How to use BitTorrent to send files
Note: If you are new to uTorrent and don't know how to download files, see this tutorial.
Another note: It appears that some users (probably only Azureus) are being asked for a username/password for authentication when opening the torrent. Just clicking "Cancel" on that window seems to work fine.
Yet another note: Please don't post support issues here, this is not the official troubleshooting forum. Support requests here will be ignored/deleted, only post issues about the actual walkthrough. You can post problems at the official uTorrent forums.
Being a computer engineer, I have a lot of files to transfer. Usually we are able to use IM to send/receive files, but they clients' transfer functions aren't very good, so usually the files are slow, they stop transferring, you can't stop them or resume them, and they're generally very cumbersome.
Seeing how everyone these days has a BitTorrent client, I thought "why not use it to send files to people? That's what it's made for!" It's very easy to send a file via BitTorrent, and you can send it to many people at once and the speed will still be very good, so I decided to write a small tutorial to show people how easy it is and how well it works.
The tutorial is focused on uTorrent, a popular BitTorrent client, but it's about the same with other clients. This introduction served only to distract you while the tutorial is loading (and it should have loaded by now), so watch it and you should be able to send any file anywhere in just minutes!
By the way, if you're going to send something to many people, you could enable "Super seeding" in the torrent creation dialog. That sends the whole file to those people with the fastest connections first so they can redistribute it even if you leave.
Here is the tutorial (you need to have Flash installed to watch it, if the window appears cut off, visit the standalone version.):
If you want to know what all these settings you just changed did, here's a quick rundown on how BitTorrent works: The .torrent file you create contains a bit of information about the files you want to send, the address of the tracker computer, etc. When you send this file to someone (by email, IM, or any other way) and they open it, their client connects to the tracker and asks it to tell them who else has this file. The tracker does this, and they connect to other people and download the parts of the file they don't have and upload the parts they have.
The information in the torrent file make sure that the data you download is correct and not corrupt somehow, and the tracker's job is to tell the people who are downloading who all is in the "swarm". The port number you changed is where on your computer people will connect to "talk" to your client and the advanced setting was to allow uTorrent to become a tracker (otherwise noone would know that you had the file). In this case you are both the tracker and the seed (the person who has the file), but there is no reason why these can't be (and usually are) on different computers. As a sidenote, if you have a dynamic IP, you should use a service like DynDNS to get a permanent hostname or make sure that your IP doesn't change for as long as you want to remain a tracker.
A little sidenote on trackerless torrents: The programs who support them (they will say they have DHT support) no longer need a tracker, but they do a search that is similar to how you search p2p networks like eMule, Gnutella, etc to find the torrent. They do that if the tracker is not accessible, so theoretically you could just skip all these steps and directly create the torrent without any tracker address in it, and (if all the people use compatible programs) the torrent would still work.
That's about it, post comments here or look at the uTorrent FAQ if you have any questions.
That depends on the torrent, it is very likely that you get even 1-2 kb/s, depending on the torrent. Try to download OpenOffice or a Linux distribution from a torrent (just a few MB) and see what the maximum transfer rate is, those torrents are usually very well seeded.
Submitted by Stavros on Sun, 26/02/2006 - 04:50.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
I am a hardcore Bitcomet fan and I have been searching for a way to transfer HUGE files from my work computer to my home computer and vice/versa. Is there a way I can do this even though I have to log out of Windows Server at work (using Bitcomet)? If not, how about uTorrent? Thanks!
Submitted by The sleepwalker (not verified) on Thu, 19/04/2007 - 19:38.I am not familiar with BitComet but it should have the same capabilities as uTorrent. The big obstacle is leaving the program open, which you can't do if your session terminates. You can just disconnect (this will leave your session open), but your administrator might close it after a few minutes (or maybe not, try it and see).
Submitted by Stavros on Thu, 19/04/2007 - 20:08.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
I opened up a udp and tcp port on my machine at work for Bitcomet. When logging off, the (torrent) program stays open.
