Torrenting is a popular way of downloading and sharing files online. However, torrenting can also expose you to various risks, such as malware, legal issues, and bandwidth throttling. That’s why many torrent users rely on VPNs to protect their privacy and security while torrenting.

VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address from your ISP and other third parties. This way, you can download your torrent file anonymously and avoid any potential consequences. 

However, sometimes torrenting with a VPN can cause problems, such as slow speeds, connection drops, or even no downloads at all. If you are facing these issues, don’t worry. Some simple tips can help you fix torrents that are not downloading with a VPN.

Let’s dive into some of the tips!

Tips to Fix Torrent Not Downloading With VPN

1. Check Your VPN Settings

One of the first things you should do is check your VPN settings and ensure they are optimized for torrenting. Some settings you should look for are:

• Kill Switch: A kill switch is a feature that automatically disconnects your internet connection if the device's VPN connection drops. You should always enable the kill switch when torrenting with a VPN.

• Split Tunneling: Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to choose which apps or websites use the VPN connection and which ones don’t. 

• Port Forwarding: Port forwarding is a feature that allows you to open specific ports on a VPN server and improve torrent connectivity. 

2. Choose a Suitable VPN Server

Another vital factor affecting your torrent download is the VPN server you choose. Some of the factors you should consider when choosing a VPN server are:

• Location: The location of the VPN server can greatly impact the torrent speed. Generally, the closer the server is to your physical location, the faster the speed will be. 

• Load: The load of the VPN server refers to the number of users connected to it at a given time. The higher the load, the slower the server will be. 

• P2P Support: P2P (Peer-to-Peer) support means that the VPN server allows and supports torrent traffic. 

3. Use a Reliable and Secure Torrent Client

Your torrent client is the software you use to download and upload torrents. You should always use a reputable and trusted torrent client that has good reviews and ratings from other users. Some of the most popular and reliable torrent clients are:

• qBittorrent: qBittorrent is an open-source, lightweight torrent client that offers a simple and user-friendly interface. It has all the essential features for torrenting, such as encryption, magnet links, DHT, PEX, UPnP/NAT-PMP port forwarding, RSS feeds, IP filtering, etc.

• uTorrent: uTorrent is one of the most widely used and well-known torrent clients worldwide. It has many advanced features, such as streaming, remote control, bandwidth management, scheduling, etc.

• Deluge: Deluge is another open-source and lightweight torrent client that offers a high level of customization and flexibility. It allows you to add or remove various plugins to enhance your torrenting experience. Some plugins include encryption, proxy support, web interface, RSS feeds, etc.

4. Using a Free VPN for PC

One of the most common reasons torrent users face problems with their downloads is that they use a free VPN for PCs. Free VPNs have many limitations and risks that can ruin your torrent experience. Some of the drawbacks of using a free VPN for PC are:

• Limited Bandwidth and Speed: Free VPNs usually have a very low bandwidth and speed limit, making your torrent downloads extremely slow or even impossible. 

• Limited Servers and Locations: Free VPNs usually have a small number of servers and locations that you can choose from. This means that you may not be able to access torrent sites or blocked or restricted content in your region. 

• Limited Security and Privacy: Free VPNs usually have a low level of security and privacy that can expose you to various threats while torrenting.

• Limited Support and Reliability: Free VPNs usually have a low level of support and reliability, which makes your torrenting experience frustrating and disappointing. 

Free VPN Services for Torrenting

Some of the best free VPN services for torrenting are:

• NordVPN: NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for torrenting in general, but it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you use it for free for a month. NordVPN has over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, all supporting P2P file sharing. It also has fast speeds, unlimited data, and industry-leading security features, such as AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy.

• SurfShark: SurfShark is another premium VPN that allows torrenting on all of its 3,200+ servers in 65 countries. It also has unlimited data and bandwidth, as well as advanced security features such as CleanWeb (ad and malware blocker), MultiHop (double VPN), and Whitelister (split tunneling).

• hide.me: hide.me is a free VPN that supports torrenting on five of its servers (located in the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, US East, and US West). It also has decent security features, such as AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logging policy. 

Well, It’s A Wrap!

Torrenting with a VPN can be a great way to download and share files online without compromising your privacy and security. However, sometimes torrenting with a VPN can cause problems that affect your download speeds and quality.

However, you can easily fix these problems by following some simple tips, such as checking your VPN settings, choosing a suitable VPN server, using a reliable and secure torrent client, and avoiding free VPNs for your PC. By doing so, you can enjoy torrenting with a VPN without any hassle or worry.