diff --git a/app/library/Download.py b/app/library/Download.py
index c2b041a5..6747ead6 100644
--- a/app/library/Download.py
+++ b/app/library/Download.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
 import hashlib
-import json
 import logging
 import multiprocessing
 import os
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ from .config import Config
 from .Emitter import Emitter
 from .ffprobe import ffprobe
 from .ItemDTO import ItemDTO
-from .Utils import get_opts, json_cookie, merge_config
+from .Utils import get_opts, merge_config
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger("download")
 
@@ -138,17 +137,11 @@ class Download:
 
             if self.info.cookies:
                 try:
-                    data = json_cookie(json.loads(self.info.cookies))
-                    if not data:
-                        LOG.warning(
-                            f"The cookie string that was provided for {self.info.title} is empty or not in expected spec."
-                        )
                     with open(os.path.join(self.temp_path, f"cookie_{self.info._id}.txt"), "w") as f:
-                        f.write(data)
-
-                    params["cookiefile"] = f.name
+                        f.write(self.info.cookies)
+                        params["cookiefile"] = f.name
                 except ValueError as e:
-                    LOG.error(f"Invalid cookies: was provided for '{self.info.title}'. '{e!s}'.")
+                    LOG.error(f"Failed to create cookie file for '{self.info.id}: {self.info.title}'. '{e!s}'.")
 
             if self.is_live or self.is_manifestless:
                 hasDeletedOptions = False
diff --git a/app/library/DownloadQueue.py b/app/library/DownloadQueue.py
index a14fd8f9..10079d4e 100644
--- a/app/library/DownloadQueue.py
+++ b/app/library/DownloadQueue.py
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ import json
 import logging
 import os
 import time
+import uuid
 from datetime import UTC, datetime
 from email.utils import formatdate
 from sqlite3 import Connection
 
+import anyio
 import yt_dlp
 from aiohttp import web
 
@@ -354,9 +356,11 @@ class DownloadQueue(metaclass=Singleton):
         folder = str(folder) if folder else ""
 
         filePath = calc_download_path(base_path=self.config.download_path, folder=folder)
+        yt_conf = {}
+        cookie_file = os.path.join(self.config.temp_path, f"c_{uuid.uuid4().hex}.txt")
 
         LOG.info(
-            f"Adding 'URL: {url}' to 'Folder: {filePath}' with 'Preset: {preset}' 'Naming: {template}', 'Cookies: {cookies}' 'YTConfig: {config}'."
+            f"Adding 'URL: {url}' to 'Folder: {filePath}' with 'Preset: {preset}' 'Naming: {template}', 'Cookies: {len(cookies)}/chars' 'YTConfig: {config}'."
         )
 
         if isinstance(config, str):
@@ -384,19 +388,33 @@ class DownloadQueue(metaclass=Singleton):
             started = time.perf_counter()
             LOG.debug(f"extract_info: checking {url=}")
 
+            logs = []
+
+            yt_conf = {
+                "callback": {
+                    "func": lambda _, msg: logs.append(msg),
+                    "level": logging.WARNING,
+                },
+                **merge_config(self.config.ytdl_options, config),
+            }
+
+            if cookies:
+                try:
+                    async with await anyio.open_file(cookie_file, "w") as f:
+                        await f.write(cookies)
+                        yt_conf["cookiefile"] = f.name
+                except ValueError as e:
+                    LOG.error(f"Failed to create cookie file for '{self.info.id}: {self.info.title}'. '{e!s}'.")
+
             entry = await asyncio.wait_for(
                 fut=asyncio.get_running_loop().run_in_executor(
-                    None,
-                    extract_info,
-                    get_opts(preset, merge_config(self.config.ytdl_options, config)),
-                    url,
-                    bool(self.config.ytdl_debug),
+                    None, extract_info, get_opts(preset, yt_conf), url, bool(self.config.ytdl_debug)
                 ),
                 timeout=self.config.extract_info_timeout,
             )
 
             if not entry:
-                return {"status": "error", "msg": "Unable to extract info check logs."}
+                return {"status": "error", "msg": "Unable to extract info." + "\n".join(logs)}
 
             LOG.debug(
                 f"extract_info: for 'URL: {url}' is done in '{time.perf_counter() - started}'. Length: '{len(entry)}'."
@@ -413,6 +431,13 @@ class DownloadQueue(metaclass=Singleton):
                 "status": "error",
                 "msg": f"TimeoutError: {self.config.extract_info_timeout}s reached Unable to extract info.",
             }
+        finally:
+            if cookie_file and os.path.exists(cookie_file):
+                try:
+                    os.remove(yt_conf["cookiefile"])
+                    del yt_conf["cookiefile"]
+                except Exception as e:
+                    LOG.error(f"Failed to remove cookie file '{yt_conf['cookiefile']}'. {e!s}")
 
         return await self.__add_entry(
             entry=entry,
diff --git a/app/library/Tasks.py b/app/library/Tasks.py
index 35b52ddc..e8c56555 100644
--- a/app/library/Tasks.py
+++ b/app/library/Tasks.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from .encoder import Encoder
 from .EventsSubscriber import Event, Events, EventsSubscriber
 from .Singleton import Singleton
 
