⚠️ Important

This article includes both a simplified overview and the full technical documentation.

• If you are looking for quick guidance, review the sections below
• For full technical details, see the Full Technical Reference section at the bottom

Overview

ZBrush 2026.1.0 introduced a major change to how files and user content are stored.

The goal of this change is to:

• Protect user data across updates
• Standardize file locations
• Separate user content from application files

What Changed

Previous Versions (2026.0.1 and earlier)

• Files could be stored in multiple locations
• Many users stored content inside the install directory
• Public Documents folders were used

New System (2026.1.0 and newer)

• All user content is stored in a single user-based directory
• The install directory is now read-only
• ZBrush can no longer write to its install folder

Where Your Files Are Now

Default User Asset Directory

Windows

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Maxon\ZBrush_[HashValue]\

macOS

/Users/[UserName]/Library/ApplicationSupport/Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/

Alternate macOS path (may vary)

/Users/[UserName]/Library/Preferences/Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/

How to Open It

• Go to Preferences
• Select Asset Directory
• Click Open Directory

Where to Put Your Files

All custom content must now be placed in:

[User Asset Directory]\ZStartup\

Important Behavior Changes

Install Directory

• Now read-only
• May be replaced during updates
• Files stored there are not preserved

LightBox

• LightBox does not store files
• It only displays folder contents

QuickSave

Now located in:

[User Asset Directory]\QuickSave\

Before Updating to ZBrush 2026.1 and Newer

1. Verify where your files are saved

Do not store files in:

C:\Program Files\Maxon ZBrush 2026\

2. Confirm your LightBox project location

Ensure it is not pointing to the install directory.

3. Back up important files

Back up:

• Projects
• Brushes
• UI
• Plugins

4. Locate your user asset directory

Use:

Preferences > Asset Directory > Open Directory

5. Move custom content to the correct location

Move from:

• Program Files
• Public Documents

To:

[User Asset Directory]\ZStartup\

6. Check QuickSave files

Old location:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\ZBrushData[Version]

New location:

[User Asset Directory]\QuickSave\

7. Understand install directory behavior

Install directory contents are not preserved during updates.

8. Optional: Save and Export Your UI Configuration

To preserve your setup:

• Go to Preferences > Config
• Click Store Config
• Save your configuration
• Export your UI layout

After updating, you can import it into the new version.

Important:
Importing a UI from an older version may result in missing or non-functional elements if features or macros have changed. Some adjustments may be required.

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Full Technical Reference (Detailed Documentation)

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User Content and Folder Structure

As detailed in our LightBox page, ZBrush offers an easy, intuitive way to navigate through assets ranging from alphas to QuickSaves. The LightBox is your graphical front-end UI, but under the hood lies a folder structure you may want to use when handling custom assets (your own content) or migrating between ZBrush installations.

ZBrush Folder Restructuring

ZBrush lets you fully customize your sculpting experience in many ways, including:

• Personalizing the entire UI
• Creating custom hotkeys for faster workflows
• Designing your own brushes, alphas, and textures
• Creating your own palette
• Building your own plug-ins
• Creating custom materials and much more

ZBrush adapts to your unique creative workflow. To incorporate your own custom assets, simply place them in the designated folder associated with your user account on the system. The following documentation covers how you can customize your ZBrush experience.

Folder Structure Changes

Version 2026.0.1 and Previous
ZBrush folder structure allowed custom elements in several folders.

Since version 2026.1.0
The folder structure changed to a standard single-folder approach, similar to other creative software.

Similar to the legacy system, the Maxon ZBrush (version)/ZData/ZStartup folder in the ZBrush root install directory contains plugin assets and many other assets. With this change, ZBrush can no longer write to its install root folder from within ZBrush. All custom assets must now be placed in your user folder.

The new system streamlines the folder structure. When you go to Preferences > Asset Directory > Open Directory, ZBrush opens a file navigator starting at your system's user account folder:

Windows

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Maxon\ZBrush_[HashValue]\

macOS

/Users/[UserName]/Library/ApplicationSupport/Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/

Note: Some users report that on macOS, the path may be /Users/[UserName]/Library/Preferences/Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/ instead. Please verify on your system.

