Downloader

July 25, 2026 · View on GitHub

Downloader is a winapp2ool module that fetches files from the winapp2 GitHub repository. It provides both a menu and a scriptable command line interface for acquiring any flavor of winapp2.ini, the latest winapp2ool executable, and the project's supplementary files.

What does Downloader do?

Downloader resolves a short name (winapp2, readme, winapp3, etc) to a URL on the winapp2 GitHub, downloads the file, and writes it to a directory you choose. For winapp2.ini specifically, the URL it picks depends on the active flavor in winapp2ool.

Why Downloader?

Flavor targeting: fetch the exact variant your cleaner expects without hunting through the repository
Self-updating: winapp2ool can replace itself, keeping a backup of the version it replaced
Supplementary databases: winapp3.ini and Archived entries.ini, ready to fold into a winapp2.ini with Transmute

Requirements
Quick Start
Menu Options
- Main Menu
- Advanced Downloads
How Downloads Resolve
Download Behavior
Command-Line Arguments
Tips & Best Practices
Troubleshooting
Usage Examples

Requirements

An active internet connection. Downloader is hidden from the main menu in offline mode
.NET Framework 4.6 or later to download winapp2ool.exe (every other file works on 4.5)

Quick Start

Common Workflow

Open Downloader from the winapp2ool main menu
Select the file you want from the menu
The file is saved to the current save directory (default: current directory)

To save elsewhere, use Change Save Directory before downloading.

From the command line, one invocation downloads one file:

winapp2ool -download winapp2

Option	Effect	Notes
Winapp2.ini	Download the base (non-CCleaner) winapp2.ini
CCleaner Winapp2.ini	Download the CCleaner flavor
CCleaner 7 Winapp2.ini	Download the CCleaner 7 flavor	For installing into `ccleaner.ini`, see CC7Patcher
BleachBit Winapp2.ini	Download the BleachBit flavor
FluentCleaner Winapp2.ini	Download the FluentCleaner flavor
System Ninja Winapp2.rules	Download the System Ninja flavor	Saved as `winapp2.rules`
Tron	Download the Tron flavor
Winapp2ool	Download the latest winapp2ool.exe	Requires .NET 4.6+. Replaces the running executable when the save directory is the current directory — see Updating Winapp2ool
ReadMe	Download the top-level winapp2ool readme	Saved as `readme.md`
Advanced	Open the Advanced Downloads sub-menu	See Advanced Downloads
Change Save Directory	Select a new directory for all downloaded files	Default: current directory
Reset Settings	Restore the save directory to its default	Only shown when the save directory has been changed

The seven winapp2.ini options are fixed to their flavors, they ignore the active flavor setting and always download what their label says. Only the command line resolves a download against the active flavor.

Advanced Downloads

Option	Effect	Notes
Winapp3.ini	Download the extended/potentially unsafe entry database	Not recommended for general use
Archived entries.ini	Download entries for old or discontinued software	Not recommended for general use

How Downloads Resolve

Flavor Selection

The flavor only matters for winapp2

The active flavor comes from winapp2ool's global settings (Settings → Change Flavor on the main menu), but any command-line flavor flag overrides it for that run. Command-line runs never save settings.

Note: the default flavor is CCleaner, not base. On a winapp2ool that has never had its flavor changed, `winapp2ool -download winapp2` fetches the CCleaner flavor. Pass `-base` (or `-ncc`) for the non-CCleaner build.

Output File Names

Request	Active flavor	File written
`winapp2`	Base	`winapp2.ini`
`winapp2`	CCleaner (default)	`winapp2.ini`
`winapp2`	BleachBit	`winapp2.ini`
`winapp2`	System Ninja	`winapp2.rules`
`winapp2`	Tron	`winapp2.ini`
`winapp2`	CCleaner 7	`winapp2.ini`
`winapp2`	FluentCleaner	`winapp2.ini`
`winapp2ool`	(not applicable)	`winapp2ool.exe`
`readme`	(not applicable)	`readme.txt` from the CLI, `readme.md` from the menu
`winapp3`	(not applicable)	`winapp3.ini`
`archived`	(not applicable)	`Archived entries.ini`

System Ninja is the only flavor that changes the extension. -1f overrides any of these names.

