# Getting started

[← Back to docs index](README.md)

MDM runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11, and on 64-bit Linux: see [On Linux](#on-linux).
Builds for macOS are new and still experimental: see [On a Mac](#on-a-mac).

## Choose a download

Every version is on the [Releases](https://github.com/anefzaoui/misterdownloadmanager/releases) page. For Windows there are three files:

| File | What it is |
|---|---|
| `MisterDownloadManager-<version>-setup.exe` | The installer. Pick this one unless you have a reason not to. It can set up browser integration and open `.torrent` files and magnet links with MDM. |
| `MisterDownloadManager-<version>-portable.zip` | A portable copy. The download list and settings stay in a `data` folder next to the program, and nothing is written to the registry. Browser integration needs the installer. See [Portable mode](portable.md). |
| `MisterDownloadManager-<version>-x64.zip` | The same programs without an installer. It keeps its data in `%APPDATA%\misterdownloadmanager`, like an installed copy. |

### On Linux

MDM runs on 64-bit Linux with a desktop session. It is tested on Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12 and
Fedora, with GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce and Cinnamon, on X11 and in Wayland sessions. Pick one
of these files (up to version 0.2.4, their names end in `-experimental`, as in
`...-linux-x86_64-experimental.deb`):

| File | What it is |
|---|---|
| `...-linux-x86_64.deb` | For Ubuntu, Debian, Mint and Pop!_OS: `sudo apt install ./<file>.deb`. It brings the libraries MDM needs. |
| `...-linux-x86_64.rpm` | For Fedora, openSUSE and RHEL: `sudo dnf install ./<file>.rpm`. It brings the libraries MDM needs. |
| `...-linux-x86_64.AppImage` | Runs on most distributions: make it executable (`chmod +x`) and run it. It updates itself in place (**Help → Check for updates**). |
| `...-linux-x86_64.tar.gz` | The plain programs, for any distribution. |

![MDM's main window on Ubuntu 24.04's GNOME desktop: the categories and a list of downloads, each with the desktop's icon for its type](images/main-linux.webp)
*MDM on Ubuntu's GNOME desktop, with the desktop's own file icons.*

Browser integration is set up by MDM itself at each start (the browsers installed then are found); add the extension as in [Browser integration](browser-integration.md). Firefox installed as a Snap (Ubuntu's) reaches MDM once you allow it; other Snap and Flatpak browsers can't (see [Flatpak and Snap browsers](browser-help.md#linux-sandbox)). The tray icon, Dark Mode support and Launch on startup work on GNOME (Ubuntu's), KDE Plasma, Xfce and Cinnamon.

![The window that offers the browser extension on Linux: Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, each with Add the extension](images/browser-offer-linux.webp)
*MDM finds the browsers installed and offers each one its extension.*

In a Wayland session the windows go through XWayland (below). Not there yet on Linux: screen
readers (Orca) don't read MDM's windows; browsers installed as a Flatpak can't reach MDM (Firefox
from Flathub may, through the desktop as the Snap does, but that isn't checked yet); and **View →
Draw with → Vulkan** is a choice, OpenGL stays the default.

In a Wayland session (GNOME, KDE Plasma and others), MDM's windows run through XWayland when it is there: Wayland doesn't let a program place its own windows, so MDM's menus and drop-down lists would open in the middle of the screen. To run on Wayland itself anyway, start it with `MDM_WAYLAND=1 misterdownloadmanager`. If the system lacks a library X11 windows need (such as libxkbcommon-x11, which the .deb and .rpm bring but the AppImage and the tar.gz can't), MDM opens on Wayland instead; with no window system it can use, it names what's missing and the command that installs it.

