diff --git a/docs/instructions.md b/docs/instructions.md
index 79ed50e..23fed50 100644
--- a/docs/instructions.md
+++ b/docs/instructions.md
@@ -558,13 +558,21 @@ All TIER 2 high priority core UX features have been completed:
     - Test ✅ AnimeService ignores concurrent requests
     - Target achieved: ✅ COMPLETE - all concurrent operation scenarios covered
 
-- [ ] **Create tests/unit/test_download_retry.py** - Download retry logic tests
-    - Test automatic retry after download failure
-    - Test retry attempt count tracking
-    - Test exponential backoff between retries
-    - Test maximum retry limit enforcement
-    - Test retry state persistence
-    - Target: 80%+ coverage of retry logic in download service
+- [x] **Create tests/unit/test_download_retry.py** - Download retry logic tests ✅ COMPLETE
+    - Note: 12/12 tests passing - comprehensive download retry coverage
+    - Coverage: Automatic retry (2 tests), retry count tracking (2 tests), maximum retry limit (3 tests), retry state management (4 tests), exponential backoff (1 test)
+    - Test ✅ Automatic retry after failure
+    - Test ✅ Retry all failed items
+    - Test ✅ Retry count increments
+    - Test ✅ Max retries enforced (items not retried after limit)
+    - Test ✅ Mixed eligibility (some at max, some eligible)
+    - Test ✅ Configurable max_retries parameter
+    - Test ✅ Error cleared on retry
+    - Test ✅ Progress cleared on retry
+    - Test ✅ Status updated (FAILED → PENDING)
+    - Test ✅ Selective retry by IDs
+    - Test ✅ Exponential backoff in ImageDownloader
+    - Target achieved: ✅ COMPLETE - excellent retry logic coverage
 
 - [ ] **Create tests/integration/test_series_parsing_edge_cases.py** - Series parsing edge cases
     - Test series folder names with year variations (e.g., "Series (2020)", "Series [2020]")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_download_retry.py b/tests/unit/test_download_retry.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98881d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_download_retry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,486 @@
+"""Unit tests for download retry logic.
+
+This module tests automatic retry mechanisms, retry count tracking,
+exponential backoff, maximum retry limits, and state persistence.
+"""
+import asyncio
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, Mock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from src.server.models.download import DownloadItem, DownloadStatus, EpisodeIdentifier
+from src.server.services.download_service import DownloadService
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def mock_progress_service():
+    """Auto-mock progress service for all tests."""
+    with patch('src.server.services.download_service.get_progress_service') as mock:
+        mock_service = Mock()
+        mock_service.update_progress = AsyncMock()
+        mock.return_value = mock_service
+        yield mock_service
+
+
+class TestAutomaticRetry:
+    """Test automatic retry after download failure."""
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_retry_failed_single_item(self):
+        """Test retrying a single failed download."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Create failed item
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Network timeout"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Retry
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed([failed_item.id])
+        
+        # Should be retried
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 1
+        assert failed_item.id in retried_ids
+        assert len(download_service._failed_items) == 0
+        assert len(download_service._pending_queue) == 1
+        
+        # Check item moved to pending
+        pending_item = download_service._pending_queue[0]
+        assert pending_item.id == failed_item.id
+        assert pending_item.status == DownloadStatus.PENDING
+        assert pending_item.retry_count == 1
+        assert pending_item.error is None
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_retry_all_failed_items(self):
+        """Test retrying all failed downloads."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Create multiple failed items
+        for i in range(5):
+            failed_item = DownloadItem(
+                id=f"test-{i}",
+                serie_id="series-1",
+                serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+                serie_name="Test Series",
+                episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=i+1),
+                status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+                retry_count=0,
+                error="Test error"
+            )
+            download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Retry all (passing None)
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed(item_ids=None)
+        
+        # All should be retried
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 5
+        assert len(download_service._failed_items) == 0
+        assert len(download_service._pending_queue) == 5
+
+
+class TestRetryCountTracking:
+    """Test retry attempt count tracking."""
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_retry_count_increments_on_retry(self):
+        """Test that retry_count increments each retry."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=5)
+        
+        # Initial failure (retry_count = 0)
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # First retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed([failed_item.id])
+        assert download_service._pending_queue[0].retry_count == 1
+        
+        # Simulate failure again
+        item = download_service._pending_queue.popleft()
+        item.status = DownloadStatus.FAILED
+        download_service._failed_items.append(item)
+        
+        # Second retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed([item.id])
+        assert download_service._pending_queue[0].retry_count == 2
+        
+        # Simulate failure again
+        item = download_service._pending_queue.popleft()
+        item.status = DownloadStatus.FAILED
+        download_service._failed_items.append(item)
+        
+        # Third retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed([item.id])
+        assert download_service._pending_queue[0].retry_count == 3
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_retry_count_persists_across_retries(self):
+        """Test that retry_count persists correctly."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Create item with previous retries
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=2,  # Already retried twice
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed()
+        
+        # Should now have retry_count = 3
+        assert download_service._pending_queue[0].retry_count == 3
+
+
+class TestMaximumRetryLimit:
+    """Test maximum retry limit enforcement."""
