How to Use uTorrent with a VPN (Step by Step Guide)
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You may have heard many stories about torrent users being tracked online and targeted by copyright protection agencies. With that said, if you are planning to download torrent files, there is no need to think twice about using a P2P VPN. Considering that uTorrent is among the most popular torrent clients at the moment, we are going to show you how to use uTorrent with a VPN app.
Our goal in this article is to show you how to protect P2P traffic and anonymize. So, no matter what types of files you download, many layers of protection will keep your privacy away from prying eyes. So, let’s talk about using uTorrent with a VPN in seven simple steps, as shown below.
Step #1: Get a (Reputable and Trustworthy) VPN
First of all, make sure you choose a VPN that is optimized for P2P traffic. Keep in mind that many VPNs do not allow P2P traffic on their servers, or they may not be optimized for this type of web traffic.
Based on our in-depth testing of over 60 VPN services, your best option right now is ExpressVPN. With this VPN, you get more than 3000 servers worldwide, all of which support P2P traffic. Of course, there are plenty of other features waiting for you, so go ahead and read our ExpressVPN review.
If you want to check out other options, our overview of the best VPNs for torrenting should be your next destination on the web. Also, there are some free P2P VPNs available as well, which might be suitable for really light torrenting activities as the ones that come with bandwidth limitations.
Step #2: Set up a VPN
Next, you need to setup your chosen VPN software. Keep in mind that you need an active VPN session in the background every time you plan to open uTorrent and download P2P files. In other words, your VPN needs to be running on your device locally (preferably as a local app).
To help you get started, we have produced guides on setting up a VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone/iPad, and Chrome OS (all of these devices are compatible with uTorrent in one way or another).
And if you plan to listen to our tips and subscribe to ExpressVPN, know that you will get a VPN that supports more than 60 platforms and devices. If you decide to go this route, here’s how to download, install, and use ExpressVPN (on any device).
Step #3: Enable VPN Protection from Data Leakage
We can’t talk about how to use uTorrent with a VPN without asking you to create a leak-free environment. This is exactly what VPNs offer, so you need to make sure that your VPN connection is not leaking any DNS or IPv6 information.
Before you start downloading P2P files, be sure to take a very good look at the settings of your VPN app. For example, ExpressVPN provides a way to prevent IPv6 leaks (by going to ExpressVPN Preferences > Advanced), which is enabled by default.
To learn how to check if your VPN is working properly, click on the link provided. You’ll find a 5-step guide there, that guides you to check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. Once your VPN passes those tests, you’ll be well on your way to downloading P2P files anonymously.
Step #4: Enable Kill-Switch on your VPN
When using uTorrent with a VPN, be sure to enable the kill switch from the start. This is what will keep you safe if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly (which can happen at any moment). To learn more, here’s what you need to know about the VPN kill switch.
The kill switch for your VPN is enabled by its settings/preferences. For example, ExpressVPN lets you access its option via Preferences > General. Next, take a look at the bottom of that page, where it says “Network Lock”. Make sure to check the box next to “Stop all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.”
Once you enable this option, your internet connection will only work if you have an active VPN session. Therefore, if something happens sideways, your access to the Internet will be blocked, preventing the exposure of torrent-related activities on the Internet.
Step 5: Choose the right server location
When it comes to torrent downloading, you should think carefully before connecting to a VPN server. This is because (in most cases) not all servers are optimized for P2P traffic, so look for the server with an icon indicating that it works with P2P. If there is no such code present in your VPN interface, it either supports P2P across all of its servers or does not support P2P at all.
In addition, we recommend using a country with more relaxed peer-to-peer laws, such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico or Spain. Of course, only use servers in those countries if your VPN offers servers optimized for P2P activities there.
To continue exploring this topic, here is how to choose the best country to connect with using a VPN. Also, you will want to check if it is safe to use a VPN server in your country?
Step #6: Configure uTorrent for Speed and Privacy
By default, you can use uTorrent with a VPN even without fiddling with your torrent client settings. However, changing a few things there can go a long way. With that said, we recommend making the following adjustments:
- Make sure uTorrent is not blocked by a firewall or any other Internet security software that has a built-in firewall (Options > Preferences > Connectivity > Add Windows Firewall Exception).
- Enable UPnP port mapping to facilitate peer-to-peer communication between devices, allowing you to achieve faster web speeds (Options > Preferences > Connection > Enable UPnP Port Mapping).
- Disable uTP (Uniform Transfer Protocol) and bandwidth management, which lifts restrictions on P2P traffic (Options > Preferences > BitTorrent).
For more tips on how to configure uTorrent for speed and privacy, as well as to learn more about the above tips (with screenshots included), we have prepared a separate guide for you – How to Configure uTorrent. In addition, here are the top 10 tips on how to make uTorrent faster.
Step #7: Start Downloading Torrent Files!
You are now ready to start downloading torrent files. However, make sure to connect to the VPN server first. So, use your VPN interface to choose a server and make sure you configure the VPN session. Once you do that, all your P2P traffic will flow through a secure tunnel – and that’s how you’ll be able to use uTorrent with a VPN!
If you would like some suggestions on where to find torrent files, we have some recommendations for you. Here are the best torrent sites in general. Also, be sure to check out these torrent search engines as well.
These will be the seven steps to using uTorrent with a VPN. If you have any questions on your mind, let us know via the comments section below. Finally, thank you for reading!
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