Getting started

MDM runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11. Builds for macOS and Linux are new: see On a Mac or Linux.

Choose a download

Every version is on the Releases page. For Windows there are three files:

On a Mac or Linux

The files marked -experimental are fresh builds for macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux. We haven't tried them ourselves yet, so you'd be among the first: please tell us how it went, good or bad.

Browser integration is set up by the Windows installer only for now.

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: loading the extension. Browser integration 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) 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.

The main window

From top to bottom:

• Menu bar.
• Tasks — add downloads, torrents, batch downloads and videos; 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 and Language.
• Help — help pages, tutorials, Keyboard shortcuts, Report a problem, Check for updates and About.
• 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.

Dark mode

MDM follows Windows: when Windows is set to dark mode, so is MDM. To keep MDM light whatever Windows does, turn off View → Dark Mode support.

The tray icon

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

• Click the tray icon to bring the window back.
• Right-click it for Add new download, Add batch download, Speed Limiter, Scheduler, the main download queue, Options and Exit.

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). 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 →
• Send browser downloads to MDM →
• Learn the download list →