How to Configure uTorrent

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to optimize uTorrent for quick download speeds and Internet security on a Windows computer. If you're using uTorrent on Mac, your uTorrent program is already configured if you're using default settings; you can reset the settings by uninstalling and reinstalling uTorrent if you've changed the settings.

Part 1

Part 1 of 8:

Using Proper Torrent Protocol

1
Download and install uTorrent. If you don't already have uTorrent installed on your computer, make sure that you download and install it before proceeding.
- To configure uTorrent for Mac, simply download and install it using the default settings. You can uninstall it first if you have it installed already.
- Installing uTorrent using the default installation settings will make configuring uTorrent later marginally less time-consuming.
2
Only download from reputable sites. Make sure that you're downloading torrents from sites that have "https://" in front of the website's address. Most browsers will warn you if a site is unsecure, but double-check the "https" tag just to be sure.

Advertisement
3
Check the comments on the download. Even if the site is secure, infected or malicious torrents can sneak through. Read the user comments on the torrent to verify that the torrent is safe before actually downloading it.
- You can also check the rating to confirm the comments. If the torrent has generally positive ratings and reviews, it should be safe.
4
Make sure that your download has more seeds than leeches. This essentially means that the download has more people supporting it than downloading, which will lead to faster download speeds and complete recovery of the downloaded file.
5
Download during low-activity hours. Try downloading the file overnight or during early morning to avoid bandwidth issues.
6
Use an Ethernet cable if possible. If your computer has an Ethernet port on it, connect your computer directly to your router via Ethernet to strengthen your connection. This will increase both your download speed and your Internet security while doing so.
- Modern Mac laptops don't have Ethernet slots.
7
Download one torrent at a time. Unless you absolutely have to download multiple files at once, limit your downloading to one file at a time to ensure that your download speed isn't affected by other files.

Part 2

Part 2 of 8:

Configuring General Settings

1
Open uTorrent. Double-click the uTorrent app icon, which resembles a white "µ" on a lime-green background.
2
Click Options. It's in the upper-left side of the uTorrent window. A drop-down menu will appear.
3
Click Preferences. This option is near the top of the Options drop-down menu.
4
Select a language. Click the "Language" drop-down box, then click the language that you want to use for uTorrent.
5
Decide whether or not you want uTorrent to start with your computer. If you don't want uTorrent starting up when your computer turns on, uncheck the "Start µTorrent with Windows starts" box.
6
Make sure that updates will automatically install. Check the "Automatically install updates" box if it isn't already checked.
- You can also check the "Notify me before installing updates" box to ensure that uTorrent won't surprise you with an update in the middle of something important.
7
Prevent detailed information sharing. Uncheck the "Send detailed info when checking for updates" box. This will prevent your personal uTorrent behavior and information from being shared with uTorrent.

Part 3

Part 3 of 8:

Configuring Download Locations

1
Click the Directories tab. It's on the left side of the window.
2
Check the "Move completed downloads to" box. You'll find this near the top of the window.
3
Click …. It's to the right of the "Move completed downloads to" box.
4
Select a folder. Click a folder (e.g., Desktop) that you want to use as your completed files' storage location.
5
Click Select Folder. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This will save your selected folder.
6
Repeat this process for each directory that you want to use. To do so, check the box next to one of the following options, then click … and select a folder:
- Put new downloads in
- Store .torrents in
- Move .torrents for finished jobs to
- Automatically load .torrents from

Part 4

Part 4 of 8:

Configuring Your Connection

1
Click the Connections tab. It's on the left side of the window.
2
Change the "Incoming connections" port to 45682. You'll see this text box in the upper-right side of the window.
3
Enable port mapping. Check each of the following boxes if they aren't already checked:
- Enable UPnP port mapping
- Enable NAT-PMP port mapping
4
Allow uTorrent through the Firewall. Check the "Add Windows Firewall exception" box if it isn't already checked.

Part 5

Part 5 of 8:

Configuring Bandwidth Settings

1
Click the Bandwidth tab. It's on the left side of the window.
2
Increase the maximum number of connections. Type 500 into the text box to the right of the "Global maximum number of connections" heading.
3
Increase the maximum number of connected peers. Type 500 into the text box to the right of the "Maximum number of connected peers per torrent" heading.
4
Check the "Apply rate limit to UTP connections" box. It's in the "Global Rate Limit Options" section of settings on this page.
5
Check the "Use additional upload slots…" box. This option is at the bottom of the page.

Part 6

Part 6 of 8:

Configuring BitTorrent Settings

1
Click the BitTorrent tab. It's on the left side of the window.
2
Disable limiting features. Uncheck both the "Limit local peer bandwidth" box and the "Enable Altruistic Mode" box.
3
Check every other box on this page. If all of the other boxes on this page are already checked, skip this step.
4
Click the "Outgoing" drop-down box. It's below the "Protocol Encryption" heading. A drop-down menu will appear.
5
Click Forced. Doing so will force uTorrent to use Protocol Encryption all of the time, thereby increasing your overall security.

Part 7

Part 7 of 8:

Configuring Queuing Settings

1
Click the Queueing tab. It's on the left side of the window.
2
Check the maximum active torrents value. You should see "8" in the box to the right of the "Maximum number of active torrents" heading. If there is a different number there, delete it and type 8 into the box.
3
Lower the maximum active downloads value. By default, the number to the right of the "Maximum number of active downloads" heading is "5", but you should delete this number and type 1 into the box.
4
Check the "Minimum ratio (%)" box. If it says "200" here, you're all set; if not, replace the number here with 200.

Part 8

Part 8 of 8:

Configuring Cache Settings

1
Click + to the left of Advanced. It's in the lower-left side of the window. You should see several new tabs appear.
2
Click Disk Cache. This option is below the Advanced tab.
3
Uncheck the "Increase automatic cache size when cache thrashing" box. You'll find this near the bottom of the window.
4
Check every other box on this page. If the boxes are already checked, skip this step.
5
Change the cache size. In the text box to the right of the "Override automatic cache size and specify the size manually (MB)" heading, delete the number that's there and type in 1800.
6
Click Apply, then click OK. Both options are at the bottom of the window. Doing so saves all of your settings and applies them to uTorrent. You should now be able to download torrent files with optimal speed and security.
- You may have to close and re-open the uTorrent program before these settings go into effect.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you seed files? What does this mean?

Community Answer

Normally, on Utorrent, files begin seeding as soon as they are finished downloading. When using Utorrent, you are downloading by receiving fragments of a file (or files) from other users. That said, seeding can be considered as you contributing to the sharing of these fragments, thus making it easier for others to download.
Question

When I go on to my app it's asking me to turn off private browsing, which I don't know how to do. Any help?

Community Answer

If you're on mac, you can go off private browsing by going into your Google Chrome or Safari preferences and it's pretty simple from there.
Question

How do I enlarge the box for choosing a torrent?

Community Answer

If you have the correct screen resolution, the whole of uTorrent can fit on your screen, so simply right click on your desktop, select "Screen Resolution," and adjust it from there. It's all trial and error; make a note of the correct resolution so you'll have it for the future.