diff --git a/docs/options.md b/docs/options.md
index d1c8f81eab..c356926c7b 100644
--- a/docs/options.md
+++ b/docs/options.md
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@
     --config-yaml FILE          Additional configuration files in YAML format
     --config-toml FILE          Additional configuration files in TOML format
     --config-create             Create a basic configuration file
+    --config-status             Show configuration file status
+    --config-open               Open configuration file in external application
     --config-ignore             Do not read default configuration files
 
 ## Authentication Options:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/__init__.py b/gallery_dl/__init__.py
index bc44b353c1..1d4215ecaf 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/__init__.py
@@ -220,8 +220,13 @@ def main():
                     cnt, "entry" if cnt == 1 else "entries", cache._path(),
                 )
 
-        elif args.config_init:
-            return config.initialize()
+        elif args.config:
+            if args.config == "init":
+                return config.initialize()
+            elif args.config == "status":
+                return config.status()
+            else:
+                return config.open_extern()
 
         else:
             if not args.urls and not args.input_files:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/config.py b/gallery_dl/config.py
index 4be6c5328c..b9a55255a4 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/config.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/config.py
@@ -90,6 +90,78 @@ def initialize():
     return 0
 
 
+def open_extern():
+    for path in _default_configs:
+        path = util.expand_path(path)
+        if os.access(path, os.R_OK | os.W_OK):
+            break
+    else:
+        log.warning("Unable to find any writable configuration file")
+        return 1
+
+    if util.WINDOWS:
+        openers = ("explorer", "notepad")
+    else:
+        openers = ("xdg-open", "open")
+        editor = os.environ.get("EDITOR")
+        if editor:
+            openers = (editor,) + openers
+
+    import shutil
+    for opener in openers:
+        opener = shutil.which(opener)
+        if opener:
+            break
+    else:
+        log.warning("Unable to find a program to open '%s' with", path)
+        return 1
+
+    log.info("Running '%s %s'", opener, path)
+    retcode = util.Popen((opener, path)).wait()
+
+    if not retcode:
+        try:
+            with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as fp:
+                util.json_loads(fp.read())
+        except Exception as exc:
+            log.warning("%s when parsing '%s': %s",
+                        exc.__class__.__name__, path, exc)
+            return 2
+
+    return retcode
+
+
+def status():
+    from .output import stdout_write
+
+    paths = []
+    for path in _default_configs:
+        path = util.expand_path(path)
+
+        try:
+            with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as fp:
+                util.json_loads(fp.read())
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            status = "Not Present"
+        except OSError:
+            status = "Inaccessible"
+        except ValueError:
+            status = "Invalid JSON"
+        except Exception as exc:
+            log.debug(exc)
+            status = "Unknown"
+        else:
+            status = "OK"
+
+        paths.append((path, status))
+
+    fmt = "{{:<{}}} : {{}}\n".format(
+        max(len(p[0]) for p in paths)).format
+
+    for path, status in paths:
+        stdout_write(fmt(path, status))
+
+
 def load(files=None, strict=False, loads=util.json_loads):
     """Load JSON configuration files"""
     for pathfmt in files or _default_configs:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/option.py b/gallery_dl/option.py
index 12622d0e74..2165b25be0 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/option.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/option.py
@@ -461,9 +461,19 @@ def build_parser():
     )
     configuration.add_argument(
         "--config-create",
-        dest="config_init", action="store_true",
+        dest="config", action="store_const", const="init",
         help="Create a basic configuration file",
     )
+    configuration.add_argument(
+        "--config-status",
+        dest="config", action="store_const", const="status",
+        help="Show configuration file status",
+    )
+    configuration.add_argument(
+        "--config-open",
+        dest="config", action="store_const", const="open",
+        help="Open configuration file in external application",
+    )
     configuration.add_argument(
         "--config-ignore",
         dest="config_load", action="store_false",