This article explains how to download files from the internet using the BitTorrent and µTorrent network protocol. µTorrent is a free client that allows you to share files via the BitTorrent network protocol. Clients such as µTorrent allow you to download data directly from other users' computers without having to go through a web server. Remember that downloading copyrighted content, i.e. digital products that you should have actually bought, represents an act of hacking and violation of copyright laws, so you could be prosecuted.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Download and Install uTorrent
Step 1. Understand the risks you face
Downloading copyrighted content is illegal in almost all countries of the world. You could face administrative penalties or, in the most extreme cases, imprisonment. Your internet connection manager (ISP) may decide to take action directly against you. Use a reliable VPN connection to protect your privacy while using a program like µTorrent. Be very careful as torrent search engines and the files themselves are often used to spread viruses and malware that could harm your computer. Make sure that anti-virus software is installed on your system with which you can scan the files you download for any threats. Search engines for torrents often place banner ads relating to sexually explicit content reserved for an adult audience. For all these reasons, use BitTorrent clients and their downloadable content at your own risk.
Step 2. Visit the website https://www.utorrent.com/ using an internet browser
This is the official website of µTorrent, from which you can download the program installation file.
Step 3. Click the Download µTorrent Web button or scroll down the page and click on the button Download µTorrent Classic.
There are two distinct versions of µTorrent that you can install. µTorrent Web runs directly within the internet browser as an extension. µTorrent Classic, on the other hand, is a BitTorrent client that must be installed and run on the computer just like any other program.
In order to download and install µTorrent, you may need to temporarily disable antivirus real-time protection
Step 4. Install µTorrent
The installation procedure you will need to follow varies according to the operating system you are using (Windows or macOS). Be very careful during the installation phase as µTorrent contains additional software that you may not want to download and install on your computer. Follow these instructions to install µTorrent:
-
Windows:
- Double click on the µTorrent installation file;
- Click on the button Yup when required;
- Click on the button Come on twice;
- Click on the 'I agree;
- Uncheck the check button for installing any additional programs;
- Select the options to create shortcuts to the program and click on the button Come on;
- Click on the button Come on;
- Click on the button Decline relating to the invitation to install the recommended programs;
- Click on the button end to complete the installation.
-
Mac:
- Open the uTorrent installation file;
- Drag the µTorrent app icon into the "Applications" folder.
Part 2 of 3: Enable Data Encryption
Download With uTorrent Step 1 Step 1. Start the µTorrent program
It is characterized by a light green icon with a white "µ" symbol inside. The µTorrent dialog will be displayed. Before downloading any content via uTorrent, you will need to configure the program so that the data is encrypted so as to be sure that the connection to the servers where the torrents reside is secure.
Step 2. Click on the Options menu (Windows) or µTorrent (Mac).
It is located in the upper left of the µTorrent window. A list of items will be displayed.
Data encryption is not available when using the web version of µTorrent
Download With uTorrent Step 3 Step 3. Click on the Preferences option
It is one of the items listed in the drop-down menu that appeared. The "Preferences" window will appear.
Download With uTorrent Step 4 Step 4. Click on the BitTorrent tab
It is visible inside the left pane of the window (on Windows) or at the top of the window (on Mac).
Download With uTorrent Step 5 Step 5. Click on the "Protocol encryption" drop-down menu
It is located at the bottom of the "BitTorrent" tab. The currently selected option should be "Disabled". A list of items will be displayed.
On Mac, the indicated menu is replaced by the "Encrypt Out" section visible at the bottom of the "BitTorrent" tab
Download With uTorrent Step 6 Step 6. Click on the Enabled item or on the radio button Power.
In this way you will activate the encryption of any data you download via uTorrent.
On Mac, select the option Power ensures a more stable and secure connection encryption, but may cause a decrease in download speed or temporary interruption of the connection.
Download With uTorrent Step 7 Step 7. Click the Apply buttons successively And OK.
