diff --git a/src/app/config/settings.py b/src/app/config/settings.py
index 9911829..f9030e4 100644
--- a/src/app/config/settings.py
+++ b/src/app/config/settings.py
@@ -24,11 +24,45 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG: Dict[str, Any] = {
 }
 
 
+def load_config(path: Path) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Load configuration from a JSON file."""
+    try:
+        raw = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+            raise ValueError("config root must be a JSON object")
+        return raw
+    except Exception:
+        # Return empty dict if file doesn't exist or is invalid
+        return {}
+
+
+def save_config(path: Path, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    """Save configuration to a JSON file."""
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    payload = json.dumps(data, indent=2, ensure_ascii=False) + "\n"
+    path.write_text(payload, encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def normalize_config(data: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Ensure basic expected shape for config dict. Keeps unknown keys intact."""
+    out = dict(data)
+    pls = out.get("playlists")
+    if not isinstance(pls, list):
+        out["playlists"] = []
+    return out
+
+
 class Settings:
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
-        base_dir = Path("config")
-        base_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        self.path = (base_dir / "yt-playlist-config.json").resolve()
+    """Unified configuration loader that combines file I/O and playlist merging."""
+
+    def __init__(self, config_path: Path | None = None) -> None:
+        if config_path is None:
+            base_dir = Path("config")
+            base_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            self.path = (base_dir / "yt-playlist-config.json").resolve()
+        else:
+            self.path = config_path.resolve()
+
         self.data: Dict[str, Any] = dict(DEFAULT_CONFIG)
 
         # Ensure there is always a config file at the default path.
@@ -38,13 +72,13 @@ class Settings:
         self._load_from_path(self.path)
 
     def _load_from_path(self, path: Path) -> None:
-        try:
-            self.data.update(json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")))
-        except Exception:
-            # Leave defaults if invalid JSON; validation can be added later.
-            pass
+        """Load and merge config from file."""
+        loaded = load_config(path)
+        if loaded:
+            self.data.update(normalize_config(loaded))
 
     def _write_default_config(self, path: Path) -> None:
+        """Write a default config file."""
         path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         default_payload: Dict[str, Any] = {
             "playlists": [
@@ -57,10 +91,11 @@ class Settings:
             ],
             "ffmpeg_path": _default_ffmpeg_path(),
         }
-        path.write_text(json.dumps(default_payload, indent=2) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+        save_config(path, default_payload)
 
     @property
     def playlists(self) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Get playlists with global defaults merged in."""
         global_defaults = {
             "download_mode": self.data.get("download_mode", DEFAULT_CONFIG["download_mode"]),
             "max_download_quality": self.data.get("max_download_quality", DEFAULT_CONFIG["max_download_quality"]),
diff --git a/src/app/gui/main.py b/src/app/gui/main.py
index 7b193f8..8d5a40e 100644
--- a/src/app/gui/main.py
+++ b/src/app/gui/main.py
@@ -5,11 +5,10 @@ import threading
 
 from PySide6 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
 
-from ..config.settings import Settings
+from ..config.settings import Settings, load_config
 from ..core.events.event_bus import EventBus
 from .bus_bridge import BusBridge
 from .app_icon import load_app_icon
-from .config_store import load_config
 from .runner import SyncRequest, SyncRunner
 from .pages.playlists import PlaylistManagerPage
 from .pages.queue import QueuePage
diff --git a/src/app/gui/pages/playlists.py b/src/app/gui/pages/playlists.py
index 7b83414..1987634 100644
--- a/src/app/gui/pages/playlists.py
+++ b/src/app/gui/pages/playlists.py
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from PySide6 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
 
-from ...config.settings import Settings
+from ...config.settings import Settings, load_config, normalize_config, save_config
 from ...core.database.db import Database
 from ...core.utils.yt import extract_playlist_id
 from ..smooth_scroll import enable_smooth_scrolling
-from ..config_store import load_config, normalize_config, save_config
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
diff --git a/src/app/gui/pages/settings.py b/src/app/gui/pages/settings.py
index a6e9027..753136b 100644
--- a/src/app/gui/pages/settings.py
+++ b/src/app/gui/pages/settings.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from PySide6 import QtCore, QtWidgets
 
-from ..config_store import load_config, save_config
+from ..config.settings import load_config, save_config
 
 
 class SettingsPage(QtWidgets.QWidget):