Torrenting can be a complicated process, so before we get into the meat of how to download and use torrent files safely and legally, let’s cover some important terminology. Download Setup File BitTorrent Pro Download for Windows 10, 7 [March 2019] BitTorrent Pro apk is a peer-to-peer program developed by Bram Cohen and BitTorrent. It is used for uploading and downloading files via the BitTorrent protocol at high speed. Download Torrent Files for your PC & smartphone. Torrent for Windows PC, Vista, XP, 8, 8.1, Win 10. Download uTorrent and Bittorrent Programs and Apps for Free and enjoy sharing images, files and videos with your friends and family.

Unlike other peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing networks, BitTorrent lacks a centralized, built-in search capability. This is because BitTorrent is not a website but a data transfer protocol designed for large files and fast speeds. It's a method, rather than a site or service, so there's no central point of access.

How BitTorrent Works

Instead, a vast number of sites host tiny, quickly downloadable files known as torrents (denoted by the .torrentextension) that contain information about the actual files users set out to find. These much larger target files, in turn, reside on—and are split into chunks among—any number of other hosts. The torrent merely tells your BitTorrent client where to find them. Therefore, to find torrents to download, you must search across the many sites that host them.

The two most common ways of finding torrents involve using a BitTorrent client with search functionality and manually searching the websites that host torrents.

Using a BitTorrent Client to Search For and Download Torrents

Not all BitTorrent clients—software that facilitates downloading and uploading of torrents—offer a built-in ability to search, but many do. A few to try include:

  • qBittorent
  • µTorrent
  • Transmission
  • BitComet

These free downloads typically feature an intuitive browser-like interface, into which you enter search terms. The client then searches across a vast network of sites that host torrents and returns torrents that match your search terms. Once downloaded, the torrent then tells the client where to find the files for which you've searched so that they can be downloaded. Because they're typically downloaded in chunks from many sources, this can be a fairly quick process.

Using a Browser to Search For and Download Torrents

You can also use a browser to execute BitTorrent file searches and downloads. Instead of searching from within a BitTorrent client, you perform a search through one of the many sites that list torrents. Downloading and opening a torrent file triggers your client to open, at which point it attempts to download the larger target file from whatever sources are available.

Among the many torrent listing sites available as of mid-2018 are:

  • Pirate Bay
  • Torrent Downloads
  • Lime Torrents
  • Torrents

A quick web search for BitTorrent sites yields many more. Their availability varies over time due to the tendency of some users to attempt to download copyrighted material. Doing so is a crime that can carry substantial penalties. Users who prefer to keep their torrent browsing and downloading habits private often use virtual private networks (VPNs), which encrypt information and make their activities virtually untraceable.

Whichever method you use, your file is downloaded onto your hard drive in a folder you designate using your client.


Click to viewDespite the fact that BitTorrent has been around for a good 6 years now, the lightning fast file sharing protocol hasn't completely taken off in the mainstream. Since we post a decent amount about BitTorrent around here, we figured it was just time we put out a beginner's guide to BitTorrent. This is the guide you can send to your friend next time he gets that glassy look in his eyes when you mention BitTorrent and how quick and easy it makes downloading albums educational, public domain videos and other large files.

Without going into too much detail, here's a crash course in the file sharing protocol that is BitTorrent (feel free to skip to the How to find and download a file with BitTorrent section if you're not all that interested in the details).

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What is it

BitTorrent is not a program. [1] It's a method of downloading files using a distributed peer-to-peer file sharing system. The programs that you use to download files via the BitTorrent protocol are called BitTorrent clients.

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BitTorrent is not like Limewire/Kazaa/Napster/other P2P programs you've used in the past. This is often the biggest source of confusion for people new to BitTorrent. It's not difficult to use, it's just different. As soon as you forget about your old file-sharing program (and you will once you start using BT), the easier it will be to start using BitTorrent.