Where Files Come From

Everything is fetched from github.com/MoscaDotTo/Winapp2 on the master branch:

File	Path in the repository
winapp2.ini (base)	`Non-CCleaner/Winapp2.ini`
winapp2.ini (CCleaner)	`Winapp2.ini`
winapp2.ini (BleachBit)	`Non-CCleaner/BleachBit/Winapp2.ini`
winapp2.rules (System Ninja)	`Non-CCleaner/SystemNinja/Winapp2.rules`
winapp2.ini (Tron)	`Non-CCleaner/Tron/Winapp2.ini`
winapp2.ini (CCleaner 7)	`Non-CCleaner/CCleaner7/Winapp2.ini`
winapp2.ini (FluentCleaner)	`Non-CCleaner/FluentCleaner/Winapp2.ini`
winapp2ool.exe	`winapp2ool/bin/Release/winapp2ool.exe`
readme	`winapp2ool/Readme.md`
winapp3.ini	`Winapp3/Winapp3.ini`
Archived entries.ini	`Winapp3/Archived entries.ini`

With Beta Participation enabled (main menu → Settings), winapp2ool.exe is taken from the Branch1 branch instead of master. No other file is affected by the beta setting.

Download Behavior

The Save Directory

The save directory defaults to the directory from which winapp2ool is running. If the download target directory does not exist, it is created, including any missing parent directories.

Existing Files

When the target file already exists and output is not suppressed, Downloader prompts before writing:

readme.txt already exists in the target directory.
Enter a new file name, or leave blank to overwrite the existing file:

Entering a name saves under that name; leaving it blank overwrites. This prompt appears on the command line too, where it will block a script waiting for input. Passing -s skips the prompt entirely and overwrites silently.

Updating Winapp2ool

Downloading winapp2ool.exe into the directory from which winapp2ool is currently running does not simply write a file. Instead, winapp2ool:

Renames the running executable to winapp2ool v<version>.exe.bak in that directory
Writes the freshly downloaded executable as winapp2ool.exe
Launches the new executable and exits

Command-Line Arguments

Downloader is command-line module 8; winapp2ool -download and winapp2ool 8 calls both work.

The module takes a single argument naming the file to download, plus optional path parameters. The file argument is required and must be valid, if it is in valid or missing, Downloader reports that no file was specified and exits with code 1.

One run downloads one file. To fetch several, run the command several times.

File Selection

Arg	File downloaded
`1` or `winapp2`	winapp2.ini, in the active flavor
`2` or `winapp2ool`	winapp2ool.exe
`3` or `readme`	readme.txt
`4` or `winapp3`	winapp3.ini
`5` or `archived`	Archived entries.ini

Path Parameters

Arg	Effect	Default
`-1d path`	Set the save directory. Created if it doesn't exist	Current directory
`-1f name`	Set the save filename	Set by the file argument
`-1f subdir\name`	Save under a subdirectory of the save directory

Flavor Flags

Processed before the module runs, and applied to that invocation only.

Flag	Alias	Flavor
`-base`	`-ncc`	Base (non-CCleaner)
`-ccleaner`	`-cc`	CCleaner
`-bleachbit`	`-bb`	BleachBit
`-systemninja`	`-sn`	System Ninja
`-tron`		Tron
`-ccleaner7`	`-cc7`	CCleaner 7
`-fluentcleaner`	`-fc`	FluentCleaner

Global Flags

Flag	Effect
`-s`	Suppress all output, skip the overwrite prompt, and exit when finished. Functionally required for unattended scripts
`-writelog`	Write `winapp2ool.log` to disk on exit

Note: without `-s`, winapp2ool does not exit after the download.

Examples

Command	Effect
`winapp2ool -download winapp2`	Download winapp2.ini in the active flavor to the current directory
`winapp2ool -download winapp2 -cc`	Download the CCleaner flavor, whatever the active flavor is
`winapp2ool -download 1 -cc7 -1d "C:\Tools"`	Download the CCleaner 7 flavor to `C:\Tools`
`winapp2ool -download winapp2 -fc`	Download the FluentCleaner flavor
`winapp2ool -download winapp2 -sn -s`	Silently download `winapp2.rules` for System Ninja
`winapp2ool -download winapp2 -1f winapp2-backup.ini`	Download winapp2.ini under a different name
`winapp2ool -download winapp2ool -1d "C:\Tools"`	Download winapp2ool.exe to `C:\Tools` without self-updating
`winapp2ool -download winapp3`	Download winapp3.ini

Tips & Best Practices

Scripts

Always pass -s. It suppresses output, skips the overwrite prompt that would otherwise block on input, and makes winapp2ool exit instead of opening its menu
The exit code reports argument validity, not download success: 1 when the file argument is missing or invalid, 0 otherwise
Name the flavor explicitly on every call

Self-Updating

Downloading winapp2ool.exe into winapp2ool's own directory replaces the running executable and restarts it, leaving a winapp2ool v<version>.exe.bak behind
The .bak files persist; one per version replaced.
To keep a copy of the executable without updating, set the save directory somewhere else first

Flavor Selection

The menu always offers all seven flavors individually, regardless of the active flavor setting
If you are unsure which flavor your cleaner wants, use the base (non-CCleaner) version

Winapp3 and Archived Entries

winapp3.ini and Archived entries.ini are not part of the standard winapp2.ini distribution. They may contain entries that are incomplete, actively dangerous for your system, or written for software that no longer exists. Review them before use.

