Torrents added from watched / auto-add folder ignore "default torrent management mode" settings

[rostebafyu]

qBittorrent & operating system versions

qBittorrent v4.4.1 (64-bit)
Operating system: Windows 7 Home x64 (I think it happens under Win10 too, will post back after I confirm)
Qt 5.15.2
Didn't see libtorrent-rasterbar version in Help > About but can check if needed / you tell me where to find

What is the problem?

When I save a torrent file into my watched folder, it gets picked up and added to Qbit but it ignores the setting I have under Tools > Options > Downloads > Saving Management > "Default Torrent Management Mode". If I have the setting as "Automatic", then torrent is still added to Qbit as "Manual", which also prevents me from using the Categories menu options to reassign the torrent(s) until after I have changed the mode back to Automatic.

The setting does not indicate that it applies only for magnets so my expectation is that it should also work for torrents added from Watched folders. And I expected that it should be added in Automatic mode if I had the setting as Automatic or Manual mode if I had it as Manual... but it seems to always be added as Manual, regardless of the setting

I am using the actual client rather than the web interface if that matters. Also, my watched folder is located on a shared folder (Qbit is running on Windows in a VM. The "real" folder is on the host but is shared with VM as a network share).

Steps to reproduce

1. Configure Qbit to use a watched folder (e.g. D:\auto-add)
2. Configure Qbit's "Default Torrent Management Mode" to be "Automatic".
3. Save settings
4. Optional: Create some categories
5. Close and restart Qbit (not sure if needed but adding as step to be safe)
6. Download a torrent file to the watched folder (e.g. Linux Mint 20.3 torrent and save to D:\auto-add)
7. Torrent is added to Qbit under "Uncategorized" category
8. Right-click on it and choose "Torrent options"
9. Observe that the "Automatic Torrent Management" checkbox is not checked, indicating the earlier setting was ignored.

Additional context

For the attached settings file... I didn't know what all the values were so if some of the values, especially for binary hex stuff, says <REDACTED> its probably bc I was being overly cautious trying to avoid accidentally posting ip, mac, etc type details before posting online rather than me actually changing whatever value that Qbit had set.

Log(s) & preferences file(s)

qbittorrent-settings.zip

happy to capture a log file if needed but since the only relevant line in C:\Users\test\AppData\Local\qBittorrent\logs was

(N) 2022-02-25T13:52:34 - 'linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso' added to download list.

and the lines immediately above that had similar lines for some other thing I downloaded followed only by tracker announces... I'm not sure what I would need to do to capture more detailed info

[thalieht]

Thank you for the detailed post. It looks like you didn't notice the "Options..." button in the watched folder section in options.

[rostebafyu]

It looks like you didn't notice the "Options..." button in the watched folder section in options.

Thank you!!! This was the missing piece and fixes some problems I've been dealing with for literally about 6 months.

It's so obvious after you pointing it out but I almost wish the value for this had appeared as a second column in the table to draw my attention there. Anyway, thanks again!

[j-peeters]

Hi @thalieht, I came here because I have the same problem. I access QBitorrent though from the webUI because I run it within a Unraid Docker. In my watch folder settings I can set watch folders and their destination but I can't find an options button.
Is this an ommission in the webUI or am I overlooking it anyway. Thanks for any advice!

[Fune3]

I'm also having this issue migrating from a desktop Windows setup to a Docker with WebUI one - there's no Options button in the Web UI for auto-add folders.

EDIT: @j-peeters I was able to do this by editing watched_folders.json and adding the category I wanted.

[j-peeters]

Yes I also discovered this method, editing the JSON, but afaik with every change to these folder settings from the UI, the manually set "Automatic Torrent Management" settings are reverted. So it would be great if an option was added to the UI that makes sure the "Automatic Torrent Management" can be set for folders and that it retains. I currently still have to set all downloads to manual after the download to get them in the right folder.