Linux: model download paths containing "~" are not expanded, causing imports to create invalid nested paths

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Summary

When configuring LM Studio on Linux with a model path ("downloadsFolder" key in settings.json) that contains ~, the path is not expanded to the user's home directory. Instead, it appears to be treated as a relative path and appended to another model directory, resulting in invalid nested paths and models not being indexed.

Environment

• LM Studio version: CLI commit: efce996
• OS: Kubuntu 26.04
• Installation method: LM Studio CLI (lms) and LM Studio Server

Steps to Reproduce

1. Configure the model directory in settings.json using a path containing ~, for example:

~/.lmstudio/models

2. Import a model:

lms import LFM2-8B-A1B-Q4_K_M.gguf

3. Observe the resulting directory structure.

Expected Behaviour

The ~ should be expanded to the user's home directory:

/home/me/.lmstudio/models/LiquidAI/LFM2-8B-A1B-GGUF

Actual Behaviour

A path containing the literal ~ is created and appended to another model directory, resulting in a malformed nested path such as:

~/.lmstudio/models/liquid/LFM2-8B-A1B-Q4_K_M/~/.lmstudio/models/LiquidAI/LFM2-8B-A1B-GGUF

The model is not correctly indexed and does not appear in lms ls.

Workaround

Replacing ~ with the full absolute path in settings.json fixes the issue:

/home/me/.lmstudio/models