Heronite environment variables (HERONITE_*)

The HERONITE_* environment variables: use another data folder, point at Steam, and turn off update checks, the tray, controller input or animations.

Set these environment variables before you start Heronite. A HERONITE_* switch is on when set to anything except empty or 0.

Change folders and log detail

Variable What it does
HERONITE_DATA_DIR=<folder> Use another data folder, for a second, separate Collection. Config and cache then go next to it, in <folder>.heronite/.
HERONITE_LOG_DIR=<folder> Write logs to another folder
HERONITE_STEAM_DIR=<folder> Where Steam is, when Heronite does not find it
RUST_LOG=debug More detail in the log (trace for everything)

Turn features off

Variable What it does
HERONITE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK No automatic update checks
HERONITE_NO_TRAY No tray icon
HERONITE_NO_GAMEPAD No controller input in console mode
HERONITE_NO_ANIMATIONS No animations
HERONITE_NO_SINGLE_INSTANCE Allow more than one Heronite at a time
HERONITE_NO_ONBOARDING Skip the first-start setup
HERONITE_DISABLE_IDLE_JOBS No background work while idle
HERONITE_DISABLE_TOOLS_UPDATE Do not refresh DXVK, Winetricks, and umu in the background
HERONITE_WINE_OFFLINE No network for the Wine Manager (Linux)

Use your own legendary, gogdl or nile

Heronite downloads these store tools. To use your own copy, set:

Variable What it does
HERONITE_LEGENDARY_BIN=<path> Use this legendary (the Epic tool)
HERONITE_GOGDL_BIN=<path> Use this gogdl (the GOG tool)
HERONITE_NILE_BIN=<path> Use this nile (the Amazon Games tool)

Variables Heronite sets for game scripts

Scripts that run before or after a game, and programs that run alongside it, get these:

Variable Value
HERONITE_GAME_TITLE The game’s name
HERONITE_GAME_APP_NAME Its id
HERONITE_GAME_RUNNER Its store (legendary, gog, nile, sideload, …)
HERONITE_GAME_PLATFORM Its platform
HERONITE_GAME_EXEC The program that runs
HERONITE_GAME_PREFIX Its Wine prefix (Linux)
HERONITE_GAME_SCRIPT_TYPE Which script this is (before or after)

Heronite sets the same values as HEROIC_GAME_*, so scripts written for Heroic keep working. Inside the sandbox, it also sets HERONITE_SANDBOX.

Updated November 4, 2026Something wrong or missing? Tell us on GitHub.