Why your torrent isn’t downloading [Solved]

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Hey, have you been having trouble downloading torrents recently? You’re not alone. A lot of people have been reporting issues with various torrent clients. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the common problems people are experiencing and show you how to fix them. So, keep reading for some helpful tips and solutions.

1. Incorrect Proxy Settings

The most common reason for a torrent not downloading is that the proxy settings are incorrect.

What are proxy settings, you ask? They’re the settings that tell your computer how to connect to the torrent network. If they’re not set up correctly, it can cause problems with your connection and prevent the torrent from downloading.

So how do you go about fixing them? It’s actually pretty easy. Just follow these steps:

  • Go to your browser’s settings
  • Look for the “Proxy Settings” or “LAN Settings” tab
  • Make sure that the “Use a proxy server” box is unchecked
  • Click on “OK” and then close your browser
  • Open your browser again and try to download the torrent

If that doesn’t work, you can try resetting your router. If you’re not sure how to do that, contact your internet service provider for help.

2. Throttling by your ISP

You’re probably familiar with the term throttling, but do you know what it means when it comes to torrenting? Throttling is when your ISP deliberately slows down your connection to certain websites or services.

ISPs use throttling as a way of controlling the amount of bandwidth that their customers use. They’ll throttle your connection if they think you’re abusing your bandwidth allowance, or if they think you’re downloading too many files at once.

There are a few ways to get around throttling, but the best way is to use a VPN. A VPN will encrypt all of your traffic and protect you from any tracking or monitoring by your ISP.

3. Firewall blocking Torrent connections

Your firewall might be blocking torrent connections. It’s not uncommon for firewalls to block torrents, as they can be seen as a security risk. But don’t worry, there are a few ways to get around this.

One way is to open up the port that your torrent client is using in your firewall. For uTorrent, this port is 6881. If you’re using a different torrent client, you can find the port number in the settings menu.

Another way is to add your torrent client to the exceptions list in your firewall. This will allow the torrent client to bypass the firewall and connect to peers.

If you’re still having trouble connecting to peers, you might want to try using a VPN service. A VPN will encrypt your traffic and allow you to connect to peers without restrictions.

4. Limited Availability / Dead Torrents

It’s frustrating when you’re trying to download a torrent and it just won’t start. You might be wondering, why isn’t my torrent downloading?

There are a few potential reasons why this might be the case. The most common reason is that the torrent is simply unavailable. Maybe the trackers are down, or the file has been taken offline.

Another possibility is that your torrent is dead. This happens when a file has been partially downloaded and then stopped, leaving behind a corrupted file. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do in this case except find a new torrent to download.

5. Check your Antivirus

Your torrent isn’t downloading because your antivirus is blocking it.

It’s not uncommon for antiviruses to block torrents, because they can be used to spread malware. So, if you’re having trouble downloading a file through a torrent, the first thing you should do is check your antivirus settings and make sure that it’s not blocking torrents.

If it is, you’ll need to disable the antivirus for the time being and try again. And if you find that disabling the antivirus isn’t solving the problem, then you might need to get different antivirus software.

6. Outdated Tracker

Your torrent isn’t downloading because the tracker is outdated.

Torrent trackers are essentially servers that help manage the torrent swarm and keep track of who is uploading and downloading files. When a tracker goes offline, it can cause all sorts of problems for the torrent swarm.

Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives to the old, outdated trackers. You can find a list of these trackers on websites like The Pirate Bay and IsoHunt.

So if your torrent isn’t downloading, try using one of these alternative trackers to get things moving again.

7. In-client Encryption settings

It could be that your in-client encryption settings are blocking the torrent from downloading. To check, open your client and click on the Preferences or Options menu. Then go to the Connection tab and make sure that the encrypted connection box is checked.

If it is, try unchecking it and restarting your client. If that still doesn’t work, it might be that your ISP is blocking torrents altogether. In that case, you might have to use a VPN or proxy service to get around the blockade.

Top 5 Best VPNs for Torrenting

1. NordVPN

2. SurfsharkVPN

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN Vertical Logo
  • 3000+ Servers in 160+ locations (94 countries)
  • Unblock Amazon Prime, Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, and more
  • Unbeatable Security Encryption with OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), L2TP, IPSec, IKEv2
  • Full Torrenting Support (Dedicated P2P Servers) with split tunnelling.
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Consoles, routers, etc.
  • 5 Simultaneous device connections
  • Zero Log Policy with a robust automatic kill switch
  • 24/7 Customer Support
  • 30 Days full refund policy

Overview

If you’re looking for the best VPN for torrenting, you can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN. It’s one of the most popular VPNs out there, and it’s got a reputation for being lightning-fast and super reliable. ExpressVPN ships with top-notch AES-256 encryption coupled with perfect forward secrecy for complete anonymity.

Its Lightway protocol is well known for premium VPN speeds for hassle-free torrenting on qBittorrent or other torrent client. Almost every server works flawlessly in unblocking any torrenting services and ExpressVPN is free from all kinds of IP and WebRTC leaks, based on the British Virgin Islands (privacy-friendly), and has a no-log policy.

ExpressVPN covers 5 devices (Complete Family) with a single subscription. And is compatible with almost every device platform like Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS that you would like to unblock 123 Movies.

They manage to offer a 30-day risk-free money-back program and 24/7 live chat support for all of your problems. If you want then there is a hidden page for low-price subscriptions.

Pro’s

  • Best VPN for privacy
  • 24/7 Live Chat Support
  • Excellent torrenting performance
  • Superior Security with AES 256 bit

Con’s

  • 5 Simultaneous devices

4. CyberGhost

5. Private Internet Access

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to torrent for downloading files?

Torrenting is a sharing procedure that is completely legal in most countries. But using this for downloading files containing materials & software, will be considered illegal. There are risks at most by accidental clicking on the wrong link leads you to pay a fine, when you are marked by your ISP. So, we recommend always using a VPN.

How does your ISP track your Torrenting Activities?

They can identify the type of file that you are downloading and the port that you are connected to. They can monitor the bandwidth usage since torrents will use high bandwidth so that they will know that you are torrenting. But with VPNs, they can never know your online activities.

Will Torrenting get you arrested?

You will not go to court by downloading torrents often. But if you are caught torrenting illegally then your ISP can take action against you. But less severe measures like sending out warning letters or might slow down your internet connection usually. There might be chances where you will have to pay the ISP and the Owner of the copyrighted material.

Conclusion

So, those are the seven reasons why your torrent might not be downloading. If you’re still having trouble, it’s best to reach out to your torrent client’s support team. They should be able to help you out.

But hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of what might be going wrong and how to fix it. Stay safe and happy torrenting!

About Tapash Ranjan

Tapash Rajan is a Cybersecurity Analyst, taking a critical eye on VPNs and Cybersecurity services. When not working he can be found watching Animes, Movies, and K-Dramas.

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