Within the Preferences > Asset Directory, you’ll find two more buttons: Change Location and Reset to Default. For the former, you may decide you want to change the default location of the ZBrush's required subfolder. The default folder structure will generate in this new location every time ZBrush restarts.
 

What happens if you get too buck wild on changing folder locations and just want everything restored to default settings? Easy. Click on Preferences > Asset Directory > Reset to Default. Press Yes to revert the folder location to original settings, then restart ZBrush to confirm the change.

Creating an Environment Variable

You can also change your ZBrush assets user folder with an environment variable (ZBRUSH_USER_ASSETS_DIR).

For example, when using a server at a school or studio, you may want all users' custom items to be automatically sent to their respective user profiles on the server. In this case, you might use the environment variable:

(Drive):/ZBrush/

Maxon recommends:

Z:/ZBrush/

Important Information for Users (ZBrush 2026.0.1 and previous)

As noted above, ZBrush 2026.1.0 introduced a new folder structure for ZBrush. For those users that have been using ZBrush from version 2026.0.1 and previous, it is important to read below to understand the new ZBrush folder structure.

Maxon Startup Asset Changes

• Assets placed in Windows: C:\Users[UserName}\AppData\Roaming\Maxon\ZBrush_[HashValue]/ZStartUp or macOS:/Users/[UserName]/Library/ApplicationSupport/Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/ZStartUp subfolders will be loaded alongside Maxon assets during ZBrush startup. I.e. your own materials will show up in the materials picker, your brushes will be in the brush picker and any custom plug-in needs to be placed.
• Some default Savepaths have been adjusted to default the "Save As" file picker dialog to the new [user assets]/LightBox/[AssetType] folders if you have the preference option to default to ZBrush paths set. Not all eligible asset types have made that transition yet.

• ZBrush 2026.1.0 and newer will no longer allow writing files to the ZBrush Application/Program Files root folder from within ZBrush. All custom items will now need to be placed in the one user folder located:

  Windows:

  C:\Users[UserName}\AppData\Roaming\Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/

  macOS:

  /Users/[UserName]/Library/ApplicationSupport/Maxon/ZBrush_[HashValue]/

• The ZBrushData (version number) usually found in the following locations, will no longer be created and necessary.

  Windows:

  HardDrive\Users\Public\Public Documents

  macOS:

  HardDrive\Users\Shared

Everything from these folders has been moved to new locations, with the majority being moved to the new user directory location.

Custom User Assets

🔧 If Zendesk Still Breaks It (Fallback Option)

Folder Migration Details

• Activity -> Logs\Activity
• ExternalRenderer ->ExternalRenderer
• QuickSave -> QuickSave
• ZPluginData -> ZPluginData
• ZBrushQuickSavePath.txt -> ZBrushQuickSavePath.txt
• ZBrushScratchDiskPath.txt -> ZBrushScratchDiskPath.txt
• ZStartup\ConfigFiles* -> ZStartup\ConfigFiles*
• ZStartup\CustomLang* -> ZStartup\CustomLang*
• ZStartup\HotKeys* -> ZStartup\HotKeys*
• ZStartup\CustomUserInterface[Version].cfg -> ZStartup\CustomUserInterface[Version].cfg

Temporary Data

Temporary data that ZBrush writes to disk is now located under:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\Temp\ZBrushData[Version]

• VMem* -> VMem*
• Temp/* -> /*

Removed the RecoveredFiles folder from public data folder

In macOS:
Go in finder to: /private/var/ and search for "ZBrushData2026"

For Those That Create ZBrush Plugins

(Keep your full plugin section exactly as-is here)

Where can I find the original documentation?

For full technical reference:

https://help.maxon.net/zbr/en-us/Content/html/user-guide/customizing-zbrush/user-content/user-content.html

Final Notes

• ZBrush now uses a user-based asset system
• The install directory is not for storing work
• All custom content should be placed in the user asset directory