diff --git a/backend.py b/backend.py
index a619339..4e21bf1 100644
--- a/backend.py
+++ b/backend.py
@@ -276,12 +276,12 @@ def download_all(url, ext, parent=None):
                                       True)[0]
 
         # set the base relative path for playlists
-        relativePath = parent + '\\'
+        relativePath = parent + '/'
 
         # does that subdirectory already exist?
-        if os.path.exists(f'downloads\\{parent}'):
+        if os.path.exists(f'downloads/{parent}'):
             subdirs = []
-            for file in os.scandir(f'downloads\\{parent}'):
+            for file in os.scandir(f'downloads/{parent}'):
                 if file.is_dir():
                     subdirs.append(file)
 
@@ -294,24 +294,24 @@ def download_all(url, ext, parent=None):
 
                 # update previous parents directory
                 query_db_threaded('UPDATE playlist SET folder = :folder WHERE ROWID = :rowid',
-                                  {'folder': relativePath + str(parent_rowid) + '\\', 'rowid': parent_rowid})
+                                  {'folder': relativePath + str(parent_rowid) + '/', 'rowid': parent_rowid})
 
                 # update the folder entry in collection
                 query_db_threaded('UPDATE collection SET playlist = :folder WHERE playlist = :folder_old',
-                                  {'folder': relativePath + str(parent_rowid) + '\\', 'folder_old': relativePath})
+                                  {'folder': relativePath + str(parent_rowid) + '/', 'folder_old': relativePath})
 
                 # move all files into subdirectory 'downloads/parent/rowid'
-                srcpath = downloads_path() + parent + '\\'
-                dstpath = srcpath + str(parent_rowid) + '\\'
+                srcpath = downloads_path() + parent + '/'
+                dstpath = srcpath + str(parent_rowid) + '/'
                 for f in os.scandir(srcpath):
                     os.renames(srcpath + f.name, dstpath + f.name)
 
                 # adjust path in db table video
                 query_db_threaded('UPDATE video SET path = :new_path WHERE path = :old_path',
-                                  {'new_path': relativePath + str(parent_rowid) + '\\', 'old_path': relativePath})
+                                  {'new_path': relativePath + str(parent_rowid) + '/', 'old_path': relativePath})
 
                 # append relative path
-                relativePath += str(rowid_new) + '\\'
+                relativePath += str(rowid_new) + '/'
 
             # set the relative path of playlist in recently added entry
             update_playlist_folder_by_rowid(relativePath, rowid_new)
diff --git a/db_tools.py b/db_tools.py
index 24a52f8..258e6e6 100644
--- a/db_tools.py
+++ b/db_tools.py
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ def db_add_via_download(ext, parent_rowid=None, parent=None):
     # if a parent was specified
     else:
         # set relative path
-        relative_path = parent + '\\'
+        relative_path = parent + '/'
 
         # if a rowid was specified
         if parent_rowid is not None:
             # adjust the relative path
-            relative_path += str(parent_rowid) + '\\'
+            relative_path += str(parent_rowid) + '/'
 
         # insert all new files into db
         for i in range(len(titles)):
@@ -76,10 +76,10 @@ def add_new_video(video_id, name, ext, path):
 
 def add_new_video_to_collection(parent, video_id):
     exists = query_db_threaded('SELECT * FROM collection WHERE playlist = :folder AND video = :id',
-                               {'folder': parent + '\\', 'id': video_id})
+                               {'folder': parent + '/', 'id': video_id})
 
     if not len(exists) > 0:
-        add_collection_entry(parent + '\\', video_id)
+        add_collection_entry(parent + '/', video_id)
 
     return
 
diff --git a/frontend.py b/frontend.py
index d365a97..02d3cca 100644
--- a/frontend.py
+++ b/frontend.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def download():
 
         # this is flaky for whatever reason; might be because of special chars?
         return send_from_directory(
-            'downloads\\' + path,
+            'downloads/' + path,
             name + ext
         )
 
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 1ca3df2..f78d708 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import os.path as path
 # a way to get the 'parent_root/downloads' directory; alternative for nonexistent global immutable
 # since app context does not exist where this is called, using app.config will not work
 def downloads_path() -> str:
-    return path.dirname(path.abspath(__file__)) + '\\downloads\\'
+    return path.dirname(path.abspath(__file__)) + '/downloads/'
 
 
 # dissects a given full path to a file into its components