Configuration Details

Configuration File: `config.json`¶

When you launch Social Media Downloader for the first time, a configuration file named config.json is automatically generated. This file stores your personal settings and download preferences locally.

Note

The config.json file is created in the same directory where you run the tool. We recommend launching the CLI from your Desktop or a clean folder for better file organization.

Default Configuration¶

Here is the default content of the config.json file:

{
  "default_format": "show_all",
  "download_directory": "media",
  "history_file": "download_history.csv",
  "mp3_quality": "192"
}

Configuration Keys Explained¶

Key	Description
`default_format`	The preferred format for downloads. Choose `mp3`, a video quality like `720p`, or `show_all`
`download_directory`	The folder where downloaded files are saved (default: `media/`)
`history_file`	CSV file used to keep track of download history
`mp3_quality`	MP3 bitrate quality in kbps (e.g. `192`, `320`, etc.)

Video Quality Options (`default_format`)¶

You can set the default_format to a specific video resolution to automatically download the best available video at or below that quality:

"360p" – Mobile-friendly, small file size
"480p" – Standard definition (SD)
"720p" – High definition (HD)
"1080p" – Full HD (recommended for good balance)
"1440p" – Quad HD (2K)
"2160p" – Ultra HD (4K)
"4320p" – 8K (rarely used, very large files)

Or set to:

"mp3" – For audio-only downloads
"show_all" – Prompts you to select a format manually for each download

MP3 Quality Options¶

When default_format is set to "mp3", the tool uses ffmpeg to extract audio from videos. The mp3_quality setting determines the bitrate:

Value	Quality
`64`	Low
`128`	Medium
`192`	Default / Balanced
`256`	High
`320`	Very High
`396`	Maximum (rarely used)

Tip

Higher bitrates mean better audio quality — but also larger file sizes.

Smart Config Handling (v1.1.8+)¶

Starting from version 1.1.8, there's no need to manually delete the config.json file if a setting is missing or invalid.

✅ The tool automatically detects and resets incorrect or missing values to safe defaults during startup.

Manual Editing¶

You can open config.json in any text editor like Notepad, VS Code, or Sublime Text to make changes.

Example: Auto-download MP3s to your Downloads folder¶

{
  "default_format": "mp3",
  "download_directory": "C:/Users/YourName/Downloads",
  "history_file": "download_history.csv",
  "mp3_quality": "320"
}

Warning

Make sure the folder you specify for download_directory already exists. The tool won’t create nested directories.

For Users on v1.0.0 – v1.1.7¶

Older versions do not automatically fix or regenerate the config file. If you experience errors or missing settings:

🚫 Delete your config.json manually ✅ Relaunch the tool — it will create a fresh file with correct defaults.

Other Auto-Created Files¶

File Name	Purpose
`config.json`	Stores your personal settings
`media/`	Default folder for all downloads
`download_history.csv`	Keeps a record of every video/audio you’ve downloaded
`downloader.log`	Logs errors, messages, and download activity (debugging)

No Tracking or Analytics¶

Social Media Downloader does not collect any personal data. All logs, downloads, and settings are stored locally on your own machine. Nothing is sent to external servers.

Need Help?¶

If you’re unsure about anything, feel free to:

Open a Discussion
Join the Discord community

We’re here to help!

Happy downloading!