In my torrent creator dialog box, I have options to:
• Enable Public DHT Network (Recommended)
• Disable Public DHT Network (Use Tracker Server)
• Only Accept Peers from Tracker (No DHT or Peer Exchange)
Which do I choose?
Also, should I use udp, http, tcp, or ftp prefix on my tracker?
(i.e. : http//:123.123.123.123:12345:announce).
Thanks a lot.
Submitted by KS (not verified) on Thu, 19/04/2007 - 20:50.You should enable public DHT and enter the prefix your tracker supports (presumably BitComet has a builtin tracker). It might work even without a tracker if you enable DHT, though, so try it and see.
Submitted by Stavros on Thu, 19/04/2007 - 21:05.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Go to www.mininova.org and search in the search bar for the songs/movies you want if you don't find them there go to www.isohunt.com
^^^both very useful for finding music and movies
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 17/02/2007 - 20:28.Hi I am not very good at using uTorrent. My question is if I am using uTorrent to download movies off the internet is it possible for unwanted content (such as x-rated content) to save itself as a uTorrent file on my D: drive?
Considering I never looked for any of that content or clicked on any? also, why would it save as a uTorrent file??
Thank you
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 26/03/2006 - 19:32.Hmm, if you mean if it's possible for viruses to be inside torrents, it is possible, but not more than in other media (e.g. if you only download one video file then that file is not executable, so you're safe). Don't run programs in torrents if you don't know what they do, though.
Torrents themselves are not executable, and you can't catch a virus by saving them or opening them in uTorrent.
Submitted by Stavros on Tue, 28/03/2006 - 01:04.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Very well done. Big thanks for taking the time to do the video. I always have files I need from family/friends and this will really help since I won't have to explain the process to them.
Submitted by isaac (not verified) on Tue, 28/03/2006 - 00:58.Thank you for the feedback, I'm glad you found it useful :)
Submitted by Stavros on Tue, 28/03/2006 - 01:05.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Hi, great tutorial!
I also get the same as above. WHen anyone tries to connect to my torrent, they are asked for a user and pass. I do not know why that is so but its true. Any ideas?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 27/04/2006 - 12:11.I have no idea... Maybe you checked "Private torrent"? I don't know why the tracker would ask for a password...
Submitted by Stavros on Thu, 27/04/2006 - 13:40.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
No I am sure I did not. I even tried all the steps from scratch but I get the same result.
Yiannos
Submitted by Yiannos (not verified) on Thu, 27/04/2006 - 14:00.No idea then :/ I can't tell you what it is if I can't reproduce it :/ Maybe ask on the uTorrent forums?
Submitted by Stavros on Sat, 29/04/2006 - 08:55.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
A few days ago while using utorrent: I was clicking around and I think I may have held down the right click or something because now in the Detailed Info section (the area in which it happened over) specifically in the FILES section does not show the name of the file being downloaded
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 28/04/2006 - 23:27.size, done, percent, # of pieces, pieces and priority sections are all there but not the section with the individual file name
IE could I have minimized it, shrank it? how do I get it back?
Right-click on the column names and select "Reset". By the way, this isn't the correct section :p
Submitted by Stavros on Sat, 29/04/2006 - 10:11.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Hi everyone :)
first excuse me for my english, I'm french and cannot speak as perfectly as you do... ;) so my problem: I use BitLord as BitTorrent client and I've tried sending a file about 700Mo. So I create the Torrent file, first with BitLord and then with Torrent Maker when I saw it didn't work. Even when I put my own IP into 'Tracker', the guys who I send the .torrent file to don't manage to download it (and I don't even see myself as a seed)... Please how can I do, before shooting myself down (lol)? Thanks a lot for answering, I'm desperate.
Elie
Submitted by South DeviL (not verified) on Sat, 13/05/2006 - 23:07.Download uTorrent and seed with that? :P
Submitted by Stavros on Sun, 14/05/2006 - 02:20.I can't help you with BitLord, I've never used it :(
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Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Ok I've tried and seems it works, thanks for helping :) :)
Submitted by South DeviL (not verified) on Sun, 14/05/2006 - 21:19.My port is forwarded correctly. When I create a torrent with my IP address it says "No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it." However, if I use my internal IP address for my network (192.168.1.XX) it works fine. Do you know what the problem is?
