10 Best Websites For Legal Torrents And Safe Download | 2019 Edition
If you choose to download free movies and games from torrent websites without infringing someone’s copyright, yo u are using the BitTorrent protocol in the best possible manner. Bu t, on most popular torrent websites, there’s no particular way to differentiate between legally and illegally shared content.
Why Is Torrent Not Downloading Files?
Although not as popular as during their heyday in the early 2000s, torrents still play an important role in today’s digital ecosystem. A lot of open-source software, rare films, amateur music, and free books can only be downloaded using torrent-based tools.
Torrents, or more specifically the BitTorrent protocol, got traction around 2001, when Bram Cohen, dissatisfied with the average download speed online (since it was coming from a single source), designed a system that would download from everyone possessing the required file, thus making more popular files actually faster to download.
Most of the time, torrent files download just fine. Occasionally, however, you might experience some problems with either torrent not downloading files or torrent not connecting to peers or simply torrent not working at all. Since the whole torrent system can be quite complicated, there could be lots of reasons for torrents not downloading as well. But let’s go through them all one by one.
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How To Detect Torrent Not Working?
Before you go about fixing various torrents problems, how do you know when those problems arise in the first place?
You might see your torrents not downloading anymore or stuck on connecting to peers. Your download speed could drop to zero. You might even see some specific errors coming from your torrent client or antivirus software. The following steps will help you resolve all these situations in no time.
1. Firewall blocking torrent connections
Depending on physically where you’re trying to download torrent files, you could be prevented from doing so by a network-based firewall.
The point of firewalls is to prevent unauthorized connections from entering your network and thus keeping all kinds of bots and malware out of your systems. There’s an especially popular way to protect office networks, so if you’re trying to download a torrent file at work, this is probably the primary reason why you wouldn’t be able to do so.
If you have a specific reason for downloading something through BitTorrent, you can ask your network administrator to whitelist your torrent client for some time.
You could also have a firewall feature turned on your Mac. In this case, disabling it will likely let the torrent client downloads go through:
- Open System Preferences ➙ Privacy & Security
- Switch to the Firewall tab
- Click Turn Off Firewall
Lastly, since torrent connections are often unsafe, your antivirus could proactively block them as well. So if you’re sure that your torrent download is virus-free, try to pause your antivirus software for the duration of the file download and resume the protection right after.
By the way, scanning your Mac for viruses and other malware (spyware, adware, etc.) is very important, especially after using BitTorrent. And the best way to do it is by using CleanMyMac X.
CleanMyMac X is a truly powerful Mac optimizer packaged in a dead-simple and intuitive interface. This utility will help you delete old files, clean up your hard drive, speed up your Mac, enhance your privacy, and find any malware with just a single click.
For example, to scan your Mac for malware:
- Launch CleanMyMac X
- Navigate to the Malware Removal tab
- Click Scan and then Remove if anything was found
✕ Remove app banner
You can also simply go for a Smart Scan and get a full report on how your Mac can be instantly improved.
2. Incorrect torrent preferences
Sometimes, it’s not your macOS or network that’s to blame, but rather your torrent client or torrent files themselves.
Most torrent clients today have a download limit option that could be enabled by default. Increasing this limit might help with the torrent not downloading files properly. Here’s how to increase the download limit in Transmission, an easy-to-use and free BitTorrent client:
- Launch Transmission
- Go to Preferences (⌘ + ,)
- Switch to the Bandwidth tab
- Uncheck the “Download rate” and “Upload rate” limits
If removing the limits didn’t help, try to download another torrent file and see if you experience the same problem. If so, it could have something to do with torrent connection issues.
3. Torrent connection issues
When you see your torrents not downloading, it doesn’t only depend on the download limits you put in. In general, your torrent speed is affected the most by the number of peers who are seeding the torrent file to you.
Normally, when you find a torrent file online, it will tell you how many people are seeding it at the moment. If you see that the number is considerably lower during the download, you can try to pause and start the download, or even delete your current torrent file and try to do the whole process again from the torrent website.
