diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a4985c4..8ff3597 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ services:
       - ./data:/data
     environment:
       - DOWNLOAD_DIR=/data/downloads
-      - SESSION_FILE=/data/session/session-ig
+      - SESSION_FILE=/data/session-ig
     logging:
       driver: json-file
       options:
diff --git a/instagram_monitor.py b/instagram_monitor.py
index 8985345..e87a77e 100644
--- a/instagram_monitor.py
+++ b/instagram_monitor.py
@@ -42,20 +42,37 @@ class InstagramMonitor:
 
     def login(self) -> bool:
         # Method 1: load existing instaloader session file
-        if self._session_path.exists():
-            try:
-                self.loader.load_session_from_file(config.instagram_username, str(self._session_path))
-                logger.info("Session loaded from instaloader session file")
-                return True
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Session file invalid: {e}")
+        # Check configured path and also common alternatives
+        session_candidates = [
+            self._session_path,
+            Path(config.download_dir).parent / "session-ig",
+            Path(config.download_dir) / "session-ig",
+        ]
+        for session_path in session_candidates:
+            if session_path.exists():
+                try:
+                    self.loader.load_session_from_file(config.instagram_username, str(session_path))
+                    logger.info(f"Session loaded from {session_path}")
+                    return True
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.warning(f"Session file {session_path} invalid: {e}")
 
         # Method 2: load cookies.txt exported from browser
-        cookies_path = Path(config.download_dir) / "cookies.txt"
-        if cookies_path.exists():
+        # Check both download_dir and parent (/data/) since user may place file in either
+        cookies_candidates = [
+            Path(config.download_dir) / "cookies.txt",
+            Path(config.download_dir).parent / "cookies.txt",
+        ]
+        cookies_path = None
+        for candidate in cookies_candidates:
+            if candidate.exists():
+                cookies_path = candidate
+                break
+
+        if cookies_path:
             try:
                 self._load_cookies_from_txt(cookies_path)
-                logger.info("Session loaded from cookies.txt")
+                logger.info(f"Session loaded from {cookies_path}")
                 return True
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.warning(f"cookies.txt invalid or missing sessionid cookie: {e}")