# Configure Download Client (SABnzbd)

> Configure SABnzbd with your Usenet provider and download categories for Sonarr and Radarr.

# Configure Download Client (SABnzbd)

SABnzbd is already running. This step connects it to your Usenet provider and sets up the categories that Sonarr and Radarr use to identify their downloads.

Open SABnzbd at `http://<docker-vm-ip>:8080`.

## Add your Usenet provider

Go to **Config → Servers → Add Server**:

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Server | `news.newshosting.com` |
| Port | `563` |
| SSL | Yes |
| Username | Your Newshosting username |
| Password | Your Newshosting password |
| Connections | Check your plan limit (10–20 is typical) |

Click **Test Server**. A green result means SABnzbd can reach and authenticate with the server.

## Set up categories

Categories tell SABnzbd which subfolder to use for completed downloads, and let Sonarr and Radarr find their files.

Go to **Config → Categories**:

| Name | Folder |
|------|--------|
| `movies` | `movies` |
| `tv` | `tv` |

Leave the other fields at their defaults.

The full download path will be `/downloads/movies` and `/downloads/tv` inside the container — which maps to `/mnt/media/downloads/movies` and `/mnt/media/downloads/tv` on the host.

## Copy the API key

Go to **Config → General** and copy the **SABnzbd API Key**. You will need it when adding SABnzbd as a download client in Sonarr and Radarr.

## Security and cleanup settings

These are set once and prevent fake releases and junk files from landing in your library.

Go to **Config → Switches**.

### Unwanted extensions

SABnzbd inspects archives before finishing a job. If it finds a file with one of these extensions, it aborts the download. This catches fake releases (disguised as executables) and anything potentially malicious.

Set **Unwanted extensions** to:

```
exe, com, bat, cmd, msi, scr, sfx, js, jse, vbs, vbe, ps1, ps2, jar, htm, html, url, lnk
```

Set **Action on unwanted extensions** to **Abort job**.

### Cleanup list

Files matching this list are deleted silently after a successful download. They serve no purpose in a Sonarr/Radarr library.

Set **Cleanup list** to:

```
nfo, sfv, srr, nzb, txt, md5
```

### Samples and nested archives

- Enable **Ignore samples**: removes small preview video files included in some releases.
- Disable **Recursive unpacking**: prevents SABnzbd from extracting archives inside archives, which can produce unexpected extra files.

## Result

SABnzbd is connected to Newshosting and ready to receive jobs. Categories, security filters, and cleanup rules are configured.

Continue to [Configure Indexers (Prowlarr)](/docs/home-server/media-automation/installation/configure-prowlarr).