In some cases, the problem could be with the torrent client itself. So try to download the same file with another client. While Transmission mentioned above is quite popular, it’s nowhere near as professional as something like Folx.
Folx is a powerful download manager and torrent client in one. Just search for a file or input a URL, and Folx will download whatever file might be on the other end, be it music, video, or a book. Folx can also be up to 20 times faster than regular downloaders, since it breaks down the file in up to 20 parts and downloads them separately at the same time.
For our purposes of checking your specific torrent file, however, you can just upload it to Folx manually:
- Launch Folx
- Click the plus icon in the top bar
- Switch to the Torrent tab
- Hit the ellipses icon to select the torrent file from your Mac
- Click OK
✕ Remove app banner
If your file is still not downloading, you should find a better substitute.
4. File on torrent not working
Due to myriads of reasons, from inactive peers (seeds) to corrupted or outdated files, your specific torrent might not work as planned.
Luckily, there are hundreds of popular torrent websites worldwide. Some are tailored to specific interests (e.g. sports or music) while others allow people to upload everything. You can find multiple lists of the best torrent websites online, but if you ask us we’d say that searching for the torrent you need online feels a little bit outdated now. Plus, there’s so much adware, spyware, and malware on torrent websites that it’s much safer to go the other way — using a torrent search in a torrent client like Folx.
Folx can not only be used as a regular torrent client but also as a standalone search engine:
- Launch Folx
- Type in any query in the search field
- Press Enter
Alternatively, if you have an exact URL with the file you want to download, whether it’s on a torrent, YouTube, or anywhere on the web, you can click the plus icon and paste it in the suitable tab.
5. Network restrictions
Even if you’ve done everything outlined above, there can still be one considerable hurdle in your way — your own internet network.
Depending on the country you live in, your local regulations, and your ISP (internet service providers), some websites and connections (e.g. the BitTorrent protocol) could be blocked. If you see your torrent not connecting to peers, this might be the case. A proven workaround here is to use a VPN (virtual private network).
ClearVPN is the most user-friendly and flexible VPN client around, designed to personalize your VPN experience at the click of a button. You can bypass any geo-restrictions by routing your traffic through any of the dozens of servers available worldwide, from the US to Austria, and change your mind just as easily. This is not only helpful for when you’re stuck on connecting to peers with your torrent but also streaming videos from services like Netflix, Spotify, and HBO Max.
Here’s how to avoid your network restrictions with ClearVPN:
- Launch ClearVPN
- Click the VPN menu bar icon
- Select “Change your location”
- Pick any country other than your own
- Click Activate
✕ Remove app banner
What’s more, using a VPN would also secure and encrypt your internet connection anywhere, which is especially valuable when you’re going online on a public WiFi (e.g. in a local cafe or coworking space).
As you can see, torrents not downloading can be a problem, but with a methodical approach, you can get those files on your Mac in no time. Simply turn off the firewall and scan your Mac for viruses with CleanMyMac X, remove download limits on your torrent client, try using a high-quality torrent client like Folx to search for other torrent files, and route your traffic around your network restrictions with ClearVPN.
Best of all, CleanMyMac X, Folx, and ClearVPN are available to you absolutely free for seven days through a trial of Setapp, a platform with more than 210 Mac apps for any scenario imaginable. Try every Setapp app today at no cost and find your new favorite tools!
10 Best Websites For Legal Torrents And Safe Download | 2019 Edition
B itTorrent is a very useful technology that is used to share legal as well as copyright-protected content illegally. So, if you are looking for some websites for legal torrents, you’re in good luck.
If you choose to download free movies and games from torrent websites without infringing someone’s copyright, yo u are using the BitTorrent protocol in the best possible manner. Bu t, on most popular torrent websites, there’s no particular way to differentiate between legally and illegally shared content.
To solve this problem, we’ve prepared a useful list of torrent websites that only host 100% free and legal torrents for downloading. You can use these services to torrent safely and legally to stay out of trouble.