Both are visible at the bottom of the window. This way the new settings will be saved and applied. Now you can download the content you want using the uTorrent client.
If you are using a Mac, the new configuration settings will be saved automatically, so you simply need to close the "Preferences" window by clicking on the red circular icon in the upper left corner
Part 3 of 3: Downloading Content with uTorrent
Step 1. Use Google to search for the "Torrent" files you want
For legal reasons, most torrent search engines are closed or blacked out very quickly. For this reason it uses Google to search the torrent search engines available at the moment. You will notice that the search results list will be very rich.
Step 2. Go to one of the available search engines
Within these websites you will find the list of all torrent files available for download. Torrent files do not contain the actual content you are trying to download, only some information specific to it. It will be the BitTorrent client you have chosen, in this case µTorrent, which will download the real content from the users who are sharing it, using the information contained in the corresponding torrent file.
- Be careful because many of the torrent search engines contain banner ads for explicit content reserved for an adult audience. In some cases, there may also be links to viruses and malware.
- Pirate Bay is the best known and most used torrent search engine. For legal reasons the site URL changes very frequently.
Step 3. Browse for the file you want to download
Use the search function of the website you have chosen to use to be able to locate the torrent file to download. You can download movies, music, TV series, video games and programs of all kinds.
Download With uTorrent Step 9 Step 4. Download the torrent file of the content you want to download via uTorrent
Click on the button Download, Get this torrent, Torrent download or similar to download the torrent in question. Torrent files are small text files that are stored online and that can be downloaded easily in seconds.
Before proceeding to download the torrent file you have chosen, check the comments and reviews of users who have already downloaded it and the corresponding number of "seeds". The latter information indicates the number of users who own the complete file and are sharing it. The higher the number of seeds, the less time the download will take to complete. Always read other users' comments to make sure the file is correct and does not contain viruses or malware
Step 5. Drag the torrent file into the µTorrent window
Information about the content referenced by the torrent will be displayed. Within the window that appears you can examine the information relating to the download, including the name of the file you are about to download and the folder on the computer where it will be stored (for example the folder Download).
Download With uTorrent Step 11 Step 6. Click the OK button or Add.
It is visible at the bottom of the window. The file referenced by the torrent will be added to the download queue. The files will be processed by µTorrent in the same order in which they are inserted into the program.
Download With uTorrent Step 12 Step 7. Wait for the torrent content download to start
When the message "Downloading 0, 0%" appears next to the name of the file visible in the uTorrent window, you will have the confirmation that the download will actually be in progress.
It may take a few minutes to reach the maximum download speed available. The download may take some time to complete, depending on the number of seeds available, the speed of your internet connection, and the number of downloads already active at the same time
Download With uTorrent Step 13 Step 8. Become a "seed" yourself after the download is complete
Any files you download will be shared automatically after the download is complete. The "seeds" are what allows you to download a file via µTorrent. It is a good idea to share the torrents you own at least for as long as you use µTorrent to download the content you want, so that other users can download theirs from you.
To stop sharing a file, click on the corresponding name with the right mouse button, then click on the option Remove (if you are using uTorrent Classic). If you are using µTorrent Web, click on the "Seeding" slider to disable torrent sharing.
Advice
- If the torrent you have chosen does not have enough "seeds" to guarantee the completion of the download, read this article to find out how to increase them in order to speed up the download of data or facilitate its completion.
- Download the uTorrent installation file always and only from the official website. Downloading it from other sources risks infecting your computer with viruses and malware.
- Make sure you always read other users' comments about the file you want to download to make sure the content is correct and safe.
Warnings
- Remember that downloading movies, music, video games, programs, or any other digital content that you would normally have to buy is illegal. It is as if you are stealing a product sold in any store.
- The standard version of µTorrent has always been totally free, so if you are asked to pay to download the µTorrent installation file, do not do it because it is definitely a scam. Always download uTorrent from the official website.
