# Help and tutorials

Mister Download Manager (MDM) is a free download manager for Windows. It is laid out the way Internet Download Manager users expect: a toolbar, categories on the left, one list of downloads and a browser extension that hands downloads to it.

These pages explain each part of the program. The tutorials walk through the things people do most, one task each.

![The main window](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/images/main-light.png)

## Start here

- **[Getting started](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/getting-started.html)** — install MDM (setup, portable or zip), choose a language and find your way around the main window.
- **[Your first download](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-first-download.html)** — a two-minute walk-through from copied link to opened file.

## Downloading

- **[Adding downloads](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/adding-downloads.html)** — Add URL, the clipboard, the drop target, batch downloads and lists of links, and Start Download versus Download Later.
- **[Browser integration](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/browser-integration.html)** — the extension for Chrome, Edge, Brave and Firefox, which downloads it takes, and what happens when MDM isn't running.

## Organising

- **[The download list](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/download-list.html)** — columns, filters, the categories tree, selecting many downloads, finding one, and deleting downloads with or without their files.
- **[Queues and the Scheduler](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/queues-and-scheduler.html)** — run downloads a few at a time, start and stop them by the clock, and turn the computer off when they are done.

## Speed and connections

- **[Connections and speed](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/connections-and-speed.html)** — the progress window, how MDM splits a file over several connections, resuming, and the Speed Limiter.

## Video and torrents

- **[Video downloads](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/video.html)** — download a video from its page (YouTube, Vimeo and many more) with yt-dlp.
- **[Torrents](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/torrents.html)** — magnet links and .torrent files, choosing files, and sharing.

## Settings

- **[Options](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/options.html)** — every page of the Options window.
- **[Languages](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/languages.html)** — the 86 interface languages, right-to-left layouts, and how to help translate.
- **[Portable mode](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/portable.html)** — run MDM from a folder or a USB stick without installing it.
- **[Keyboard shortcuts](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/keyboard-shortcuts.html)** — every key the main window answers.
- **[Command line and automation](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/command-line.html)** — IDM's command-line switches, the `misterdownloadmanager-cli` tool, and the automation API other programs can use.
- **[AI assistants (MCP)](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/ai-assistants.html)** — let Claude, Cursor, VS Code or another MCP assistant list, add, pause and remove your downloads.

## Tutorials

- **[Download a file](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-first-download.html)** — copy a link, add it, open the file.
- **[Catch downloads from your browser](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-catch-browser-downloads.html)** — set up the extension so clicked downloads go to MDM.
- **[Download overnight](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-download-overnight.html)** — queue files and let the Scheduler start them at night.
- **[Resume a broken download](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-resume-broken-download.html)** — continue after a cut connection, a crash or an expired link.
- **[Keep some speed for everything else](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-keep-speed-for-everything-else.html)** — cap MDM so browsing and calls stay smooth.
- **[Download a video from a page](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-video-from-page.html)** — pick a quality and save a video.
- **[Carry MDM on a USB stick](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-usb-stick.html)** — the portable copy, with downloads saved to the stick.
- **[Find a download in a long list](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/guide-find-in-long-list.html)** — Find, Find Next and column filters.

## Help

- **[Troubleshooting](https://misterdownloadmanager.com/help/troubleshooting.html)** — what to check when a download fails, the browser doesn't hand over a download, or a schedule doesn't start.
- **[Releases](https://github.com/anefzaoui/misterdownloadmanager/releases)** — download the latest version.
- **[Report a problem](https://github.com/anefzaoui/misterdownloadmanager/issues/new/choose)** — or use **Help → Report a problem** in MDM, which fills in your version, system and how MDM was installed for you.

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> Screenshots in these docs show the light theme unless noted. MDM follows Windows' dark mode: when Windows is set to dark, MDM is dark too.