diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6f49e84..a023691 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,8 @@
 references/
+
+# Per-machine working config (created from config.template.ini on first run)
+config.ini
+
+# Python bytecode cache
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4f681ca..6aa15d3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ Extracts and organizes documents from FileCabinet CS (Thomson Reuters) using GUI
 
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
-| `config.ini` | All paths, timeouts, and FCCS control identifiers |
+| `config.template.ini` | Tracked template for all paths, timeouts, and FCCS control identifiers |
+| `config.ini` | Per-machine working config (git-ignored; auto-created from the template) |
 | `fccs_folders.txt` | FCCS folder templates (manually populated per engagement) |
 | `fccs_config.py` | Shared config loading, logging, folder pattern building |
 | `fccs_scan.py` | Step 1: Scan backup directory for drawer IDs |
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ Extracts and organizes documents from FileCabinet CS (Thomson Reuters) using GUI
 
 ## Setup Per Engagement
 
-1. Edit `config.ini` -- point `backup_dir`, `export_dir`, and `output_dir` at the client's directories.
+1. Edit `config.ini` -- point `backup_dir`, `export_dir`, and `output_dir` at the client's directories. This file is created automatically from `config.template.ini` the first time you run any script (it's git-ignored, so your machine-specific paths never drift the repo). To reset a machine, delete `config.ini` and re-run. Keep shared/default changes in `config.template.ini` (the tracked file).
 2. Populate `fccs_folders.txt` -- open FCCS > System Configuration > Document Folders and list each folder template exactly as shown, one per line. Keep the `YYYY` prefix on recurring folders. UltraTax CS folders are detected automatically and do not need to be listed.
 
 ## Workflow
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ Any outstanding drawer that also appears in `crashed.txt` (its export was aborte
 
 ## Config Reference
 
-All scripts read from `config.ini` (or specify `--config path\to\config.ini`).
+All scripts read from `config.ini` (or specify `--config path\to\config.ini`). `config.ini` is the git-ignored, per-machine copy auto-created from the tracked `config.template.ini`; edit `config.ini` locally.
 
 - **`[paths]`** -- backup_dir, export_dir, output_dir, drawer_id_file, completed_file, ignore_file, crashed_file, log_file, verify_report, report_html, screenshot_dir, manifest_dir, folder_list
 - **`[timeouts]`** -- nav_timeout, dialog_timeout, progress_appear, progress_finish, settle, confirm_timeout
diff --git a/__pycache__/fccs_check.cpython-313.pyc b/__pycache__/fccs_check.cpython-313.pyc
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diff --git a/__pycache__/fccs_config.cpython-313.pyc b/__pycache__/fccs_config.cpython-313.pyc
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index e364cb9..0000000
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diff --git a/__pycache__/fccs_reorganize.cpython-313.pyc b/__pycache__/fccs_reorganize.cpython-313.pyc
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diff --git a/__pycache__/fccs_report.cpython-313.pyc b/__pycache__/fccs_report.cpython-313.pyc
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index 77e4cc0..0000000
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diff --git a/__pycache__/fccs_scan.cpython-313.pyc b/__pycache__/fccs_scan.cpython-313.pyc
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diff --git a/__pycache__/fccs_verify.cpython-313.pyc b/__pycache__/fccs_verify.cpython-313.pyc
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index b1e1494..0000000
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diff --git a/config.ini b/config.template.ini
similarity index 69%
rename from config.ini
rename to config.template.ini
index 6adb962..895f398 100644
--- a/config.ini
+++ b/config.template.ini
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# TEMPLATE CONFIG — tracked in git. Do NOT edit for a specific machine.
+#
+# On first run the scripts copy this file to `config.ini` (which is git-ignored)
+# and use that. Edit `config.ini` for this machine's paths/settings so your
+# local changes never drift the repo. To reset a machine, delete `config.ini`
+# and re-run; it will be recreated from this template.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 [paths]
 # Point these at the current engagement's directories
 backup_dir     = C:\Migration\Backups
diff --git a/fccs_config.py b/fccs_config.py
index bbfbcc4..657bea9 100644
--- a/fccs_config.py
+++ b/fccs_config.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@ Shared configuration, logging, and utilities for the FCCS extraction tool.
 import os
 import re
 import sys
+import shutil
 import argparse
 import configparser
 from datetime import datetime
 
 DEFAULT_CONFIG = "config.ini"
+TEMPLATE_CONFIG = "config.template.ini"
 
 
 def parse_args():
@@ -24,12 +26,31 @@ def parse_args():
 
 
 def load_config(path=None):
-    """Read config.ini and return a ConfigParser object."""
+    """Read the config file and return a ConfigParser object.
+
+    Config is split into two files:
+      - config.template.ini : tracked in git, the pristine template.
+      - config.ini          : git-ignored, this machine's working copy.
+
+    When no explicit --config path is given, the per-machine config.ini is used.
+    If it doesn't exist yet, it's created from config.template.ini so a freshly
+    cloned/pulled repo works out of the box without editing the tracked file.
+    Edit config.ini locally; your changes never drift the repo.
+    """
     if path is None:
         script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0]))
         path = os.path.join(script_dir, DEFAULT_CONFIG)
+        # Auto-create the per-machine config from the template on first run.
+        if not os.path.exists(path):
+            template = os.path.join(script_dir, TEMPLATE_CONFIG)
+            if os.path.exists(template):
+                shutil.copyfile(template, path)
+                print(f"Created {DEFAULT_CONFIG} from {TEMPLATE_CONFIG}. "
+                      f"Edit it for this machine's settings: {path}")
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         print(f"ERROR: config file not found: {path}")
+        print(f"       Expected {DEFAULT_CONFIG} or a --config path "
+              f"(template: {TEMPLATE_CONFIG}).")
         sys.exit(1)
     cfg = configparser.ConfigParser()
     cfg.read(path, encoding="utf-8")