/export-pipeline

name: export-pipeline
description: Use when exporting and distributing Godot games — export presets, platform settings, CI/CD with GitHub Actions

Export Pipeline in Godot 4.3+

All examples target Godot 4.3+ with no deprecated APIs. GDScript is shown first, C# follows where applicable.

> **Related skills:** **godot-testing** for CI/CD test integration, **godot-optimization** for pre-export performance checks, **responsive-ui** for platform-specific resolution settings, **mobile-development** for Android/iOS export specifics.

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1. Export Presets

Creating Presets in the Editor

Open **Project → Export**, click **Add…**, and select the target platform. Each preset maps to one entry in `export_presets.cfg`. You can create multiple presets for the same platform (e.g., a debug build and a release build for Windows).

Required one-time setup per platform:

• **Export Templates** must be downloaded via **Editor → Export Templates**.
• Platform-specific toolchains (Android SDK, Xcode, etc.) must be installed separately.

export_presets.cfg

Godot writes `export_presets.cfg` to the project root. Commit this file — it is safe and contains no secrets. Secrets (codesigning passwords, keystore passwords) must **never** be committed; use environment variables instead.

Example preset structure (Windows release):

[preset.0]

name="Windows Desktop"
platform="Windows Desktop"
runnable=true
dedicated_server=false
custom_features=""
export_filter="all_resources"
include_filter=""
exclude_filter=""
export_path="build/windows/MyGame.exe"
encryption_include_filters=""
encryption_exclude_filters=""
encrypt_pck=false
encrypt_directory=false

[preset.0.options]

custom_template/debug=""
custom_template/release=""
debug/export_console_wrapper=1
binary_format/embed_pck=true
texture_format/s3tc_bptc=true
texture_format/etc2_astc=false
binary_format/architecture="x86_64"
codesign/enable=false
codesign/identity=""
codesign/password=""
codesign/timestamp=true
codesign/timestamp_server_url=""
codesign/digest_algorithm=1
codesign/description=""
codesign/custom_options=PackedStringArray()
application/icon=""
application/console_wrapper_icon=""
application/icon_interpolation=4
application/file_version=""
application/product_version=""
application/company_name=""
application/product_name=""
application/file_description=""
application/copyright=""
application/trademarks=""
application/export_angle=0
application/export_d3d12=0
application/d3d12_agility_sdk_multiarch=true
ssh_remote_deploy/enabled=false
ssh_remote_deploy/host="user@host_ip"
ssh_remote_deploy/port="22"
ssh_remote_deploy/extra_args_ssh=""
ssh_remote_deploy/extra_args_scp=""
ssh_remote_deploy/run_script="#!/usr/bin/env bash\nexport DISPLAY=:0\n\"{temp_dir}/{exe_name}\" {cmd_args}"
ssh_remote_deploy/cleanup_script="#!/usr/bin/env bash\nkill $(pgrep -x -f \"{temp_dir}/{exe_name} {cmd_args}\")\nrm -rf \"{temp_dir}\""

> Godot regenerates `export_presets.cfg` on every editor save. Do not hand-edit it while the editor is open.

> ⚠️ **Changed in Godot 4.7:** The "runnable" flag moved out of export presets — `runnable=` (shown in the example above for 4.3–4.6) is no longer a per-preset property in `export_presets.cfg`; the editor now tracks which preset is runnable separately. Don't be surprised when the line disappears from the file after saving in a 4.7 editor. See [GH-114930](https://github.com/godotengine/godot/pull/114930).

> **Godot 4.7+:** Sparse PCK exports (patch packs) support encrypting the file index, complementing the existing `encrypt_pck` / `encrypt_directory` preset options. ([GH-113920](https://github.com/godotengine/godot/pull/113920))

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2. Platform-Specific Settings

| Platform | Key Setting / Consideration | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Windows** | Set `application/icon` (.ico file). Codesigning requires a `.pfx` certificate; set `codesign/enable=true` and supply `codesign/identity` + `codesign/password` via env vars. Without codesigning, Windows SmartScreen will warn users. | | **Linux** | No codesigning required. After export, run `chmod +x MyGame.x86_64` on the binary. Ship as a tarball or AppImage for distribution. | | **macOS** | Requires notarization for Gatekeeper to allow launch without warning. Set `codesign/enable=true` and `notarization/enable=true`. Provide the `codesign/identity` (Apple Developer ID). The `Info.plist` entries (bundle ID, version, display name, privacy usage descriptions) are set under `application/*` options in the preset. Notarization is done post-export via `xcrun notarytool`. | | **Web** | Requires `SharedArrayBuffer` for multi-threading — the web server must send `Cross-Origin-Opener-Policy: same-origin` and `Cross-Origin-Embedder-Policy: require-corp` headers. Disable threads (`rendering/threads/thread_model=0`) if hosting on a server you cannot configure. Exported output is a `.html` + `.js` + `.wasm` + `.pck` bundle. | | **Android** | Requires a keystore for release signing. Set `keystore/release` to the `.keystore` path and supply `keystore/release_user` + `keystore/release_password` via env vars. Declare permissions in the preset under `permissions/*`. Set `package/unique_name` to a reverse-DNS string (e.g., `com.studio.mygame`). | | **iOS** | Requires a valid Apple provisioning profile (`.mobileprovision`). Set `application/bundle_identifier`, `codesign/identity`, and `application/provisioning_profile`. Distribution builds require an App Store distribution certificate. |

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3. Export from CLI

Run Godot in headless mode to export without opening the GUI. This is the standard approach for CI/CD.

Release Export

godot --headless --export-release "Windows Desktop" build/windows/MyGame.ex