Before checking them out, in case you are looking for some legal ways to download free games, software, apps, and movies, etc., for free, take a look at our popular lists:
10 Websites for Legal Torrent Downloading
- Public Domain Torrents
- Internet Archive
- Vuze StudioHD
- Legit Torrents
- Bitlove
- Jamendo
- Linux Tracker
- Vodo
- Miro Guide
- Game Updates
1. Public Domain Torrents
When I was writing about the completely free and legal movie download websites, I came across Public Domain Torrents. At that time, I was surprised to find a website that was completely legal. Just like me, you’ll be surprised to find that it hosts many legal torrents. It hosts lots of Classic Movies and B-Movies which you can download for free. You can choose the category to narrow down your search or click on the top-seeded and newest added options. Many of the classic movies hosted here are difficult to find anywhere else. It goes without saying that all the content you’ll find here is freely available in public domain.
Why visit Public Domain Torrents — For classic movies torrents
2. Internet Archive
Just like Public Domain Torrents, the legit torrents at Internet Archive are another hidden gem. While the website isn’t easy to navigate, it does feature a large collection of films, texts, audio, etc. The movies on this free and legal torrents website are sorted in different categories like sci-fi, horror, comedy, film noir, etc. Apart from movies, there is also a section for television as well. The overall collection has about hundreds of movies that you can enjoy safely and legally.
Why visit Internet Archive — Huge library of film torrents, music, and books
3. Vuze StudioHD Network
Apart from the torrent clients uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Transmission, Vuze is a great option. Moreover, it also turns as a great source of legal torrents for safe downloading. It hosts video content which is divided into many categories like comedy, TV and movies, music videos, news, TED Talks, etc. You can visit the online website or access the torrent directory from the Vuze client itself.
Why visit Vuze Network — NASA, TED Talks, Tekzilla, and music videos.
4. Legit Torrents
As the name suggests, Legit Torrents can be used for 100% legal torrent downloading. As per the current count, the website hosts more than 3700 legal torrents that you can use for downloading purposes. The website is pretty neatly designed and the search option works well. While searching for a torrent, you can choose the category–shows, Linux distro, movies, music, games, anime, books, apps, etc. The Extra Stats section also features the top 10 most active torrents.
Why visit Legit Torrents — Good source of legal movies and software.
5. Bitlove
Bitlove is another great way to find legal torrents. The website has a large directory that has more than 1850 audio torrents and more than 222 videos. The directory is pretty neatly organized in alphabetical orders. One of the best features of Bitlove is that you can sort the content on the basis of languages. This is an important feature as the website is a great source of audio and video podcasts. You can also use this legal torrenting website to share your own podcast feed. The website also ensures data integrity using SHA1 hashes.
Why visit Bitlove — Awesome source of podcast torrents
6. Jamendo
Jamendo calls itself the world’s largest digital service for free music and there a reason behind this claim. You can use this website to download music torrents safely and legally. It’s an online music community where independent artists share their work. It’s also great for the networking listeners and artists. The content uploaded on this website is under Creative Commons license. Talking about the website, after signing in, you’ll see a list of tracks sorted by popularity and trending nature. You can also search for relevant tracks, communities, and playlists. Another great feature of Jamendo is its Radio feature that allows you to listen to free and legal music from various genres.
Why visit Jamendo — For free music download and listening
7. Linux Tracker
If you love distro ho pping, Linux Tracker is the go-to website for you. Solely dedicated to Linux distros and their legal torrenting, this website has been tracking Linux torrents from the past 12 years. The website homepage has different Linux torrents sorted according to date, seeders, leechers, etc. In a glance, you can see the upload date, and size of the image. If you’re having some spare bandwidth, you can also use Linux Tracker to help a fellow open source enthusiast by looking at the list of ‘seed wanted torrents.’ As I’m talking about Linux distro torrents, you can also keep checking Distrowatch for latest updates and their torrents.
