Downloads take very long (I use torrents)

If you download files via uTorrent/Bittorrent and the download speed is slow, maybe the bandwidth allocation setting is not good.

Try setting the Bandwidth allocation to High:

Right-click the torrent file you are downloading at the moment -> Bandwidth Allocation -> Select High

Note: This solution only applies if you have already conducted a test (e.g. via speedtest.net) and your download speed is around 10 Mbps and on uTorrent less than 1 MB/s (the approximate equivalent to 10 Mbps).

If you download files via uTorrent/Bittorrent and the download speed is slow, maybe the download speed is limited.

To check and correct this:

Right-click the torrent file you are downloading at the moment -> Bandwidth Allocation -> Download limit -> Set it to Unlimited

Note: This solution only applies if you have already conducted a test and your download speed is around 10 Mbps and ONLY on uTorrent less than 1 MB/s (the approximate equivalent to 10 Mbps).

Also, don't forget to test your internet speed via speedtest.net or other similar engine.

Seed or Seeder is the person who has one complete copy of the file being shared across the torrent network. Leech or Leecher is the person who does not have the complete file yet but has joined the network to download it. 

When a Leecher downloads the file, they automatically start sharing it across the network (i.e a leecher becomes a seeder). For high torrent speeds, the best bet is in these numbers. The greater the number of seeders, the faster the torrent download is.

You should always select torrent files with a high number of seeders and less leechers if you want them to download faster.

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer protocol, which means that when we download a torrent file we don't download it from a central server, but we download pieces of the file from the computers of the users who have the same file and whose uTORRENT/BITTORRENT software is ON.

In short, some people upload and share a file in order for others to download it. This is not good if your internet plan includes limited internet traffic because you risk exceeding it before the end of the month and the internet connection (and download speed) will slow down.

By default uTorrent/ Bittorrent is set to start automatically when your Windows or Mac OS starts and to run in the background, for an obvious reason - to share the files downloaded via it. 

To prevent uTorrent/Bittorrent from starting when your OS starts: 

Open uTorrent/Bittorrent -> Options -> Preferences -> Uncheck Start uTorrent/Bittorrent when Windows/Mac starts

Always quit uTorrent/Bittorent after the downloads complete, especially if your Internet plan includes limited data traffic. In this way your Internet traffic will stay safe (it won't be exceeded).

If you don't quit it, uTorrent/Bittorrent may continue sharing the files you've downloaded (click here to see how torrent downloading works) and you risk exceeding the allowed internet traffic.

If you are not sure about how to quit uTorrent, check out the don't know how to close (quit) programs/applications solutions.