Optimizing µTorrent for Speed

Introduction

This guide shows how to speed up downloads in µTorrent.  All bittorrent programs need to have their incoming and outgoing communications flow freely in order to achieve the highest download speeds and that is what this guide is about.

This guide was put together using information given by the developers of bittorrent programs at their forums, guides and FAQs.  There are no secret tricks, just the real basics of proper set up of a bittorrent program.  Following these simple steps should result in increased download speed.

These are the basic principles of optimizing a bittorrent client, like µTorrent, for speed: 

• Choose a proper port to avoid ISP blocks and conflicts with other programs
• Forward that port through any software firewall and router to allow incoming connections
• Adjust internal settings based upon upload capacity of the internet connection to allow room for outgoing communications and to distribute upload efficiently. 

There are some programs that claim to optimize speed in µTorrent.  Such programs are a scam and generally contain adware or spyware.  I have seen it said, by the developers of all bittorrent programs, that nothing will increase your download speed in a bittorrent client more than the basic steps set forth herein.

This guide will work for all versions of µTorrent and BitTorrent 6.1 (and later).  However, screen shots are from µTorrent 1.8.2 as the options menus had been changed starting with that version.

Choosing A Proper Port

To avoid messing up a network connection that is already cleared, first check and see if your communications are blocked or are already clear.

Click to Test Your Port  Success-just go to Adjusting Internal Settings.   Error- follow all steps.

If you failed the port test above, then you should first set your port to a proper one.  The most important choice here is to avoid using a port within the 6881-6999 range.  This was the range originally used by bittorrent programs and is often blocked by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).  (If your port was in this range, change and re-test). The safest choice is a port in the 49152-65534 range as this will avoid ISP blocks and possible conflicts with other applications.
Azureus-Wiki:  Port is Blacklisted
Also, the Randomize port each start option should be disabled as this could affect router and firewall settings and rarely serves any useful purpose.

Forwarding The Port

Introduction
A router will block incoming communications unless an exception is made.  All software firewalls will block incoming communications and most will also block outgoing communications, unless an exception is made.  If you are "firewalled", then other people will not be able to initiate connections with you (see Why Is Being Firewalled Bad).
As there are many firewalls and routers, this guide can not give explanations as to each.  However, there are guides available, on the internet for most firewalls and routers and this guide will link you to them.

Software Firewall - The permission should be set to allow TCP and UDP in both directions.  Generally, you will have a choice to set permission for  the µTorrent port or for the µTorrent program.  Setting permission for the port is the safer choice.  You can check these options for guides:

• The help file of your software firewall is the best place to look
•  The µTorrent forum  has some guides posted
•  PortForward.com Firewall Guides(choose firewall and then µTorrent) also has some guides.

Router - There are two choices here.  The easier way is to use UPnP.  However, this has a possible security issue.  Using UPnP allows any program to create a port mapping through the router without consent of the owner.  The other choice is to manually forward the port through the router.  This does not have that security issue, but involves going through several steps to accomplish.  Using the guides linked herein, this should not be that difficult and is the preferred method.

UPnP (NAT-PMP in Apple) - The Easy Way -  Enable UPnP (NAT-PMP in Apple) in µTorrent and router.

Manual Forwarding-The Preferred Way

1. UPnP (NAT-PMP) Must be disabled in µTorrent (see image above)
2. Use the Static IP Guide
3. Set permission for µTorrent port.  This should be set to allow both TCP and UDP communications.
   You can check these options for guides:

• The help file of your router is the best place to look
• Portforward.com µTorrent Router Index has guides for most routers 

Click Here to Re-Test Port    Success-Proceed to next step.   Error- re-do steps or seek help in Forums.

Adjusting Internal Settings

Introduction
The  most important setting here is to cap upload in  µTorrent to 80% of your overall upload capacity.   Setting upload in µTorrent is a fine line.  The more upload you give, the more download you will get from other peers. However, if upload is set too high, or to unlimited, then download speeds will suffer as outgoing communications (acknowledgment signals, resend requests etc) will be interfered with. Other adjustments are made here to distribute your upload so that you receive back the most download from other peers.

Speed Test: Speedtest.net (Click for Test)
First the upload capacity of your internet connection must be determined by taking an online speed test.  Speedtest.net has test locations worldwide and will highlight the one closest to you.
To take the test you must have Flash installed and javascript enabled.

Before taking the speed test, press Settings in the upper left of the speedtest.net page and make certain the Speed Measurement is set to kilobytes.  This will help in inputing into the caculator below.

You should stop all internet activity, including torrents, before taking the test and the test should be taken a few times to obtain a reliable average.  Results will now show in KiloBytes.  It is the upload rate that is important here.

Another Way To Test Upload Speed
For most people these test results will be reliable (Comcast users see Note).  However, you may wish to do a double check on real life upload speed.  When you are active on a torrent with a good number of peers and you are using your upload cap, set upload to unlimited and watch for about 5-10 minutes and see where upload settles in at.  Then input that number into the calculator in the kiloBytes section. 

Note:  Some ISPs will show inaccurate results on the speed test.  If your ISP has anything like Comcast's PowerBoost, then your results will show higher than the actual speed of your connection.  PowerBoost provides a burst of download and upload speeds above your provisioned download and upload speeds for the first 10MB and 5MB respectively.  Since the speed test involves relatively small files, this will skew results upward.  If you have PowerBoost, or something similar, you should initially use the speed test results and then use the test method in the paragraph above.

Calculator:  Azureus Upload Settings Calculator
Once you have an average upload speed for your connection go to the online Azureus Upload Settings Calculator. Although designed for Azureus, this calculator will work for all bittorrent clients.

Enter your average upload speed in the appropriate box

Input Results Into µTorrent - Screen shots of locations in  µTorrent of settings to be adjusted 

Good Torrents

The above settings should work well most of the time.  Downloads of individual torrents depends on other factors.  See Good Torrents

Related Articles

• Additional µTorrent Settings information on other µTorrent features.
• Searching for Torrents Popular and unique torrent search sites, with comments.
• Finding Legal (and Free) Torrents sites that offer only legally downloadable and distributable content.

Gizmo's Best Ever Freeware Forums

If you still have issues after using this guide and would like some assistance, please post in Networking & Internet section of our forums.  The comment section here is not well set up for ongoing discussions and the forums would be a better place to post as there will be a seperate thread for your discussion and keeping track of our discussion will be much easier.

Those who wish to post a thanks may post here or in the forums.  I always appreciate hearing from those who this helped and I do read the posts regularly.  I used to respond to each thanks, but realized it was clogging up the comments section.  I thank all those who have posted their appreciation and all those who will.

If you have a suggestion or correction for the guide, you may post here or in the forums.

Older posts on issues that were made here have been deleted as they were clogging up the comments section.

You may get a faster answer if you post your query here:
Continued uTorrent Chat in our Forum