The windows are the ones described in this help, with the desktop's fonts, file icons and title
bars:

<!-- pictures -->

- ![Add URL on Linux, with its address box](images/add-url-linux.webp)
  *Add URL.*
- ![A download's progress window on Linux: its speed, time left and connections](images/progress-linux.webp)
  *A download's progress.*
- ![Add torrent on Linux, with the torrent's files](images/add-torrent-linux.webp)
  *Add torrent.*
- ![The Scheduler on Linux](images/scheduler-linux.webp)
  *The Scheduler.*
- ![Options on its Connection page, on Linux](images/options-linux.webp)
  *Options.*

And on the other desktops it was checked on:

<!-- pictures -->

- ![MDM's main window on KDE Plasma](images/kde-main-linux.webp)
  *KDE Plasma.*
- ![MDM's main window on Cinnamon](images/cinnamon-main-linux.webp)
  *Cinnamon.*
- ![MDM's main window on Xfce](images/xfce-main-linux.webp)
  *Xfce.*

#### Uninstall on Linux {#uninstall-linux}

`sudo apt remove misterdownloadmanager` (or `sudo dnf remove misterdownloadmanager`) removes the
programs, and the small files that tell your browsers where MDM's helper is: the .deb and .rpm
install those for everyone (in `/etc` and `/usr/lib`), for Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi
and Firefox (the Snap too), so MDM doesn't write them in your home folder. For the AppImage or the
tar.gz, delete the file or the folder.

What MDM keeps in your home folder stays, as with any package: your list and settings
(`~/.local/share/misterdownloadmanager`), the AppImage's and the tar.gz's browser files, and
those of the browsers that read them only there (Opera, Helium, Thorium, and Firefox's forks:
Zen, LibreWolf, Floorp, Waterfox). A package can't remove those: it never touches
home folders. Without MDM they lead nowhere, so the extension says it can't reach MDM. To remove
them as well, run this as each user who used MDM, **before** uninstalling:

```sh
misterdownloadmanager-nmhost --unregister
```

(From the AppImage: `~/.local/share/misterdownloadmanager/browser-host/misterdownloadmanager-nmhost --unregister`.)
Already uninstalled? This removes the same files:

```sh
find ~/.mozilla ~/.librewolf ~/.config -name com.misterdownloadmanager.host.json -delete 2>/dev/null
```

### On a Mac

The macOS builds are fresh and still experimental: we haven't tried them on a Mac ourselves yet,
so you'd be among the first. Please
[tell us how it went](https://github.com/anefzaoui/misterdownloadmanager/issues/new/choose), good or bad.

| File | What it is |
|---|---|
| `...-macos-arm64-experimental.dmg` | For a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or later: **Apple menu → About This Mac** shows a *Chip*). Open it and drag Mister Download Manager to Applications. macOS asks before its first start, because the app isn't notarized by Apple: right-click it and choose **Open** (on macOS 15 and later: **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway**). |
| `...-macos-x86_64-experimental.dmg` | The same, for a Mac with an Intel processor (About This Mac shows a *Processor*). |

Browser integration is set up by MDM itself at each start (the browsers installed then are found); add the extension as in [Browser integration](browser-integration.md).

## Install with the setup

1. Run `MisterDownloadManager-<version>-setup.exe`.
2. Choose the language. Windows' display language is already selected. The setup offers every language MDM has, and MDM starts in the one you pick.
3. Choose whether to install for you only or for everyone on the computer. For you only needs no administrator rights and goes to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Mister Download Manager`. For everyone goes to `Program Files`.
4. Pick what the setup should do:
   - **Set up browser integration (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox)**
   - **Open .torrent files and magnet links with Mister Download Manager**
   - **Start Mister Download Manager when Windows starts**
   - **Create a desktop shortcut** (off unless you tick it)
5. Click **Install**, then **Finish** to start MDM.

If MDM is already running, the setup asks it to save and close first. To update, use **Help → Check for updates → Update now**, or run the setup of the new version; your list and settings stay.

Browser integration needs one more step in each browser: adding the extension. In Firefox, click **Add to Firefox** on [its page on addons.mozilla.org](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/mister-download-manager/); in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi, **Add to Chrome** on [its page in the Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/mister-download-manager/ejoleppdfgjdndddcjoehopknmlglojp). [Browser integration](browser-integration.md) shows how.

### Uninstall

Uninstall MDM from Windows **Settings → Apps**. The uninstaller asks whether to delete your download list and settings too. Your downloaded files are never touched.

## Use a zip copy

1. Unzip the file to a folder you can write to (not straight into `Program Files`).
2. Run `misterdownloadmanager.exe`.

The zips hold the same programs as the setup: the app, `misterdownloadmanager-cli.exe` (downloads from the command line; see [Command line and automation](command-line.md)) and the `extension` folder.

## First start and the language

- **Installed with the setup:** MDM starts in the language you chose in the setup.
- **Otherwise:** MDM shows the list of languages, each with its flag and its own name. Pick yours.

