You’re trying to download a torrent file but it won’t even start, due to a lack of seeders. Or worse, some of it downloads, but it gets stuck at 25, 50, or even 95%. If you’re facing a similar problem, don’t worry.
Because we’ve got some useful tips on how to download a “dead” torrent, even if you don’t have peers or seeders.
Downloading Dead Torrents contents
What Makes a Torrent Dead?
Basically, a torrent is “dead” when it doesn’t have any seeders. This means that no one is actually sharing the file, which makes it impossible to download.
There are a lot of reasons this can happen, whether it’s because the file is old, not very popular, or there’s an issue with the trackers.
But there’s good news: many torrents that may seem dead at first glance, aren’t actually dead.
How to Download a Dead Torrent
If you really want that file and aren’t ready to give up just yet, here are some tips for bringing a dead torrent back to life.
1. Wait
The first option – and one that will often work for the majority of torrents you encounter – is to simply wait for a bit. Often, the seeder(s) simply aren’t online at the moment, and will come online later. This may take a few hours, or it could take a few days.
But if you’re impatient (or you’ve already waited for a while and no seeders joined), there are other tips you can try.
2. Find another file
Often, there are multiple torrent uploads of the same file. Sometimes they’re slightly different, like movies uploaded in different qualities or games with different compression. But other times, they’re exactly the same, just from different uploaders or on different sites.
So, if the file you’re trying is dead, look for another upload of the same file with more seeders. If there isn't one on the site you're using, our list of best torrent sites may help you find some other options.
3. Add more trackers
Another option is to simply add more trackers to your existing file. This can be done through a torrent tracker list. Simply copy and paste the trackers into your torrent client.
4. Use DHT
Or you can use DHT, which is an alternative way to find peers. With some torrent clients, this may already be enabled. But you should double check. In qBittorrent, the settings are under Tools > Options > BitTorrent.
Check out our article on What is DHT? for more info.
5. Use a VPN
There is another possible reason for a torrent that’s not downloading, and that’s a connection issue. This could be caused by torrent throttling, which is when your ISP, government, school/workplace, etc. is blocking torrent traffic on your network.
This can be overcome by using a good torrenting VPN, like PIA VPN. By the way, you should always use a VPN when torrenting anyways.
6. More connection fixes
Other possible connection issues could be your ports or your firewall. Enable UPnP in your torrent client to (potentially) fix the port issue, and add an exception for your torrent client in your firewall settings to eliminate that issue.
7. Use private trackers or Usenet
If you still can’t get the dead torrent to download, well, you’re almost out of luck. However, there are still two potential options:
Joining a private tracker: If you’ve been relying on public torrent sites, you may be able to find a better version of your torrent on a private torrent site. Private trackers often have more seeders, and you can even request files on some of them.
Unfortunately, these sites aren’t always easy to get access too. Here are the best private torrent trackers, if you’d like to give it a shot.
Downloading the file from Usenet: Since Usenet doesn’t require seeders, even older or more niche files can be downloaded with no problem, as long as they’re still available.
The only downside is that Usenet is not completely free, but you can get set up for as little as a few dollars. Check out our article on How to Use Usenet for more info.
How to Download a Dead Torrent: Wrap-Up
There you have it: a whole list of tips on how to download a dead torrent. Fortunately, most “dead” torrents aren’t actually. And even if they are, you can easily find a replacement.
That being said, you will sometimes have to go to greater lengths, especially if a file is particularly old or niche.
What’s the most work you’ve done to get a dead torrent to work? Let us know in the comments!
For the best torrenting experience, use Private Internet Access VPN. PIA keeps no logs and has a strong track record of protecting the privacy of its torrent users.