How does it work

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What makes the BitTorrent protocol unique is that it distributes the sharing of files across all users who have downloaded or are in the process of downloading a file. Because BitTorrent breaks up and distributes files in hundreds of small chunks, you don't even need to have downloaded the whole file before you start sharing. As soon as you have even a piece of the file, you can start sharing that piece with other users. That's what makes BitTorrent so fast; your BitTorrent client starts sharing as soon as it downloads one chunk of the file (instead of waiting until the entire download has been completed).

In order to download a file like the educational public domain video we mentioned above, you have to find and download a torrent file (which uses the .torrent file extension) and then open it with your BitTorrent client. The torrent file does not contain your files. Instead, it contains information which tells your BitTorrent client where it can find peers who are also sharing and downloading the file.

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How to find and download a file with BitTorrent

Now that you've got a better idea of the terminology and process behind BitTorrent, let's jump right into using BitTorrent.

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First you need to download a BitTorrent client (the program that manages your BitTorrent downloads). I'd recommend:

  • uTorrent for Windows/Mac
  • Transmission for Mac
  • Vuze or KTorrent for Linux (Actually, Vuze is cross platform, meaning it will work on Windows and Mac, but on those platforms we still prefer the alternatives listed above.)

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Search for a good torrent. There are a handful of really good web sites for downloading torrents (that's right, you search for torrents on the internet). The sites I'd recommend (in no particular order) are:

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  • Demonoid (Demonoid is sort of a members only site, but if you can get yourself a membership, it's one of my favorites [and a great place to find more esoteric downloads].)

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Try out whichever one you like. One might fit your tastes better than another, but I've had good experiences with all of these. From this point, search the site using their search box like you're using Google—just type in the name of what you're looking for. You'll likely get several results, but you want to choose the torrent with the highest number of seeders (indicated in most BitTorrent search results under a field labeled 'S'). Seeders are people who have already downloaded and are sharing the entire file. The more seeders, the faster your download will be. Some sites also provide you with a health meter, which is generally a measure of seeders vs. active downloaders.

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Download the torrent. Once you've found a good and healthy torrent, find the download link and download the torrent. Your browser will ask you what you want to do with the file, so be sure to tell it to open the torrent in the BitTorrent client you downloaded above.

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Your BitTorrent client will open and (possibly) ask you where you want to save the file(s). Pick your save location, hit OK, and that's it; your file will begin downloading. If you're not impressed with the speed at first, be patient. It can sometimes take a minute or two before the download ramps up to full speed. If you're still not happy, try searching for another torrent with more seeders.

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That's it?

Yep, that's it. That, in a nutshell, is how to download files using BitTorrent. There can be more to it, of course, if you want to dive in a bit deeper. For example, you can run through the Speed Guide in uTorrent to improve your download speeds (the guide is fairly self explanatory—just go to Options -> Speed Guide to get started), download select files from the torrent rather than every file, throttle your bandwidth, and so on, but this basic guide should get you started.

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Also, to ensure you stay in good standing in the BitTorrent community (and aren't labeled a leecher), you should always try to upload as much as you download. Most BitTorrent clients keep track of your upload/download ratio, and you should generally continue sharing a file until your ratio reaches 1, after which you can feel free to remove it from your client (the file will remain on your computer—you just stop sharing it).

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If you're ready to move on to even more advanced BitTorrent business, head on over to our intermediate guide to BitTorrent. For even more, check out the following posts:

How to Boost Your BitTorrent Speed and Privacy

BitTorrent's been around for a whopping ten years, but it continues to evolve and remains one…

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Bittorrent

Best Site To Download Torrents

Since I'm sure many of our readers are experienced with BitTorrent from way back, I'd love to hear your suggestions for BitTorrent newbs in the comments. Also, if you're new to BitTorrent and you have any questions, let's hear 'em.

How To Download To Utorrent

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Where To Download Torrent Files For Bittorrent Windows 10

[1] Well, there is a BitTorrent client specifically called BitTorrent, but we're talking about the BitTorrent protocol. Most of the time you hear someone talking about BitTorrent, they're talking about the protocol and not the program. [back up]