MariaDB data directory profiles |
connections.json | Saved database connections, never passwords |
links.json | Projects linked from outside www |
project-frameworks.json | Frameworks or custom folders you chose for a project. See Frameworks |
frameworks.json | Your own framework definitions, if you add any, meant for hand edits. See Frameworks |
dev-servers.json | Each JavaScript project's dev server port, script, and Open starts it setting. See Dev Servers |
php\conf.d\ | Your own PHP settings, the one place meant for hand edits. See PHP Configuration |
cacert.pem | The CA bundle PHP uses for HTTPS |
device.json | This install's random ID, used for usage data and Feedback tickets |
stickers.json | Your downloaded sticker library |
changelog_cache.json, changelog_state.json, donate_cache.json, … | Cached copies of what the app fetched, so it works offline |
Rezure holds these settings in memory while it runs and writes them back when something changes. Quit Rezure (from the tray, if it's kept there) before editing a JSON file in etc\, or your edit may be overwritten.
rezure.db
A small SQLite database with project details (usage counts, PHP and Node pins) and the queue of usage data waiting to be sent.
AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, docs\
Notes for AI coding agents, regenerated while Rezure runs. See AI Coding Agents.
Outside C:\rezure
A few things live elsewhere because Windows requires it:
| What | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Project domains | Rezure's block in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts | When you sync hosts |
PHP on PATH | An entry in your user PATH, and PHP_INI_SCAN_DIR | Only with Use Rezure's PHP everywhere on |
| Database passwords | Windows Credential Manager, under Rezure Database Connections | When you save a connection's password |
| Start with Windows | Your user's startup entries | Only with Start Rezure with Windows on |
| ODBC Driver, SQL Server LocalDB | Normal Windows installs, listed in Settings → Apps, plus a LocalDB instance named Rezure | Only if you install them |
| The app's own window state | WebView2's profile folder under %LOCALAPPDATA% | Always |
Moving from an older version
Rezure versions before the single-folder layout used %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rezure, %APPDATA%\Rezure, and %USERPROFILE%\rezure. A current version moves those into C:\rezure on first start, never overwriting anything and never deleting on failure. See Installation.