diff --git a/emu-configs/defaults/retrodeck.cfg b/emu-configs/defaults/retrodeck.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b03f35a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/emu-configs/defaults/retrodeck.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+version=
+rdhome=/home/deck/retrodeck
+roms_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/roms
+saves_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/saves
+states_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/states
+bios_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/bios
+media_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/downloaded_media
+themes_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/themes
+logs_folder=/home/deck/retrodeck/.logs
+sdcard=/run/media/mmcblk0p1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/functions.sh b/functions.sh
index 7d9337f8..fd180350 100644
--- a/functions.sh
+++ b/functions.sh
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ desktop_mode_warning() {
   zenity --icon-name=net.retrodeck.retrodeck --info --no-wrap \
   --window-icon="/app/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/net.retrodeck.retrodeck.svg" \
   --title "RetroDECK Desktop Mode Warning" \
-  --text="You appear to be running RetroDECK in the Steam Deck's Desktop mode!\n\nSome functions of RetroDECK may not work properly in Desktop mode, such as the Steam Decks normal controls.\n\nRetroDECK is best enjoyed in Game mode!"
+  --text="You appear to be running RetroDECK in the Steam Deck's Desktop mode!\n\nSome functions of RetroDECK may not work properly in Desktop mode, such as the Steam Deck's normal controls.\n\nRetroDECK is best enjoyed in Game mode!"
 }
 
 set_setting_value() {
@@ -547,11 +547,24 @@ do
 	* )
 	  echo "Config file malformed"
 	;;
-  
+
   esac
 done < $1
 }
 
+update_rd_conf() {
+  # This function will import a default retrodeck.cfg file and update it with any current settings. This will allow us to expand the file over time while retaining current user settings.
+  # USAGE: update_rd_conf
+
+  mv -f $rd_conf $rd_conf_backup # Backup config file before update
+
+  generate_single_patch $rd_defaults $rd_conf_backup $rd_update_patch retrodeck
+  sed -i '/change^^version/d' $rd_update_patch # Remove version line from temporary patch file
+  deploy_single_patch $rd_defaults $rd_update_patch $rd_conf
+  rm -f $rd_update_patch # Cleanup temporary patch file
+  source $rd_conf # Load new config file variables
+}
+
 conf_write() {
   # writes the variables in the retrodeck config file
 
diff --git a/global.sh b/global.sh
index b7a9519a..0cb2c6b0 100755
--- a/global.sh
+++ b/global.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ source /app/libexec/functions.sh
 
 # Static variables
 rd_conf="/var/config/retrodeck/retrodeck.cfg"              # RetroDECK config file path
+rd_conf_backup="/var/config/retrodeck/retrodeck.bak"       # Backup of RetroDECK config file from update
 emuconfigs="/app/retrodeck/emu-configs"                    # folder with all the default emulator configs
+rd_defaults="$emuconfigs/defaults/retrodeck.cfg"           # A default RetroDECK config file
+rd_update_patch="/var/config/retrodeck/rd_update.patch"    # A static location for the temporary patch file used during retrodeck.cfg updates
 lockfile="/var/config/retrodeck/.lock"                     # where the lockfile is located
 default_sd="/run/media/mmcblk0p1"                          # Steam Deck SD default path
 hard_version="$(cat '/app/retrodeck/version')"             # hardcoded version (in the readonly filesystem)
@@ -74,32 +77,17 @@ then
     configurator_generic_dialog "The SD card was not found in the expected location.\nThis may happen when SteamOS is updated.\n\nPlease browse to the current location of the SD card.\n\nIf you are not using an SD card, please click \"Cancel\"."
     default_sd=$(directory_browse "SD Card Location")
   fi
-
-  rdhome="$HOME/retrodeck"                                   # the retrodeck home, aka ~/retrodeck
-  roms_folder="$rdhome/roms"                                 # the default roms folder path
-  saves_folder="$rdhome/saves"                               # the default saves folder path
-  states_folder="$rdhome/states"                             # the default states folder path
-  bios_folder="$rdhome/bios"                                 # the default bios folder
-  media_folder="$rdhome/downloaded_media"                    # the media folder, where all the scraped data is downloaded into
-  themes_folder="$rdhome/themes"                             # the themes folder
-  logs_folder="$rdhome/.logs"                                # the logs folder
-  sdcard="$default_sd"                                       # Steam Deck SD default path
-
-  # Writing the variables for the first time
-  echo '#!/bin/bash'                          >> $rd_conf
-  echo "version=$version"                     >> $rd_conf
-  echo "rdhome=$rdhome"                       >> $rd_conf
-  echo "roms_folder=$roms_folder"             >> $rd_conf
-  echo "saves_folder=$saves_folder"           >> $rd_conf
-  echo "states_folder=$states_folder"         >> $rd_conf
-  echo "bios_folder=$bios_folder"             >> $rd_conf
-  echo "media_folder=$media_folder"           >> $rd_conf
-  echo "themes_folder=$themes_folder"         >> $rd_conf
-  echo "logs_folder=$logs_folder"             >> $rd_conf
-  echo "sdcard=$sdcard"                       >> $rd_conf
+  
+  cp $rd_defaults $rd_conf # Load default settings
+  set_setting_value $rd_conf "version" "$version" retrodeck # Set current version for new installs
+  set_setting_value $rd_conf "sdcard" "$default_sd" retrodeck # Set SD card location if default path has changed
 
   echo "Setting config file permissions"
   chmod +rw $rd_conf
+  echo "RetroDECK config file initialized. Contents:"
+  echo
+  cat $rd_conf
+  source $rd_conf # Load new variables into memory
 
 # If the config file is existing i just read the variables (source it)
 else
diff --git a/post_update.sh b/post_update.sh
index 59ee567a..ce0ba1d3 100644
--- a/post_update.sh
+++ b/post_update.sh
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ post_update() {
   # The following commands are run every time.
 
   tools_init
+  update_rd_conf
   ) |
   zenity --icon-name=net.retrodeck.retrodeck --progress --no-cancel --pulsate --auto-close \
   --window-icon="/app/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/net.retrodeck.retrodeck.svg" \