diff --git a/sessionzero-client/scenes/desktop/main_ui.tscn b/sessionzero-client/scenes/desktop/main_ui.tscn
index 0ba2131..546fb48 100644
--- a/sessionzero-client/scenes/desktop/main_ui.tscn
+++ b/sessionzero-client/scenes/desktop/main_ui.tscn
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://fy5iji5t58jk"]
-
-[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://b6xurr0segcug" path="res://scripts/datapacks/datapack_tests.gd" id="1_ffwby"]
+[gd_scene format=3 uid="uid://fy5iji5t58jk"]
 
 [node name="MainUI" type="CanvasLayer"]
 
@@ -11,6 +9,3 @@ anchor_bottom = 1.0
 grow_horizontal = 2
 grow_vertical = 2
 theme_type_variation = &"Background_Panel"
-
-[node name="DatapackTests" type="Node" parent="."]
-script = ExtResource("1_ffwby")
diff --git a/sessionzero-client/scripts/datapacks/datapack_manager.gd b/sessionzero-client/scripts/datapacks/datapack_manager.gd
index 48ba843..5d3f842 100644
--- a/sessionzero-client/scripts/datapacks/datapack_manager.gd
+++ b/sessionzero-client/scripts/datapacks/datapack_manager.gd
@@ -1,7 +1,56 @@
 # datapack_manager.gd
 extends Node
 
-var loaded_packs: Dictionary[String, DatapackModel] = {} 
+# --- CONFIGURATION ---
+const DATAPACKS_DIR = "user://datapacks/"
+
+# --- STATE ---
+var loaded_packs: Dictionary[String, DatapackModel] = {}
+
+
+func _ready():
+	var dir = DirAccess.open("user://")
+	if dir:
+		if not dir.dir_exists("datapacks"):
+			dir.make_dir("datapacks")
+		
+	load_all_local_packs()
+
+
+## Scans the local DATAPACKS_DIR, loads all valid datapack subdirectories, 
+## and registers them with the manager. This serves as the initial load and the refresh option.
+func load_all_local_packs():
+	print("DatapackManager: Starting scan for local datapacks in '%s'" % DATAPACKS_DIR)
+	
+	var loader = DatapackLoader.new()
+	var dir = DirAccess.open(DATAPACKS_DIR)
+
+	if dir == null:
+		push_error("DatapackManager: Failed to open datapacks directory: %s" % DATAPACKS_DIR)
+		return
+
+	dir.list_dir_begin()
+	var dir_name = dir.get_next()
+	
+	while dir_name != "":
+		if dir_name == "." or dir_name == "..":
+			dir_name = dir.get_next()
+			continue
+			
+		if dir.current_is_dir():
+			print("DatapackManager: Found pack directory: %s" % dir_name)
+			
+			var datapack: DatapackModel = loader.load_datapack(dir_name)
+			
+			if datapack:
+				register_pack(datapack)
+			else:
+				push_warning("DatapackManager: Failed to load pack in directory: %s. Skipping." % dir_name)
+
+		dir_name = dir.get_next()
+		
+	dir.list_dir_end()
+	print("DatapackManager: Finished scanning local datapacks.")
 
 
 func clear_loaded_packs():
@@ -22,7 +71,9 @@ func unregister_pack(pack_guid: String):
 		loaded_packs.erase(pack_guid)
 		print("DatapackManager: Unregistered pack with GUID %s." % pack_guid)
 
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 # --- DEPENDENCY RESOLUTION ---
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 ## Resolves a single SzObject ID across all loaded packs.
 ## Used by SPECIFIC_DATASET mode when the pack GUID is unknown (or referencing local content).