Torrenting has been a popular way to download large files for quite some time now. While it is generally reliable, torrent downloading can sometimes be frustratingly slow, something that can be especially frustrating with large files. However, there are ways to increase the download speed and make the whole process much smoother.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you increase your torrent download speeds:

Choose the right torrent client

The first thing to consider when improving your torrent download speeds is the right torrent client. uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, and QBittorrent are some of the most popular clients. Before downloading a client, research about the client and its features first to make sure that it will serve your needs best.

Adjust the bandwidth allocation

Most torrent clients will provide the option for you to adjust the bandwidth allocation. This setting allows you to limit the upload and download speed, so it cannot consume all of your available bandwidth. If you set your upload speed to a low number, it will allow more resources to be allocated to your download speed.

Seeders and leechers

Seeders and leechers play a huge role in the speed of your download. Seeders are people who have downloaded the entire file and are now uploading it to help others download it. Leeched, on the other hand, are those who that are currently downloading the file.

The more seeders there are, the faster the download will go because, with more seeders, swarms are faster. So, if you want to increase your download speed, make sure to choose torrents that have more seeders than leechers.

Choose the right time to download

The time of day you choose to download can significantly affect your torrent download speed. If you download during peak hours when there are many people using the same network, you may experience slower download speeds. So, consider downloading during off-peak hours when few people are using the network to have the network’s full bandwidth all to yourself.

Use a VPN

Using a virtual private network (VPN) when torrenting is not only safe but also allows you to access downloads that may be geo-blocked. VPNs also help to improve your download speed by hiding your IP address and making it harder for internet service providers to throttle your download speed.