uTorrent

About this release

uTorrent is the client that put BitTorrent on ordinary desktops, and its whole reputation rests on being tiny and quick. The executable is a few megabytes, it starts instantly, and it barely registers in memory while it saturates a connection across dozens of peers. This build keeps that character and clears out the promotional panels and offers that the stock installer bundles, leaving the transfer engine and nothing else.

The client does the full job of a modern torrent tool. It handles magnet links and torrent files, sequential download for previewing large media, per torrent and global speed limits, bandwidth scheduling so daytime hours stay clear, and a queue that manages many transfers at once with ratio and seeding rules. Selective downloading lets you pull only the files you want out of a large batch.

For anyone who wants it out of the way, it runs from the tray, minimises quietly, and can start with Windows and pick up an unfinished queue where it left off. The portable layout means it can live on a USB stick with its settings beside it, and there is no account, no upsell and no bundled toolbar in this version.

What it does

• Magnet link and torrent file support with fast metadata fetch
• Selective downloading of individual files from a torrent
• Sequential download for previewing large media as it arrives
• Global and per torrent speed limits with a bandwidth scheduler
• Queue management with ratio and seeding time rules
• Protocol encryption and peer exchange for better connectivity
• IP filtering with an importable block list
• Tray operation with quiet minimise and start with Windows
• Portable layout that keeps settings beside the executable
• Remote control of the queue from a browser on the same network

Changes in this version

• Removed the promotional panels and bundled offers from the installer
• Updated peer discovery for better swarm connectivity
• Fixed a rare hang when adding many torrents at once
• Improved disk write behaviour on very large downloads
• Refreshed the interface language set

What the package contains

• uTorrent ad-free installer
• Portable build alongside the standard installer
• All interface languages
• Sample IP block list
• Readme with the install order written out step by step

Installation notes

Follow these in order. Most reports of a failed install come from skipping a step rather than from the package itself.

1. Close any existing torrent client before you start.
2. Extract the archive to any folder you like.
3. Run the installer, or unzip the portable build and run it in place.
4. Decline any association you do not want during setup.
5. Open the client and set your download folder in preferences.
6. Turn off the update check so the ad-free state is left alone.

System requirements

Things worth knowing

• Set a sensible global upload cap so seeding does not choke everything else on the line.
• Turn off the update prompt, an official update reintroduces the promotional panels.
• The portable build is the cleaner option if you move between machines.

Questions about this title

What people are saying

Listing information

This entry is catalogued under Internet & Downloaders and carries the tags below. Language coverage is Multilingual, 40 interface languages, and the supported platform list is Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11. Version 3.6.0 is the current catalogued build, last checked 4 days ago, and the entry has been in the index since it was added 3 years ago.