Submitted by UnknownEvil (not verified) on Tue, 16/05/2006 - 22:55.Have you checked if a firewall is blocking the port?
Submitted by Stavros on Tue, 16/05/2006 - 23:04.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Your tutorial has no steps, no how-to information. It just says this can be done. About the farthest from a useful tutorial possible, not remotely what I was hoping for in terms of details or usefulness. Are there any steps for creating a torrent? And for sending that file elsewhere? Any steps at all? or does this all just happen via magick?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 30/08/2006 - 13:35.Its a video file, although its never said anywhere. click it to watch the tutorial.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 30/08/2006 - 23:07.Yeah, you need Flash to see it.
Submitted by Stavros on Thu, 31/08/2006 - 10:26.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Hey I am using KTorrent 2.0.1 in KDE 3.5.3 (Kubuntu). It doesn't seem to have these advanced options that Poromenos says are needed. For Port options, I have "Download" section, which is set to "Port: 6881", or "UDP tracker port: 4444" (Poromenos' example was a five-digit port, '12345'). I also don't see any options for bt.enable_tracker [true/false].
Is anyone more versed in this and can show me how to do this in KTorrent? I am seeding this file from my home machine and when I dl the .torrent at work, I can see one peer (my home machine) but it doesn't connect...
Poromenos thanks for the starting guide! I just have to get it working now on my system...
Submitted by lefty.crupps (not verified) on Fri, 01/09/2006 - 13:20.Well, KTorrent isn't really the same as uTorrent, I wouldn't expect it to have the same options. I've never used it, so I can't help you, but if you poke around or ask someone who knows, I think you'll figure it out.
Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.
Submitted by Stavros on Fri, 01/09/2006 - 14:15.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
great presentaion, may I ask wich program did you use to create it?
thanks
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 13/10/2006 - 19:41.I used Debugmode's Wink.
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Submitted by Stavros on Sat, 14/10/2006 - 02:12.Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Superbly well done :). Great work.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 06/01/2007 - 21:53.Thank you :)
Submitted by Stavros on Sun, 07/01/2007 - 01:33.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Easy to follow, even I, a 54 year old woman got it working the first try!!
Yay!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 19:33.really an excellent guide. i am going to try this and hopefully it works.
Submitted by mmah on Thu, 25/01/2007 - 09:57.thanks a lot for this wonderful guide.
Thanks so much for this tutorial, it's absolutely fab!
Submitted by Chris (not verified) on Fri, 26/01/2007 - 15:35.Quick question though - what are your views on using uTorrent 1.6 to share files with the standard, in-built Windows Firewall that comes with XP Home Edition SP2? I've started leaving it on and connected to the internet with uTorrent running 24/7 recently, and a few mates have suggested that my computer is "gonna get absolutely nailed"! Not very reassuring :p
So I thought I'd ask the expert - is it relatively unsafe to use uTorrent normally (not download applications etc) with the Windows built-in firewall? And where the option "bt.enable_tracker" is changed to True in the tutorial - does that further increase the machine's security risk?
Many thanks dude :D
I have found that the Windows Firewall is actually better than other solutions because it's lighter and more to-the-point. Leaving uTorrent on won't do anything to compromise your machine (unless a flaw is found, which is unlikely and true for every other program as well). The tracker option isn't likely to compromise anything either, but I like to leave it off in case people discover it and start using my server as a tracker, consuming my bandwidth. Otherwise, no harm can come of it.
Submitted by Stavros on Fri, 26/01/2007 - 16:13.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Thanks again for your help :)
Submitted by Chris (not verified) on Sun, 28/01/2007 - 18:33.Hi,
Thanks for this tutorial. It is really helpful. I am new to the concept of P2p sharing so pls bear with me. I have 2 questions: (1) How can I send the torrent files I have created to my friends. (2) What happens if I save the torrent files as Private as I have to tell them first before they start downloading or is it not necessary?
