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Klaus stores all configuration in ~/.klaus/config.toml, created automatically on first run. This file controls everything from hotkeys to voice settings to advanced VAD parameters.

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Configuration File Location

The configuration file is stored at:
  • macOS/Linux: ~/.klaus/config.toml
  • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.klaus\config.toml
The file is created with sensible defaults on first launch. You can edit it directly with any text editor.

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Configuration Structure

The config file uses TOML format with the following main sections:

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Top-Level Settings

Most configuration options are defined at the top level: 
# Setup wizard completion flag
setup_complete = true

# Input hotkeys
hotkey = "F2"
toggle_key = "F3"

# Hardware device indices
camera_index = 0
mic_index = -1

# Voice and speech settings
voice = "cedar"
tts_speed = 1.0
input_mode = "voice_activation"

# Logging
log_level = "INFO"

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API Keys Section

On Windows and as a fallback on macOS, API keys are stored in a dedicated section: 
[api_keys]
anthropic = "sk-ant-..."
openai = "sk-..."
tavily = "tvly-..."
On macOS, API keys are stored securely in Apple Keychain by default. The [api_keys] section is only used as a fallback when Keychain is unavailable.

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Environment Variables

Klaus supports environment variables as an alternative to config file settings. Environment variables take precedence over config.toml values.

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API Keys

Environment VariablePurpose
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYClaude vision + reasoning
OPENAI_API_KEYText-to-speech
TAVILY_API_KEYWeb search

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Optional Settings

Environment VariableConfig KeyDefault
OBSIDIAN_VAULT_PATHobsidian_vault_path""

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Editing Configuration

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Manual Editing

You can edit config.toml directly:
  1. Close Klaus
  2. Open ~/.klaus/config.toml in your text editor
  3. Uncomment and modify any setting
  4. Save the file
  5. Restart Klaus

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Using the Settings Dialog

Many settings can be changed through Klaus’s built-in Settings dialog:
  • API keys
  • Camera selection
  • Microphone selection
  • User background profile
  • Obsidian vault path
Some settings like hotkeys, VAD parameters, and STT model require editing config.toml directly and restarting Klaus.

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Configuration Defaults

All settings have sensible defaults. If a setting is commented out or missing from config.toml, Klaus uses the default value shown in the configuration template. See the individual configuration pages for detailed information on each setting:

Hotkeys

Configure push-to-talk and toggle keys

Voice Settings

TTS voice, speed, and STT model

Camera

Resolution, rotation, and device selection

Advanced

VAD sensitivity, logging, and router settings

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Validation

Klaus validates config.toml on startup:
  • Invalid TOML syntax triggers a warning and falls back to defaults
  • Invalid values (wrong type, out of range) are coerced to defaults
  • Missing API keys are detected and reported
Check the console output or logs for configuration warnings.

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Resetting Configuration

To reset to default settings:
  1. Close Klaus
  2. Delete or rename ~/.klaus/config.toml
  3. Restart Klaus
  4. The setup wizard will run again with a fresh configuration file

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