Troubleshooting

Message	Cause
`No file was specified for download`	No file argument was given. Exits with code 1
`Unknown argument: {arg}`	The file argument isn't one of the five recognized names or numbers. Exits with code 1
`Valid arguments are: winapp2, winapp2ool, readme, winapp3, archived`	Printed alongside either message above
`Download Failed.` / `Unable to download {name} to {dir}`	The download did not complete
`Download incomplete: {name}` (red menu header)	The menu's report of the same failure
`This option requires a newer version of the .NET Framework`	Downloading the executable needs .NET 4.6 or later
`Unable to download winapp2ool to the current directory, choose another directory before trying again`	Winapp2ool is running from the Windows temp folder, or .NET is out of date. Self-updating is disabled in both cases

Symptom	Cause
Downloader is missing from the main menu	Winapp2ool is in offline mode.
A script hangs after starting a download	The target file already exists and the overwrite prompt is waiting on input. Add `-s`
A script never returns, with no prompt	Without `-s`, winapp2ool opens its interactive menu after downloading. Add `-s`

Usage Examples

The transcripts below are taken from real runs. The current directory is shown as C:\Tools\winapp2 throughout, and file sizes reflect winapp2.ini version 251109.

Acquiring winapp2.ini

Example 1: Downloading winapp2.ini

Context

You want the current winapp2.ini database in the directory from which winapp2ool is currently running.

Intent

Download winapp2.ini, and see which flavor you actually get.

Command

winapp2ool -download winapp2

Output

Downloading winapp2.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    winapp2.ini          (CCleaner flavor)
    winapp2ool.exe

Explanation

No flavor flag was given, so the default flavor (CCleaner) was downloaded
The save directory defaults to the current directory
Winapp2ool does not exit afterwards; it opens its main menu. See Example 5 for silent mode

Notes

To get the base (non-CCleaner) winapp2.ini instead:

winapp2ool -download winapp2 -base

Downloading winapp2.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2

Example 2: Choosing a flavor without changing your settings

Context

Your winapp2ool is configured for the base flavor because that's what you work with day to day. Today you need the CCleaner 7 database for a different machine, and the System Ninja rules for a third.

Intent

Fetch two other flavors without touching the saved flavor setting, and without visiting the settings menu twice.

Commands

winapp2ool -download winapp2 -cc7 -1d "C:\Tools\winapp2\ex2"
winapp2ool -download winapp2 -sn  -1d "C:\Tools\winapp2\ex2"

Output

Downloading winapp2.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2\ex2

Downloading winapp2.rules...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2.rules to C:\Tools\winapp2\ex2

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\ex2\
    winapp2.ini          (CCleaner 7 flavor)
    winapp2.rules        (System Ninja flavor)

Explanation

-cc7 and -sn override the active flavor (base)
Command-line runs never write settings, so the saved flavor is still base afterwards

Notes

The System Ninja flavor is named winapp2.rules which is why both files can land in one directory without the second overwriting the first

Example 3: Downloading into a directory that doesn't exist yet

Context

You keep dated snapshots of the database so you can diff releases against each other later.

Intent

Download the BleachBit flavor into a dated folder without creating the folder first.

Command

winapp2ool -download winapp2 -bb -1d "C:\Tools\winapp2\ex3\bleachbit\2026-07"

Output

Downloading winapp2.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2\ex3\bleachbit\2026-07

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\ex3\bleachbit\2026-07\
    winapp2.ini          (BleachBit flavor)

Explanation

Neither ex3, bleachbit, nor 2026-07 existed beforehand; all three were created
The BleachBit flavor of winapp2.ini is downloaded and placed in the newly created C:\Tools\winapp2\ex3\bleachbit\2026-07

Example 4: Renaming the download

Context

You already have a winapp2.ini in your working directory that you have customized, and you want the upstream copy alongside it rather than over it.

Intent

Download winapp2.ini under a different name.

Command

winapp2ool -download 1 -1f winapp2-upstream.ini

Output

Downloading winapp2-upstream.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2-upstream.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    winapp2.ini                  (your customized copy)
    winapp2-upstream.ini         (newly downloaded upstream copy)

Explanation

-1f overrides the default name that the file argument would otherwise choose

Notes

1 and winapp2 are interchangeable -1f also accepts a leading subdirectory: -1f "\archive\winapp3.ini" saves into archive\ beneath the save directory, creating it if needed. See Example 9

Scripting

Example 5: Silent, scriptable downloads

Context

You want a scheduled task to refresh winapp2.ini overnight. The interactive behavior, the overwrite prompt, and the main menu that opens when the download finishes, would both hang it.

