diff --git a/youdis.py b/youdis.py
index 126c1d6..7e34204 100644
--- a/youdis.py
+++ b/youdis.py
@@ -10,24 +10,44 @@ discord-py-interactions 5.11.0 has new option
 import interactions
 from os import getenv
 from pathlib import Path
-import yt_dlp
-import json
-import asyncio
-import threading
-
-userFile = Path('/config/users.json')
-userFile.touch(exist_ok=True)
-
-bot = interactions.Client(intents=interactions.Intents.DEFAULT,default_scope=2147491904)
-
-userFile.parent.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
-try:
-    with open(userFile, 'x') as f:
-        print(f'users.json not found; saving to {userFile}')    
-except FileExistsError:
-    with open(userFile, 'r') as f:
-        authorized_users = json.load(f).get('authorized_users')
-    print(f'authorized_users:{authorized_users}')
+import yt_dlp
+import json
+import asyncio
+import threading
+
+userFile = Path('/config/users.json')
+userFile.parent.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
+
+bot = interactions.Client(intents=interactions.Intents.DEFAULT,default_scope=2147491904)
+
+def save_authorized_users(authorized_users):
+    with open(userFile, 'w') as f:
+        json.dump({'authorized_users': authorized_users}, f)
+
+def load_authorized_users():
+    if not userFile.exists():
+        save_authorized_users([])
+        print(f'users.json not found; saving to {userFile}')
+        return []
+
+    try:
+        with open(userFile, 'r') as f:
+            data = json.load(f)
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
+        save_authorized_users([])
+        print(f'users.json invalid; resetting {userFile}')
+        return []
+
+    authorized_users = data.get('authorized_users', [])
+    if not isinstance(authorized_users, list):
+        authorized_users = []
+
+    authorized_users = [str(user_id) for user_id in authorized_users]
+    save_authorized_users(authorized_users)
+    print(f'authorized_users:{authorized_users}')
+    return authorized_users
+
+authorized_users = load_authorized_users()
     
 title = ''
 
@@ -62,13 +82,12 @@ def create_hook(ctx,loop):
     required=True,
     description='url target'
 )
-async def youtube(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, url:str):
-    print(f'{ctx.author.id} requested {url}')
-    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
-    hook = create_hook(ctx,loop)
-    msg = ''
-    # use api_to_cli and paste cli options to get the output you need
-    yoptions = {
+async def youtube(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, url:str):
+    print(f'{ctx.author.id} requested {url}')
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    hook = create_hook(ctx,loop)
+    # use api_to_cli and paste cli options to get the output you need
+    yoptions = {
         'format':'bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]/best',
         'fragment_tries': 10,
         'restrictfilenames':True,
@@ -81,12 +100,12 @@ async def youtube(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, url:str):
         'progress_hooks':[hook],
         'outtmpl': '%(uploader)s/%(playlist_title)s/%(playlist_index)s%(playlist_index& - )s%(title)s.%(ext)s',
         'outtmpl_na_placeholder':'',
-    }
-    # check that user is authorized
-    if ctx.author.id not in authorized_users:
-        if ctx.author.id == 127831327012683776:
-            await ctx.author.send('potato stop')
-        await ctx.author.send('you are not authorized to use this command. message my owner to be added.')
+    }
+    # check that user is authorized
+    if str(ctx.author.id) not in authorized_users:
+        if ctx.author.id == 127831327012683776:
+            await ctx.author.send('potato stop')
+        await ctx.author.send('you are not authorized to use this command. message my owner to be added.')
         return
     else:
         await ctx.channel.send(f'Downloading from <{url}>. Status updates via DM.')
@@ -120,13 +139,15 @@ async def _interrupt(ctx):
     description='enable this bot for target user',
 )
 @interactions.check(interactions.is_owner())
-async def _adduser(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, user:interactions.OptionType.USER):
-    if str(user.id) not in authorized_users:
-        authorized_users.append(str(user.id))
-        with open(userFile,'w') as f:  #overwrite file - fix later if other params come up
-            json.dump({'authorized_users':authorized_users})
-        print('react:checkmark')
-        await ctx.message.add_reaction('✅')
+async def _adduser(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, user:interactions.OptionType.USER):
+    user_id = str(user.id)
+    if user_id not in authorized_users:
+        authorized_users.append(user_id)
+        save_authorized_users(authorized_users)
+        print(f'authorized {user_id}')
+        await ctx.author.send(f'authorized {user.mention}')
+    else:
+        await ctx.author.send(f'{user.mention} is already authorized')
 
 @interactions.slash_command(name="removeuser",description="deauthorize target user")
 @interactions.slash_option(
@@ -136,15 +157,15 @@ async def _adduser(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, user:interactions.OptionType.
     description='disable this bot for target user',
 )
 @interactions.check(interactions.is_owner())
-async def _removeuser(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, user:interactions.OptionType.USER):
-    if str(user.id) in authorized_users:
-    # ? ? ? fix pls
-        i = index(authorized_users(str(user.id)))
-
-        # update list, rewrite json
-            
-        print('react:checkmark')
-        await ctx.message.add_reaction('✅')
+async def _removeuser(ctx: interactions.SlashContext, user:interactions.OptionType.USER):
+    user_id = str(user.id)
+    if user_id in authorized_users:
+        authorized_users.remove(user_id)
+        save_authorized_users(authorized_users)
+        print(f'deauthorized {user_id}')
+        await ctx.author.send(f'deauthorized {user.mention}')
+    else:
+        await ctx.author.send(f'{user.mention} is not currently authorized')
 
 async def dl_hook(d):
     msg = f'{d["status"]} {d["filename"]}'