-LOG = logging.getLogger("notifications")
+LOG = logging.getLogger("tasks")
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
diff --git a/ui/components/NewDownload.vue b/ui/components/NewDownload.vue
index eb99257b..885989c5 100644
--- a/ui/components/NewDownload.vue
+++ b/ui/components/NewDownload.vue
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
             </div>
             <div class="column is-6-tablet is-12-mobile">
               <div class="field">
-                <label class="label is-inline" for="ytdlpCookies" v-tooltip="'JSON exported cookies for downloading.'">
+                <label class="label is-inline" for="ytdlpCookies" v-tooltip="'Netscape HTTP Cookie format'">
                   Cookies
                 </label>
                 <div class="control">
@@ -109,8 +109,10 @@
                 </div>
                 <span class="help">
                   <span class="icon"><i class="fa-solid fa-info" /></span>
-                  <span>Use <NuxtLink target="_blank" to="https://github.com/jrie/flagCookies">
-                      flagCookies</NuxtLink> to extract cookies as JSON string.</span>
+                  <span>Use the <NuxtLink target="_blank"
+                      to="https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/FAQ#how-do-i-pass-cookies-to-yt-dlp">
+                      Recommended addon</NuxtLink> by yt-dlp to export cookies. The cookies MUST be in Netscape HTTP
+                    Cookie format.</span>
                 </span>
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/ui/components/TaskForm.vue b/ui/components/TaskForm.vue
index dc70f794..e625494f 100644
--- a/ui/components/TaskForm.vue
+++ b/ui/components/TaskForm.vue
@@ -127,7 +127,8 @@
             <div class="column is-6-tablet is-12-mobile">
               <div class="field">
                 <label class="label is-inline" for="config" v-tooltip="'Extends current global yt-dlp config. (JSON)'">
-                  JSON yt-dlp config or CLI options. <NuxtLink v-if="form.config && !form.config.trim().startsWith('{')"
+                  JSON yt-dlp config or CLI options. <NuxtLink
+                    v-if="form.config && (typeof form.config === 'string') && !form.config.trim().startsWith('{')"
                     @click="convertOptions()">Convert to JSON</NuxtLink>
                 </label>
                 <div class="control">
@@ -145,17 +146,16 @@
 
             <div class="column is-6-tablet is-12-mobile">
               <div class="field">
-                <label class="label is-inline" for="cookies" v-tooltip="'JSON exported cookies for downloading.'">
-                  JSON Cookies
-                </label>
+                <label class="label is-inline" for="cookies" v-tooltip="'Netscape HTTP Cookie format.'">Cookies</label>
                 <div class="control">
                   <textarea class="textarea" id="cookies" v-model="form.cookies" :disabled="addInProgress"></textarea>
                 </div>
                 <span class="help">
                   <span class="icon"><i class="fa-solid fa-info" /></span>
-                  <span>Use <NuxtLink target="_blank" to="https://github.com/jrie/flagCookies">flagCookies</NuxtLink> to
-                    extract cookies as JSON string.
-                  </span>
+                  <span>Use the <NuxtLink target="_blank"
+                      to="https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/FAQ#how-do-i-pass-cookies-to-yt-dlp">
+                      Recommended addon</NuxtLink> by yt-dlp to export cookies. The cookies MUST be in Netscape HTTP
+                    Cookie format.</span>
                 </span>
               </div>
             </div>
@@ -217,7 +217,6 @@ const props = defineProps({
 const form = reactive(props.task);
 
 onMounted(() => {
-
   if (props.task?.config && (typeof props.task.config === 'object')) {
     form.config = JSON.stringify(props.task.config, null, 4);
   }
@@ -252,7 +251,11 @@ const checkInfo = async () => {
     return;
   }
 
-  if (form.config && !form.config.trim().startsWith('{')) {
+  if (typeof form.config === 'object') {
+    form.config = JSON.stringify(form.config, null, 4);
+  }
+
+  if (form.config && form.config && !form.config.trim().startsWith('{')) {
     await convertOptions();
   }
 
@@ -265,15 +268,6 @@ const checkInfo = async () => {
     }
   }
 
-  if (form.cookies) {
-    try {
-      JSON.parse(form.cookies);
-    } catch (e) {
-      toast.error(`Invalid JSON yt-dlp cookies. ${e.message}`)
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-
   emitter('submit', { reference: toRaw(props.reference), task: toRaw(form) });
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/pages/tasks.vue b/ui/pages/tasks.vue
index 86dacbdc..9fa32c7e 100644
--- a/ui/pages/tasks.vue
+++ b/ui/pages/tasks.vue
@@ -269,10 +269,10 @@ const editItem = item => {
 }
 
 const calcPath = path => {
-  let loc = config.app.download_path
+  const loc = config.app.download_path || '/downloads'
 
   if (path) {
-    let loc = loc + '/' + sTrim(path, '/')
+    return loc + '/' + sTrim(path, '/')
   }
 
   return loc