Txs
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/03/2007 - 20:23.You can send the torrent file as you'd send any file, through IM or email or whatever. The "private" option, as I explained in the tutorial, disables DHT and PEX so if your tracker goes down they won't be able to keep downloading the file.
Submitted by Stavros on Sun, 11/03/2007 - 21:06.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Why can't I get my downloads to play......I am really annoyed
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 26/04/2007 - 17:21.Does it matter if I have a dynamic address, not static (cable router)?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 24/05/2007 - 01:21.I was so excited that even I could follow your directions (I think even my dog could)! But then you just left me hanging...at the end you say Ok now just send the torrent. Do you mean email or is there another click on utorrent or should the people at the other end do something special to see it or what? I feel like you just stuck a pin in my big bright balloon.
If you have a dynamic address you just have to use a dynamic hostname or take care that the IP does not change. By "send the torrent" I mean send it any way you want, email, IM, put it on a website, floppy disks, carrier pigeon, anything :P
Submitted by Stavros on Thu, 24/05/2007 - 09:26.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
At home, I have a PC running XP professional, and a Mac running OSX. I use µtorrent on the PC and Transmission on the Mac. I have successfully downloaded files from various sites on both the clients.
Submitted by jnulu on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 04:33.Never having created a torrent file, I wished to create and upload a torrent file (purely as a test), from the PC, send the torrent file via email to myself and download the file from my Mac using Transmission. The computers are networked. The router used is a SMC 7004ABR
Using your excellent guide, I created a torrent file from a 750MB .avi file that I had downloaded a while ago and saved it to the desktop on my PC.
Immediately I saw the file to start seeding from µTorrent.
Then emailed the torrent file to myself, downloaded the file to the Mac desktop and opened it using the Transmission client.
Then nothing happens! I tried using my IP address (tracker), I tried using one of the trackers provided by mininova.org with no success.
What am I doing wrong?
Any help would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks!
Since you are on a LAN you need to use the local computer IPs. The mininova tracker wouldn't work because the computers are probably on the same external IP address. Try setting the computer's local IP as the tracker IP.
Submitted by Stavros on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 07:07.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Thanks for your reply. I hope I understood you correctly.
Submitted by jnulu on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 21:09.I did input my IP adrress in the tracker field of µTorrent
before I tried the tracker from Mininova.
But this also did not work and hence my request to you for help.
Thanks again!
Yes, but did you try the local IP? 192.168.xx.xx?
Submitted by Stavros on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 22:05.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Sorry, I am lost! I am not very computer savvy :-))
What is this local IP? And what do the xx's mean?
Can a torrent file be seeded by one person and downloaded by just only one other person?
Very grateful for your help.
Submitted by jnulu on Thu, 09/08/2007 - 02:59.Yes, it can. Go to Start->Run and type ipconfig and press enter. Then paste here what it says.
Submitted by Stavros on Thu, 09/08/2007 - 09:11.---
Vidi, Vici, Veni.
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\User>ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.8
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
C:\Documents and Settings\User>
Thanks!
Submitted by jnulu on Fri, 10/08/2007 - 02:20.After posting the IPConfig details, I was able to figure out my local host IP address
Submitted by jnulu on Fri, 10/08/2007 - 04:06.and then use it in the tracker field. Downloading the torrent file from the other computer
was then very easy and successful.
THANKS a million for your help! :-)))
Thanks for the great tutorial, helped me a lot making my own tracker
But I have a little problem, my friends download is stuck at 98.5% and the upload speed at my computer is 1kb or less, it doesn't really go higher..
Any idea how I can make it go faster and hopefully finish the last 1.5%?
Thanks in advance.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/12/2007 - 01:09.I am transfering files from one computer to another in the same house. This file is to large for a flash drive. I have set up everything as per your guide and it works however, the speed is very inconsistent. It jumps to around 1mbps then goes down to zero in a few seconds. Then it stays at zero for around 8 min, then jumps back up. What is the problem?
Submitted by Tony (not verified) on Mon, 11/02/2008 - 21:13.