diff --git a/src/gui/main_window.py b/src/gui/main_window.py
index c882d68..ec201e8 100644
--- a/src/gui/main_window.py
+++ b/src/gui/main_window.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ built with CustomTkinter.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import sys
 import threading
 import time
 import tkinter as tk
@@ -139,6 +140,18 @@ class MainWindow(ctk.CTk):
 
     # ── Config ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_app_dir() -> Path:
+        """Return the application directory (where config.yaml lives).
+
+        When running as a PyInstaller bundle (frozen), uses the
+        directory of the .exe file. Otherwise navigates from
+        ``__file__`` up to the project root.
+        """
+        if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
+            return Path(sys.executable).parent
+        return Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
+
     def _find_config(self) -> Path | None:
         """Find the user configuration file.
 
@@ -150,8 +163,7 @@ class MainWindow(ctk.CTk):
         Returns:
             Path to user config file, or None if not found.
         """
-        # Navigate from src/gui/main_window.py -> project root
-        app_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
+        app_dir = self._get_app_dir()
 
         # 1. Check for user config at project root
         user_config = app_dir / "config.yaml"
@@ -174,13 +186,12 @@ class MainWindow(ctk.CTk):
     def _get_user_config_path(self) -> Path:
         """Get the path to the user config file (config.yaml).
 
-        Creates config.yaml in project root if it doesn't exist.
+        Creates config.yaml in app directory if it doesn't exist.
 
         Returns:
             Path to user config file.
         """
-        # Navigate from src/gui/main_window.py -> project root
-        app_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
+        app_dir = self._get_app_dir()
         config_path = app_dir / "config.yaml"
         config_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         return config_path