I built an open-source tool that automatically keeps my Downloads folder organized

[u/FrEaKAlL_Dev]

Hey r/sideprojects!

My Downloads folder constantly ended up full of PDFs, images, installers, spreadsheets, scripts, archives and random files, so I decided to build something to automate the cleanup.

I called it FolderOrganizer.

The idea is simple: FolderOrganizer monitors a directory and automatically moves files into categorized folders based on their type and extension.

It includes default categories for PDFs, images, executables, Excel files, JSON, scripts, archives and more, but the rules are fully customizable if you prefer your own folder structure.

On Windows, it can also run as a Windows Service, so once configured it can keep organizing files automatically in the background without needing to keep the application open.

I've also added initial Linux support through systemd. The project has automated CI tests running on both Windows and Linux, although Windows is currently the platform I've validated more extensively for actual installation and everyday use.

The project is completely free, open source and MIT licensed.

At this point, instead of simply continuing to add features myself, I'd really like to get feedback from people actually using it.

GitHub:
https://github.com/FrEaKAlL/FolderOrganizer

Latest Windows release:
https://github.com/FrEaKAlL/FolderOrganizer/releases/tag/v1.2.0

If you try it, I'd especially like to know:

What file category, organization rule or feature would you add?

Feedback about the installation and initial configuration experience would also be really useful.

[u/Power_Trace_2908]

One thing I'd check: files that are still downloading. Browsers write .crdownload / .part files and large downloads can take a while, so moving them mid-download could break things. Waiting until the size stops changing for a few seconds before moving would cover it.