uTorrent - Free Download (2026)

Name: uTorrent
Availability: InStock
Author: BitTorrent, Inc.

uTorrent - BitTorrent Client

uTorrent is a BitTorrent client for downloading and sharing files over the BitTorrent protocol. It has been around since 2005 and was once the go-to torrent client because of how small and fast it was - the installer is still under 5 MB. Current version is 3.6.0. Owned by Rainberry, Inc., the same company behind the BitTorrent brand. Free with ads, or $19.95/year for Pro.

What it does

You open a .torrent file or click a magnet link and uTorrent handles the download. The main window shows all your active transfers with speed, progress, seeds, and peers. You can set bandwidth limits globally (Options > Preferences > Bandwidth) or per-torrent by right-clicking and choosing Bandwidth Allocation.

When adding a torrent, you can uncheck individual files you do not want. If someone shares a folder with 40 files and you only need three, just deselect the rest. Finished downloads automatically switch to seeding mode so other people can grab the file from you.

The scheduler (Options > Preferences > Scheduler) lets you limit speeds during work hours and go full throttle at night. RSS feed support means you can subscribe to a torrent feed and have new items download automatically. There is also a remote web UI for managing downloads from your phone or another computer.

The Pro version ($19.95/year) removes ads, adds a built-in virus scanner that checks files after download, and lets you stream video files before they finish downloading.

Advantages

Tiny installer under 5 MB, low memory usage
Selective file downloading from within a torrent
Bandwidth scheduling and per-torrent speed limits
RSS feed auto-downloading
Remote management through web UI

Drawbacks

Free version has ads and occasional upgrade prompts
In 2015, the installer bundled a Bitcoin miner (EpicScale) without clear user consent
Flagged as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) by Microsoft Defender, ESET, and Sophos
qBittorrent does the same job, is open source, and has no ads

Who it is for

uTorrent works if you want a lightweight torrent client and do not mind the ads. If the ad-supported model or the past bundleware incidents bother you, qBittorrent is the obvious free alternative with the same feature set and no strings attached.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is uTorrent safe to use?

uTorrent has had security issues in the past. In 2015, the installer bundled a Bitcoin miner without clear consent. It is flagged as a PUP by Microsoft Defender, ESET, and Sophos. If this concerns you, qBittorrent is a clean open source alternative.

Is uTorrent free?

Yes, the free version works fully but shows ads. uTorrent Pro ($19.95/year) removes ads and adds a virus scanner, video streaming during download, and an HD media player.

What is the difference between uTorrent and qBittorrent?

qBittorrent is free, open source, and has no ads. uTorrent is smaller and faster to install but shows ads in the free version and has had bundleware controversies. Feature-wise they are very similar.

Is uTorrent legal?

uTorrent itself is legal. It is a file transfer tool. What matters is what you download - sharing copyrighted content without permission is illegal in most countries regardless of which torrent client you use.

How do I stop uTorrent from running at startup?

Open uTorrent, go to Options > Preferences > General, and uncheck Start uTorrent when Windows starts. You can also disable it through Windows Task Manager > Startup tab.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Torrent file download	File › Add torrent › Select file .torrent or paste magnet link.
2	Download via magnet link 2	Click magnet link in the browser or File › Add torrent from URL › Paste magnet URI.
3	Download speed limiting 6	Options › Settings › Connection › Set limit downloads/uploads in kB/s. Or right-click on the status bar.
4	Torrent file selection 2	When adding a torrent, deselect files you don't want to download. Or double-click the torrent › Files tab › Right-click › Don't download.
5	Completed download transfer	Options › Settings › Directories › Move completed downloads to: choose destination folder.
6	File seeding 2	After downloading, the torrent automatically enters seeding mode. Right-click › Force Start to force seeding.
7	Torrent search	Use the search bar at the top of the window - searches integrated torrent sources.
8	Download priority setting	Right-click on the torrent › Bandwidth priority › High/Normal/Low.
9	Download queue management	Options › Settings › Queueing › Set max active torrents and max active downloads.
10	Download scheduling 10	Options › Settings › Scheduler › Enable scheduling, set hours full/limited speed.
11	Own torrent creation	File › Create New Torrent › Select files, add tracker URL, click Create.
12	Automatic RSS download	Right-click on the icon RSS in the sidebar › Add feed RSS › Enter URL. Set filters for automatic downloads.
13	Video streaming during download	Right-click on the torrent › Stream (Pro only). Plays the video before it finishes downloading.
14	Remote browser-based management	Options › Settings › Advanced › Web UI › Enable, set password. Access via remote.utorrent.com.
15	Download antivirus scanning	After download right-click › Scan with antivirus (requires configuring the path to antivirus in settings). Pro has a built-in scanner.