You can change it at any time in **View → Language**. More in [Languages](languages.md).

![The language list on first start: every language with its flag, its own name and its English name](images/help/first-language.webp)
*Pick your language. View → Language changes it later.*

## The video helpers

Next, MDM offers its two free video helpers: **yt-dlp**, which finds the video on a page, and
**ffmpeg**, which joins its picture and sound. Click **Yes, download them (recommended)** and they
download in the background, about 100 MB, once. **Not now** leaves them for later: the video
window offers them when you first need them. More in [Videos](video.md).

![MDM offers yt-dlp and ffmpeg on its first start, with Yes, download them (recommended) and Not now](images/help/first-helpers.webp)
*Yes downloads both helpers in the background, once.*

## The main window

![The main window: the menu bar, the toolbar, the categories on the left and the download list on the right](images/help/main-window.webp)
*1 the menu bar, 2 the toolbar, 3 the categories, 4 the download list.*

From top to bottom:

- **Menu bar.**
  - **Tasks** — add downloads, torrents, magnet links, batch downloads and videos from a page; **Torrent settings**; **Link grabber**; **RSS feeds**; show the drop target; import and export the list; exit.
  - **File** — the selected download: **Stop Download**, **Remove**, **Download Now**, **Redownload**.
  - **Downloads** — **Pause All**, **Stop All**, **Delete All Completed**, **Find**, the **Scheduler**, queues, the **Speed Limiter** and **Options**.
  - **View** — show or hide the categories, sort the list (**Arrange files**), **Dark Mode support**, **Always dark**, **Theme**, **Interface size** (every window larger, 100 % to 200 %; **Ctrl +**, **Ctrl −** and **Ctrl 0** too), **Draw with** (OpenGL, or Direct3D on Windows, Vulkan on Linux, Metal on macOS) and **Language**.
  - **Help** — help pages and tutorials (on the website, in your language when it has it), **Keyboard shortcuts**, **Report a problem**, **Check for updates**, **About**, **Tell a friend** and **Support MDM** (its creator's GitHub Sponsors page: optional, nothing in MDM changes).
- **Toolbar.** **Add URL**, **Add Torrent**, **Resume**, **Stop**, **Stop All**, **Delete**, **Delete Completed**, **Options**, **Scheduler**, **Start Queue**, **Stop Queue**. The small arrow next to **Add Torrent**, **Start Queue** and **Stop Queue** opens more choices.
- **Categories** (left). Choose what the list shows: **All Downloads**, **Unfinished**, **Finished** and **Queues**, each with its categories. Drag the gap between the pane and the list to make it wider.
- **Download list** (right). One row per download. See [The download list](download-list.md).

## Dark mode

MDM follows your system: when Windows (or your desktop's light/dark preference on Linux and macOS) is set to dark mode, so is MDM. To keep MDM light whatever the system does, turn off **View → Dark Mode support**. To keep it dark whatever the system does, for example on a desktop that reports no preference, turn on **View → Always dark**.

![The View menu open, with Dark Mode support and Always dark](images/help/view-dark-mode.webp)
*1 Dark Mode support follows the system; 2 Always dark keeps MDM dark.*

## Themes

**View → Theme** changes MDM's look at once, keeping its layout:

- **Classic**: MDM's own look, the default.
- **Native**: your system's colours. Windows' accent colour (Settings → Personalization →
  Colors) and, when it is on, its contrast theme; the desktop's accent colour and its higher
  contrast setting on Linux (GNOME 47 and later, KDE Plasma); the accent colour on macOS. It
  follows them when you change them.
- **High contrast**: black and white, a bright accent, every edge drawn, text at 7:1 or more.
- **Metro**: Windows 8's flat look: square corners, flat buttons and boxes, a coloured title bar
  with the title centred (on Windows, where MDM draws it), and one-colour icons (Microsoft's
  Fluent UI System Icons).
- **Adwaita**: GNOME's look: round corners, flat grey buttons, a rounded focus ring, GNOME's
  check boxes, a header bar with the title in bold and round buttons (on Windows, where MDM
  draws it), and GNOME's Adwaita icons, in colour for files and categories, one colour in the
  toolbar.
- **Breeze**: KDE Plasma's look: rounded corners, buttons and boxes that take the accent's edge
  under the pointer or when focused, KDE's check boxes and focus frame, KDE's title bar with the
  title centred and round buttons (on Windows, where MDM draws it), and KDE's Breeze icons.
- **Luna**: Windows XP's look: buttons shaded from white with an orange glow under the pointer,
  green ticks, square text boxes, progress in green blocks, a deep blue title bar with the title
  in bold (on Windows, where MDM draws it), and colourful icons drawn for MDM in that manner.
- **Aero**: Windows 7's look: glossy buttons that turn light blue under the pointer, quiet check
  boxes, a glossy green progress bar, a glassy title bar with the title on a soft glow (on
  Windows), and glossy icons drawn for MDM in that manner.
- **Aqua**: Mac OS X's look: gel buttons round at the ends (the default one blue), glossy check
  boxes, a blue focus ring, a blue gel progress bar, a grey title bar with small round buttons
  (on Windows), and icons drawn for MDM in that manner.

