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Htop Config, Persistence, and Theming

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Persist htop settings, edit configuration files, and manage practical theming and display preferences across sessions.

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## Configuration file basics
Save settings through the UI
↗#
F2 to configure, F10 to quit

# Use setup and exit cleanly so preferences persist.

View the user config file
↗#
sed -n '1,200p' ~/.config/htop/htoprc

# Inspect saved htop settings from the shell.

Back up your htop config
↗#
cp ~/.config/htop/htoprc ~/.config/htop/htoprc.bak

# Copy the config file before experimenting.

Add htop config to dotfiles
↗#
cp ~/.config/htop/htoprc ~/dotfiles/htop/htoprc

# Track your preferred layout in Git.

Restore a previous config
↗#
cp ~/.config/htop/htoprc.bak ~/.config/htop/htoprc

# Roll back to a known-good layout.

## Themes and layouts
Change color theme
↗#
F2 → Colors

# Pick a theme in the setup screen.

Adjust display options
↗#
F2 → Display options

# Tune behavior such as tree behavior, meter style, and visual density.

Make a safe alias for production servers
↗#
alias htop-safe='htop --readonly'

# Always open in a non-destructive mode.

Make a high-signal server alias
↗#
alias htop-server='htop -t --sort-key=PERCENT_CPU -d 10'

# Launch with tree view and CPU sort.

Use a minimal monochrome session
↗#
htop -C --readonly

# Quick plain display without changing saved settings.

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