How To Speed Up Torrent Downloads

Since I can't think of anything else to write as my first post, here is a guide I wrote up earlier on my xomba account.

This is a method which I have found helps very much when trying to maximize the efficiency of your torrent downloads. I use uTorrent as my torrent client, and therefore this method might only apply to uTorrent as I haven’t really tried any other clients out. I am also using a Linksys router, so some of the areas which I mention may differ from your router.

The first step I usually take is to enter the default IP of my router into the address bar of my browser and hit enter. This will differ from router to router but can easily be found using google by typing in your router model. Generally, the default IP looks something like this: 192.168.x.x. After looking into the possible default router addresses I have found that the last to place holders may go up to three digits each. You must also look up you default login and pass for your router, or use the ones which you have already assigned to the router.

After you have successfully reached your router’s setup menu you need to look for a section that reads something along the lines of port forwarding. In my case, I now see the sections Application, Start, End, Protocol, IP Address, and Enable. Yours may not be exactly the same but as long as there are similar field you should be fine. Now I will tell what to type into each of the fields.

Application: This one really is up to you but I use torrent

Start: 6881

End: 6889

Protocol: Hit the down arrow and select Both

IP Address: 192.168.1.xxx

This will differ for you. I will explain this in the next section.

Enable: Just check the box

Now just save the settings.

In order to find the last three digits which you will fill in for the IP Address field of the port forwarding section you must take two simple steps using the command line. I use Windows Vista so I would hit the start button and type “cmd” into the search line. This will bring up the command line. Now just type “ipconfig” and hit enter. You are looking for the last three digits of the IPv4 Address. Once you have acknowledged this you are able to fill these digits into the IP Address field of your router.

At this point you are basically done optimizing your torrent downloads through uTorrent. This last step may have already been a default setting in uTorrent, but I will include it anyway as I don’t remember at all. Open up uTorrent>Options>Speed Guide>Enter 6881 for the current port. You can also test if you have done everything correctly or if there is still something blocking your connection by clicking “Test if port is forwarded properly”.

Hope this guide has helped at least the slightest bit, and thanks for taking the time to look!

If you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will try my best to help out.

Here is a link to my original xomba article I posted earlier- Xomba.com