![View → Theme open: Classic, Native, High contrast, Metro, Adwaita, Breeze, Luna, Aero and Aqua, and Open themes folder](images/help/view-theme.webp)
*View → Theme switches at once, keeping the layout.*

<!-- pictures -->

- ![The main window's toolbar and categories in the Classic theme](images/help/theme-classic.webp)
  *Classic*
- ![The main window's toolbar and categories in the High contrast theme](images/help/theme-high-contrast.webp)
  *High contrast*
- ![The main window's toolbar and categories in the Adwaita theme](images/help/theme-adwaita.webp)
  *Adwaita*
- ![The main window's toolbar and categories in the Breeze theme](images/help/theme-breeze.webp)
  *Breeze*

Each has a light and a dark side: **Dark Mode support** and **Always dark** choose between
them as before. Theme files you put in the themes folder (**View → Theme → Open themes folder**)
are listed there too, and so are Base16 and pywal colour schemes (**View → Theme → Add a theme
file…**; **pywal** follows `wal` as it runs): [Themes](themes.md) says where that folder is, what
a theme file holds (`inherits`, colours, sizes, control shapes, icons), how a scheme's colours are
used, and how to make and share one.

## The tray icon

Closing the main window doesn't quit MDM. It hides in the notification area, and downloads, queues and schedules carry on.

On Linux this needs a tray, which most desktops have (KDE Plasma, Xfce, Cinnamon, Ubuntu's GNOME or GNOME with the AppIndicator extension, waybar's tray). On a desktop without one (some tiling window managers), closing the window quits MDM, since there would be nowhere to bring it back from.

![MDM's icon in the top bar of Ubuntu's GNOME, its menu open: Open Mister Download Manager, Add new download, Add batch download, Downloads in progress, Speed Limiter, Scheduler, the main queue, Options and Exit](images/tray-linux.webp)
*The tray icon's menu on Ubuntu's GNOME.*

- Click the tray icon to bring the window back.
- Right-click it for **Add new download**, **Add batch download**, **Downloads in progress**, **Speed Limiter**, **Scheduler**, the main download queue, **Options** and **Exit**.
- **Downloads in progress** lists the running downloads. Choose one to see its progress window.

Minimize hides the main window there too, while **Minimize to the notification area** is on in **Options → General**. It is on by default.

A download's progress window can go there as well, with its Minimize or with its **Hide to the notification area** button: a short dash with an arrow down to the corner.

On Windows that button is in the window's title bar, left of Minimize, and in the title bar's menu (Alt+Space). On Linux and macOS it's at the end of the tab row.

To bring the window back, choose it in **Downloads in progress**, or double-click the download in the list.

To quit, choose **Tasks → Exit** or **Exit** in the tray menu.

## Where MDM keeps its data

The download list and settings are in `%APPDATA%\misterdownloadmanager` (`downloads.json`); on Linux in `~/.local/share/misterdownloadmanager`, on a Mac in `~/Library/Application Support/misterdownloadmanager`. A portable copy keeps them in its `data` folder instead. Downloaded files go to your **Downloads** folder, sorted into a folder per category; you can change that in **Options → Save to**.

## Next steps

- [Download your first file →](guide-first-download.md)
- [Send browser downloads to MDM →](browser-integration.md)
- [Learn the download list →](download-list.md)