PARA_ROOT Setting

Configure where your PARA folders are stored.

What Is PARA_ROOT?

PARA_ROOT is the top-level directory containing your PARA folder structure:

PARA_ROOT/
  0_Inbox/
  1_Projects/
  2_Areas/
  3_Resources/
  4_Archives/

Files are organized into these top-level folders, which contain subfolders for routes.

Set PARA_ROOT

Via Environment Variable 

export PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Documents/PARA

uv run para-files classify file.pdf

Via .env File 

# In .env file
PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Documents/PARA

Via YAML Config 

# In personal_file_tree.yaml
config:
  para_root: "~/Documents/PARA"

Examples

Default Location 

export PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Documents/PARA

Custom Location 

export PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=/Volumes/ExternalDrive/PARA

Different for Different Projects 

# Project 1
PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Projects/project1/PARA

# Project 2
PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Projects/project2/PARA

Create PARA Folder Structure

Once PARA_ROOT is set, create the folders:

# Auto-create on first move, or manually:
uv run para-files init

# Or init with subfolders
uv run para-files init --subfolders

Verify Setting 

# Check PARA_ROOT is set correctly
uv run para-files config --show

# Should show your PARA_ROOT

Troubleshooting

“PARA_ROOT not set” error?

# Make sure it's exported
export PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Documents/PARA

# Or add to .env file
echo 'PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT=~/Documents/PARA' > .env

Files going to wrong place?

# Verify correct PARA_ROOT
uv run para-files config --show

# Check with dry-run before moving
uv run para-files move file.pdf --dry-run

Path with spaces?

# Quote the path
export PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT="~/Documents/My PARA"

# Or in .env
PARA_FILES_PARA_ROOT="~/Documents/My PARA"