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_item_not_retried_after_max_retries(self):
+        """Test that items exceeding max_retries are not retried."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Create item that reached max retries
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=3,  # At max retries
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Try to retry
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed()
+        
+        # Should NOT be retried
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 0
+        assert len(download_service._failed_items) == 1
+        assert len(download_service._pending_queue) == 0
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_mixed_retry_eligibility(self):
+        """Test mix of items at/below max retries."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Item 1: eligible for retry
+        item1 = DownloadItem(
+            id="eligible-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        
+        # Item 2: at max retries
+        item2 = DownloadItem(
+            id="max-retries-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=2),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=3,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        
+        # Item 3: eligible for retry
+        item3 = DownloadItem(
+            id="eligible-2",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=3),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=1,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        
+        download_service._failed_items.extend([item1, item2, item3])
+        
+        # Retry all
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed()
+        
+        # Only 2 should be retried
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 2
+        assert item1.id in retried_ids
+        assert item3.id in retried_ids
+        assert item2.id not in retried_ids
+        
+        # item2 should still be in failed
+        assert len(download_service._failed_items) == 1
+        assert download_service._failed_items[0].id == item2.id
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_configurable_max_retries(self):
+        """Test that max_retries is configurable."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        
+        # Service with max_retries=5
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=5)
+        
+        # Item with 4 retries
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=4,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Should still be retried (4 < 5)
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed()
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 1
+        
+        # Now with 5 retries
+        item = download_service._pending_queue.popleft()
+        item.status = DownloadStatus.FAILED
+        download_service._failed_items.append(item)
+        
+        # Should NOT be retried (5 >= 5)
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed()
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 0
+
+
+class TestRetryStateManagement:
+    """Test retry state management and persistence."""
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_error_cleared_on_retry(self):
+        """Test that error message is cleared on retry."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Failed item with error
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Network timeout error"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed()
+        
+        # Error should be cleared
+        pending_item = download_service._pending_queue[0]
+        assert pending_item.error is None
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_progress_cleared_on_retry(self):
+        """Test that progress is cleared on retry."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Failed item with partial progress
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Connection lost",
+            progress={"percent": 45.5}
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        # Retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed()
+        
+        # Progress should be cleared
+        pending_item = download_service._pending_queue[0]
+        assert pending_item.progress is None
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_status_updated_on_retry(self):
+        """Test that status changes from FAILED to PENDING."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        failed_item = DownloadItem(
+            id="test-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        download_service._failed_items.append(failed_item)
+        
+        assert failed_item.status == DownloadStatus.FAILED
+        
+        # Retry
+        await download_service.retry_failed()
+        
+        # Status should change to PENDING
+        pending_item = download_service._pending_queue[0]
+        assert pending_item.status == DownloadStatus.PENDING
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_selective_retry_by_ids(self):
+        """Test retrying only specific items by IDs."""
+        mock_anime_service = Mock()
+        download_service = DownloadService(anime_service=mock_anime_service, max_retries=3)
+        
+        # Create 3 failed items
+        item1 = DownloadItem(
+            id="item-1",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=1),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        
+        item2 = DownloadItem(
+            id="item-2",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=2),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        
+        item3 = DownloadItem(
+            id="item-3",
+            serie_id="series-1",
+            serie_folder="Test Series (2024)",
+            serie_name="Test Series",
+            episode=EpisodeIdentifier(season=1, episode=3),
+            status=DownloadStatus.FAILED,
+            retry_count=0,
+            error="Test error"
+        )
+        
+        download_service._failed_items.extend([item1, item2, item3])
+        
+        # Retry only item-1 and item-3
+        retried_ids = await download_service.retry_failed(["item-1", "item-3"])
+        
+        # Only 2 should be retried
+        assert len(retried_ids) == 2
+        assert "item-1" in retried_ids
+        assert "item-3" in retried_ids
+        
+        # item-2 should still be in failed
+        assert len(download_service._failed_items) == 1
+        assert download_service._failed_items[0].id == "item-2"
+
+
+class TestExponentialBackoff:
+    """Test exponential backoff implementation in ImageDownloader."""
+    
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_image_downloader_retry_with_backoff(self):
+        """Test that ImageDownloader implements exponential backoff."""
+        from src.core.utils.image_downloader import ImageDownloader, ImageDownloadError
+        from pathlib import Path
+        import aiohttp
+        from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+        
+        downloader = ImageDownloader(max_retries=3, retry_delay=0.1)
+        
+        # Mock session with failures
+        mock_session = AsyncMock()
+        mock_session.closed = False
+        
+        mock_response = AsyncMock()
+        mock_response.status = 500
+        
+        # Create mock RequestInfo
+        mock_request_info = MagicMock()
+        mock_request_info.real_url = "https://test.com/image.jpg"
+        
+        mock_response.raise_for_status = MagicMock(
+            side_effect=aiohttp.ClientResponseError(
+                request_info=mock_request_info,
+                history=(),
+                status=500,
+                message="Server Error"
+            )
+        )
+        
+        # Setup context manager
+        mock_cm = MagicMock()
+        mock_cm.__aenter__ = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_response)
+        mock_cm.__aexit__ = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+        mock_session.get = MagicMock(return_value=mock_cm)
+        
+        downloader.session = mock_session
+        
+        # Track timing for backoff validation
+        import time
+        start_time = time.time()
+        
+        # Attempt download (should fail after retries)
+        try:
+            await downloader.download_image(
+                "https://test.com/image.jpg",
+                Path("/tmp/test.jpg")
+            )
+        except ImageDownloadError:
+            pass  # Expected
+        
+        elapsed = time.time() - start_time
+        
+        # With initial delay 0.1s and doubling:
+        # Attempt 1: immediate
+        # Attempt 2: wait 0.1s
+        # Attempt 3: wait 0.2s
+        # Total: at least 0.3s
+        assert elapsed >= 0.3, f"Backoff too fast: {elapsed}s"
+        
+        # Should have attempted 3 times
+        assert mock_session.get.call_count == 3