Intent

Download with no console output or requests for input

Command

winapp2ool -download winapp2 -s

Output

(nothing)

Explanation

-s suppresses all console output
The overwrite prompt is skipped and any existing file is overwritten without asking
Winapp2ool exits instead of opening its menu, with exit code 0

Notes

The exit code reports argument validity, not download success: a bad argument exits 1, but a download that fails still exits 0. In a script, verify the file afterwards:

winapp2ool -download winapp2 -s -1d "C:\Tools\winapp2"
$f = "C:\Tools\winapp2\winapp2.ini"
if (-not (Test-Path $f) -or (Get-Item $f).Length -eq 0) { throw "winapp2.ini download failed" }

Example 6: Downloading over a file that already exists

Context

You are working interactively and re-download the readme into a directory that already has one.

Intent

Keep the old copy by saving the new one under a different name.

Command

winapp2ool -download readme

Output

readme.txt already exists in the target directory.
Enter a new file name, or leave blank to overwrite the existing file: readme-2026-07.md
Downloading readme-2026-07.md...
Download Complete.
Downloaded readme-2026-07.md to C:\Tools\winapp2

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    readme.txt              (original file)
    readme-2026-07.md       (the new download)

Explanation

The prompt appears because readme.txt already exists
Entering readme-2026-07.md saved to a new file; the original was left alone
Leaving the prompt blank and pressing enter would have overwritten readme.txt instead
This prompt appears on the command line as well as in the menu, and it blocks. -s skips it and always overwrites. See Example 5

Updating Winapp2ool

Example 7: Updating winapp2ool in place

Context

Your copy of winapp2ool is out of date and you want the current release.

Intent

Replace the running executable with the latest build from GitHub.

Starting state

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    winapp2ool.exe       (428,032 bytes, v1.6.9701.23408)

Command

winapp2ool -download winapp2ool

Output

(nothing)

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    winapp2ool.exe                          (the new release, now running)
    winapp2ool v1.6.9701.23408.exe.bak      (the starting version, closed)

Explanation

The save directory was the directory from which winapp2ool was running , so winapp2ool performs an automatic update
The running executable was renamed to winapp2ool v<version>.exe.bak before the new one took its place
A new winapp2ool process was started and the old one exited

Notes

Self-updating is disabled when winapp2ool is running from the Windows temp folder, or when .NET is older than 4.6.

With Beta Participation enabled, this same command installs the Branch1 build instead of the master release.

Example 8: Downloading winapp2ool.exe without updating

Context

You want to put a copy of winapp2ool on a network share for other machines, without disturbing the copy you're running.

Intent

Download the executable as an ordinary file.

Command

winapp2ool -download winapp2ool -1d "C:\Tools\winapp2\tools"

Output

Downloading winapp2ool.exe...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp2ool.exe to C:\Tools\winapp2\tools

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    winapp2ool.exe                (still running)
    tools\
        winapp2ool.exe            (the downloaded release)

Explanation

The save directory differs from the current directory, so no auto-update
From the menu, the equivalent is Change Save Directory before choosing Winapp2ool

Advanced Downloads

Example 9: winapp3.ini and Archived entries.ini

Context

You maintain a machine running software that winapp2.ini no longer covers, and you want to fold the archived entries for it into your local database. Transmute's -w and -a preset flags look for winapp3.ini and Archived Entries.ini in the source directory.

Intent

Download both supplementary databases into an archive\ subdirectory, then merge winapp3.ini into a local winapp2.ini.

Commands

winapp2ool -download winapp3  -1f "\archive\winapp3.ini"
winapp2ool -download archived -1f "\archive\Archived entries.ini"
winapp2ool -transmute -add -2d "C:\Tools\winapp2\archive" -2f winapp3.ini -3f winapp2-extended.ini

Output

Downloading winapp3.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded winapp3.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2\archive

Downloading Archived entries.ini...
Download Complete.
Downloaded Archived entries.ini to C:\Tools\winapp2\archive

Result

C:\Tools\winapp2\
    winapp2.ini                          (starting local copy)
    winapp2-extended.ini                 (transmute output)
    archive\
        winapp3.ini                        (downloaded)
        Archived entries.ini               (downloaded)

Explanation

The -1f "\subdir\name" put both files in archive\, which was created by the first download if it didnt exist already
The Transmute step writes to winapp2-extended.ini, leaving the original winapp2.ini intact