This article will show you how to increase the download speed of a file using the uTorrent torrent client. Seeds (peers) are users who distribute the file you need, so the number of seeds cannot be increased unless you ask them to distribute the file; you can also just wait for this number to increase by itself. But downloads can be accelerated in other ways.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Basic Steps
Step 1. Close background programs and streaming services
This will not affect the number of seeds, but it will increase the bandwidth of the Internet connection that is used to download files. Close:
- Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
- Active downloads on other devices (smartphone / tablet / console updates, and so on).
- Unnecessary programs on the computer (background programs like Skype or Slack, second browser, etc.)
Step 2. Find a torrent with a lot of seeds
If you prefer to download a file faster and don't care much about its quality and size, find a torrent of this file with a lot of seeds.
- For example, you might find a 720p (HD) movie torrent with more seeds than the same 1080p (Full HD) movie.
- We recommend looking for torrents, the number of seeders (uploading) of which is greater than the number of liches (downloading).
Step 3. Don't download unnecessary files
When a torrent is opened in uTorrent, a window appears in that torrent client window listing all the torrent files. Uncheck the boxes for files you don't want to download to speed up the download process.
Typically, the less popular files (like tutorials or uninstallers) that are included in the torrent have much fewer individual seeds. A low number of these seeds slows down the download speed of the entire file, so uncheck unnecessary files to speed up downloads
Step 4. Download only one file at a time
Instead of downloading multiple files at once (for example, multiple movies or programs), download them one at a time to use the entire bandwidth of your Internet connection.
Step 5. Don't download popular files
Unfortunately, a popular file can be downloaded within a few days from the moment it was posted on a torrent tracker. This is due to the fact that many users will download such a file; but as soon as they download the file, they will turn into seeds and the download speed will increase significantly.
Method 2 of 3: How to add trackers
Step 1. Find active trackers
In a search engine, enter the torrent tracker list [month] [year] and press ↵ Enter. Instead of [month], enter the current month, and instead of [year], enter the current year (for example, list of trackers for torrents December 2018).
Step 2. Open a site with trackers
When you find a site with trackers for the current month and year, click on the site's link to open it.
- Make sure the site is secure before opening it. In particular, it must use HTTPS encryption (for example, the site address must start with the prefix "https://" to "www").
- Typically, trackers can be found on the site from which you downloaded the torrent. Find the tab or section "Trackers" or "Trackers" on the home page of the site.
Step 3. Copy the list of trackers
Hold down the mouse button and drag over all trackers to select them, and then press Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (Mac) to copy them.
Trackers are web addresses
Step 4. Launch uTorrent
Click on the green and white uTorrent logo icon.
Step 5. Open the torrent properties
Double click on the torrent to which you want to add seeds.
Step 6. Go to the General tab
It's in the upper left corner of the Properties window.
Step 7. Click on the "Trackers" window
It's in the middle of the Properties window. The cursor will appear in the window.
Step 8. Insert the list of trackers
Move your cursor to the bottom of the current trackers list, press ↵ Enter to create a blank line between the cursor and the last tracker, and then press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (Mac).
Make sure there is a blank line between each tracker line
Step 9. Click on OK
This button is at the bottom of the window. The number of trackers for the selected torrent will increase, which in turn will lead to an increase in the number of seeds within a few minutes.
Method 3 of 3: How to increase the number of connections
Step 1. Launch uTorrent
Click on the green and white uTorrent logo icon. Typically, it is located on the desktop or taskbar.
Step 2. Click on Settings (Windows) or uTorrent (Mac).
It's in the upper-left corner of the uTorrent window. A menu will open.
Step 3. Click Application Settings
You will find this option at the top of the menu. A window with uTorrent settings will open.
Step 4. Click the Speed tab
It's on the left side of the window (Windows) or at the top of the window (Mac).
Step 5. Enter 14 in the "Maximum download speed" text box
It's at the top of the page.
Step 6. Enter 2329 in the "Maximum Connections" field
You will find it at the bottom of the window.
Step 7. Enter 257 in the "Maximum connected peers per torrent" field
It's under the Maximum Connections field.
Step 8. Enter 14 in the "Upload slots per torrent" field
It's at the bottom of the page.
Step 9. Click Apply
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The changes will take effect.
Step 10. Click on OK
The changes are saved and the Preferences window is closed.