Why You Can't Select Your Downloads Folder (And Where to Put Videos Instead)

The Error You See

You try to select Downloads, Desktop, Documents, or Program Files. Browser says "Access Denied" or shows an empty folder list.

This is not a bug. This is intentional security.

Why Browsers Block System Folders

System folders contain sensitive files:

• Downloads: Banking PDFs, tax documents, personal files
• Desktop: Work files, shortcuts, private documents
• Documents: Spreadsheets, presentations, confidential data
• Program Files: System executables, configuration files

If browsers allowed websites to access these folders, malicious sites could steal your data. So browsers block access completely.

Where to Put Your Videos (60-Second Fix)

Create a dedicated video folder outside system directories:

1. Go to C:\ (or D:\, E:\, etc.)
2. Right-click → New Folder
3. Name it "Videos" or "MyVideos"
4. Move your video files into this new folder
5. Point the app to this folder

Done. App works perfectly.

Why This Is Actually Better

Keeping videos in Downloads is messy:

• Downloads fills up with random files
• Videos mixed with PDFs, installers, and temp files
• Downloads folder often gets auto-cleaned
• Hard to organize thousands of videos in one giant folder

A dedicated video folder is cleaner. Better organization. Easier to manage. Less risk of accidental deletion.

What If I Have Multiple Drives?

No problem. Create video folders on each drive:

• C:\MyVideos
• D:\MoreVideos
• E:\ExternalVideos

Point the app to all three. We support unlimited folders. Search across all of them at once.

Can I Use External Drives?

Yes. USB drives, external HDDs, network drives. All work. Just create a folder and select it.

The Bottom Line

Browsers block system folders for your security. Move videos to a dedicated folder. Takes 60 seconds. Protects your computer. Better organization anyway.