How do I change XMRig settings while it is running?

You can change most XMRig mining settings without stopping it by editing its active configuration file and saving your changes. XMRig normally watches that file and reloads it automatically when "watch": true is enabled.

Edit the file XMRig is actually using

XMRig is a mining program that runs directly on your computer, rather than inside your browser. Its settings are usually stored in a file called config.json.

Before editing, make sure you have the right file:

• If you started XMRig with --config or -c, use the file named after that option.
• Otherwise, check the configuration file in the location XMRig uses, often its program folder.
• If a launcher or management tool starts XMRig for you, check whether that tool supplies or rewrites the settings.

Make a backup first. Also check the startup command for options that might conflict with your file changes, especially when you next restart the miner.

Turn on watching, then save your changes

Look for this setting at the top level of the configuration—not inside the cpu or pools section:

"watch": true

This is one entry in a larger file, not a complete configuration. Keep the surrounding commas and brackets intact. JSON, the format XMRig uses for settings, requires precise punctuation and does not allow trailing commas.

With watching enabled, your basic workflow is:

1. Open the active configuration in a text editor.
2. Change one setting at a time.
3. Save the file.
4. Check XMRig’s console for a reload message or an error.

If watching is currently disabled, simply editing "watch" may not activate it in the running program. Save the change and restart XMRig once so it begins watching.

XMRig may also save configuration changes itself when "autosave": true is enabled. Keep that in mind if the file changes unexpectedly.

Know what a live change will do

A reload does not necessarily mean uninterrupted mining. XMRig may reconnect to a pool or rebuild its mining threads to apply your changes. A pool is a service that combines miners’ work; threads are separate workers running on your processor.

Common edits include:

• Pool address or wallet address: Expect a connection change. Work already credited to your previous wallet stays there.
• Pool password or worker name: These identify your connection according to your pool’s rules.
• CPU thread settings: These can change processor usage, responsiveness, and mining speed.

Be careful with "max-threads-hint". It guides automatic thread setup; it is not a live percentage limit on CPU usage. If your file already contains an explicit thread profile, changing that hint may have no effect.

Some startup-level settings still need a restart. Verify the result in the console rather than assuming every saved setting took effect.

Use quick controls for temporary changes

For a short break, you do not need to edit the file. In XMRig’s interactive console, press:

• p to pause mining.
• r to resume mining.
• h to display mining speed.

These controls need access to the running terminal. They may not work through a background service.

XMRig also supports configuration updates through its optional HTTP API, an interface for management software. Configuration access requires appropriate unrestricted access settings. Protect it with an access token and keep it local; never expose unrestricted control publicly.

The bottom line

Edit the active configuration, save it with watching enabled, and check the console. Use pause and resume for temporary breaks, and restart when a setting cannot take effect live.