Torrents are one of the most common ways of sharing files on the internet, and their use accounts for 50% of all data traffic on the internet. Even though its use has spread, sometimes torrents are still very difficult to use for new users. Luckily, getting started with torrenting is surprisingly easy, and you can start sharing files in just a few minutes. Read the steps below to get started.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Installing a Torrent client
Step 1. Understand the basics of using torrents
Torrent files allow you to download almost any type of file from another computer sharing the file. Torrents allow files to be split into smaller chunks. The shard is then downloaded from other users who already have the shard on their computer. Once all the shards have been downloaded, the file will be reconstructed and ready to use on your computer.
- When you download from a torrent, you become a "leecher". When you share content, you become a "seeder". This term will appear frequently in the future.
- Read the rules regarding copyright. Most of the content shared on torrents is illegal content. Don't download those torrents. Download and share content that you are allowed to share.
Step 2. Download the bitTorrent client
This client is used to manage your torrent downloads and uploads. You must have a bitTorrent client to use torrents. Download the client from a trusted source. There are tons of clients available, but some popular choices are BitTorrent, uTorrent, and Vuze.
Step 3. Install the client
Be careful when installing the bitTorrent client, because many clients include adware and browser malware that must be removed manually during the installation process to prevent them from being installed on your system.
Part 2 of 4: Downloading Torrents
Step 1. Find a torrent tracker site
This site provides a list of torrent files. They don't actually host the files shared on the torrent on their servers, but they only host the torrent files. There are two types of trackers, namely open and closed trackers (private).
- An open tracker, as the name suggests, is a tracker that is open to the public and can be found with a regular Google search. To use it, no registration is required and there are no conditions for sharing content there. Usually this site is full of ads. Because this site is open to the public, a lot of copyrighted content is shared on this site, and downloading copyrighted content will subject you to prosecution by your internet service provider.
- Private trackers are usually only open to invited users and cannot be found via Google. You usually have to register to use it, and your ratio is usually controlled to make sure you're seeding files at least as much as you're leeching files.
Step 2. Find the file you want
Use the search function on the torrent tracker site you visit to find the file you want to download. Tracker will display a list of your search results, and usually will have many options, especially if you are looking for popular keywords.
- Use popular keywords to find the file you want. For example if you want to find the third episode of the first season of a TV show/anime, type " S01E03".
- Many trackers open that show ads at the top of your search results, and those ads look like real search results.
Step 3. Decide which files you should download
When many search results for the file you want, you have to select the file you downloaded. There are several factors to choose the file you download, including:
- Quality - If you download videos, different encoding processes will produce different video files. Generally, if the file size is larger, then the quality is definitely better. Check the comments field on the torrent file you want to ensure the quality of the file. Many trackers allow users to rate torrents, which will help with your choice.
- Number of seeders - The more seeders a torrent has, the faster your torrent will finish. This is because the more seeders, the more users you will be able to connect with when you download the fragments of the file. If there are more leechers in a file, your download will take longer to complete. Most trackers can sort torrents by number of seeders.
Step 4. Make sure you can open the file you downloaded, especially video files which are usually encoded in a format not supported by Windows Media Player or QuickTime
To make sure you can open any video you download, please use a third-party video player like VLC or Media Player Classic.
Sometimes files in torrents are available in ISO format. This file is taken directly from the CD/DVD, and must be burned or installed in a virtual CD/DVD before playing
Step 5. Be careful when selecting files
Torrents are a common way to spread viruses and other computer infections. If a file has multiple seeders, it's most likely clean. Also check the comments column to ensure the health of the file you download.
Step 6. Download your torrent
Once you find the file you want, click on the link to download the file in the tracker and you will get a torrent file. This file is very small and does not have any content. Torrent files are useful for connecting you to other users who share the files you want.
Step 7. Open your torrent file
Most torrent clients on Windows will start as soon as you click on a torrent file. Otherwise, open your torrent client and open the torrent file through that client.
- If you don't set a download location, you will be asked for a location for the download when you load the torrent file.
- If you don't have enough space in your download storage location, you can't start the download.
Step 8. Start for a while until the download starts
After a while, your torrent client will start connecting to the seeder. You will start to see the download speed increase and the progress bar will advance to 100 percent. ref>https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/download-torrents-stick-man/# !FXa0Q
You can download multiple torrents at the same time, but the download speed will be split between the active torrents
Part 3 of 4: Seeding Torrents
Step 1. Keep seeding after your file has finished downloading
Torrents are very dependent on the community to share files, and will die if there are no seeds to share the files. Every torrent user should seed after the download is complete.
- Most internet service providers set the upload speed lower than the download speed. This means, it will take longer to reach a 1:1 upload ratio on your torrent. The solution, leave the torrent application open in the background.
- Note: If you move or delete files, you will lose the ability to seed.
Step 2. Set the upload limit
Most torrent clients allow you to limit your torrent seed activity. This option is usually in the Preferences > Queueing menu.
- Set the minimum ratio. This is the minimum ratio you will seed after the torrent is complete. Set it at 100%, which means you will upload 300MB if you download 300MB.
- If you want to stop the seeding process after the ratio is met, set the speed limit at 0.
Step 3. Be a seeder in a closed tracker
Closed trackers have strict seeding rules. They usually require you to seed up to a 1:1 ratio, even more. If you do not comply with these rules, your account will be banned and you will no longer be able to access the tracker.
Part 4 of 4: Creating torrents
Step 1. Open your torrent client
Apart from being able to download torrents, your client can also create torrent files. This is a good way to share files with your friends. Be careful with copyrighted content, as users who share content are usually prosecuted more often than users who download it.
Step 2. Create your torrent file
Although the process depends on the client you are using, you can usually click File > Create new Torrent. This option will open a torrent file creation window.
Step 3. Add the files you want to share
A torrent can contain one or many files. Use "Add Files" or "Add Directory" to add files to your torrent. You can share any type of file on your torrent.
Step 4. Add tracker
In the "Torrent Properties" window, you can find the "Tracker" field. Enter the tracker address to share your torrent on various trackers. Most clients have provided a commonly used tracker address, but for closed trackers, you'll need to enter the address yourself.
Step 5. Start seeding
Click the "Create" button and your torrent will start the seeding process. Do this until enough people have downloaded your file. If you stop it before anyone has managed to download your file, your torrent will die.
Tips
- Update your antivirus before using torrents.
- Always make sure you download virus-free files. Scan the file before opening.
- Install a protection program such as Peerblock or PeerGuardian.
Warning
- Some internet service providers will try to stop torrenting activity and will slow down your internet when you are caught using torrents. This will slow down and even stop your downloads/uploads.
- Slowing down your upload speed might cause you to get banned on a closed tracker.
- Don't use torrents to infringe copyright. You will be subject to lawsuits.