Why visit Linux Tracker — Linux distro torrents
8. Vodo
Vodo is a great option for indie lovers who wish to visit a legal torrent website, watch free movies, and download their torrents if they wish. It has 200+ independent movies that are being provided by the content creators. The site also allows you to support your favorite artists with the help of donations. Please note that donation is completely optional and you don’t need to make any payment to watch the free content. The interface of the website is very simple, and the featured content is listed on the website homepage. At the top, there’s a Free Movies option which lists all the available movies. You can search the movies and use the sorting options to find the required content easily.
Why visit Vodo — For independent and free movies torrents
9. Miro Guide
Before telling you about Miro’s torrent offering, let me tell you that it’s primarily an Internet TV player that comes with a built-in BitTorrent client for searching content and playing them. It’s an open source and independent platform. Its directory of legit content makes the task of legal torrent downloading safe and easy. The website’s interface is pretty simple; it gives you the option to choose video and audio torrents using the menu options at the top. By using the options in the right panel, you can select the torrents in different categories like Editor’s Picks, New, Top Rated. You can also sort the podcasts by language.
Why visit Miro Guide — TV shows and video podcast torrents
10. Game Updates
If you love gaming and you don’t wish to spend tons of money buying gaming titles for your PC or console, Game Updates can help you out. It’s a community for legal torrents for gaming that doesn’t ask you to signup for downloading content. However, if you wish to contribute your own free and legal games, you can register your account. Game Updates also claims to have seeders to keep the torrents up as long as they are needed. Talking about the home page of this legit torrenting website, at the top you’ll see a search box. Below that, you’ll find a list of popular torrents. You can sort the available torrents on the basis of size, downloads, date, etc.
Why visit Game Updates — If you love gaming and want free & legal downloads
Bonus free and legal torrent websites
Apart from the above-mentioned torrent websites for free and legal content, some other sites that need a mention are:
- Clear Bits
- COTapers
- SXSW Torrents
- BitTorrent Now
Meanwhile, you can also check out our article on how to increase torrent download speed here!
BitTorrent Downloading FAQs
Is BitTorrent legal?
It’s an absurd question. Just like owning a knife and using it to cut fruits and vegetables doesn’t make you a criminal, using BitTorrent for downloading legal content is perfectly fine. It’s a useful and legitimate technology that is widely used by indie artists to promote their music and movies. Linux distro developers too freely share their releases using this technology.
How to does BitTorrent work?
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer protocol that allows you to download and share data across the internet. They are simply files that have the information related to other files and folders. You can read more about the working of BitTorrent in detail here.
Also Read: How Much Money Torrent Sites Like The Pirate Bay And KickassTorrents Make?
How to download torrents safely?
To download content from a torrent website, you need a good torrent client like uTorrent, BitTorrent, Transmission, Vuze, etc. But, that’s not all. To ensure that your torrent downloading is safe and hidden, use of a VPN service to hide your IP address is recommended. You can also read this article to know how VPN is much better and secure as compared to a proxy.
Why do people download pirated content illegally?
With the rise of streaming services, one can assume that the use of torrent websites is declining. Many popular torrent websites have already become a victim of law enforcement agencies. But, people still end up pirating movies and games because they don’t want to pay for it. They don’t consider the risks involved big enough. Other people do the same due to the unavailability of some content in a region or lack of knowledge. You can read some more reasons here.
Are there some websites for free movies streaming?
Yes. Just like the websites mentioned above for downloading legal torrents, there are services that provide free movies without infringing any copyright. You can read our popular list of free movie streaming sites.
Do all torrent websites provide illegal content?
No. While the popular torrent websites (here’s fresh list for 2022) like the Pirate Bay offer a mix of legal and illegal torrents, there are some services that offer 100% free content without any copyright issue. In the list given above, I told you about such websites and their strengths.
I hope that you found our list of the best websites for legal torrent downloading helpful. So, go ahead, give them a try and share your experiences with us.
Also Read: KickAss Torrents Alternatives — New KAT Sites Working
Fossbytes co-founder and an aspiring entrepreneur who keeps a close eye on open source, tech giants, and security.
Get in touch with him by sending an email — [email protected]