How to Fix Bittorrent Stuck at Connecting to Peers Instantly

Get a VPN or fix your Wi-Fi connection to fix BitTorrent connection

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Key notes

  • If BitTorrent is stuck at connecting to peers, the torrent download won't start at all. 
  • In this useful guide, you have all the information you need to fix BitTorrent that's stuck at connecting to peers.
  • Find step-by-step instructions on how to allow your client on Windows Firewall and how to delete and modify the settings files.
  • A VPN software will help you fix this problem due to its faster servers from various locations worldwide. 

Having your BitTorrent getting stuck while connecting to peers is a major challenge that users face when downloading torrents with a client.

When you get this error message you can’t initialize the download of torrents and obtain your transferring files.

You may encounter this common issue while using BitTorrent due to specific reasons. One of the most probable factors is your network connection.

More so, this connectivity problem happens if your antivirus or firewall service blocks the sharing program.

It is possible to fix such issues on BitTorrent with the proper tools and a little technical support that we offer in this practical article.

Why does BitTorrent stuck at connecting to peers?

The most common reason why BitTorrent gets stuck at connecting to peers is that your internet connection speed is either too slow or unstable.

So, checking your Internet connection would be the first step to do. If your Internet speed is okay, it could be caused by any of the following factors:

  • Dead torrents.
  • Antivirus software or Firewall is blocking the service.
  • Using a VPN service that is not compatible.

Scroll down to find out how to resolve this pesky issue once and for all.

How do I fix BitTorrent getting stuck while connecting to peers?

1. Connect through a VPN

Some VPN networks block connections to/from BitTorrent connections specifically.

In order to be certain that the VPN you try to use for fixing this issue allows BitTorrent downloads, the VPN we recommend is ExpressVPN because it has the highest and most stable speed.

This software was developed by Kape Technologies and ensures that you will never experience any blockages or any sort of issue while using file-sharing tools like BitTorrent.

You can get 3,000 VPN servers across a number of 94 countries, ensuring that your online anonymity is protected at all times.

All this is possible with this worthwhile VPN while also optimizing the connection speeds to such an extent that you’ll not feel like you’re using VPN software at all.

Here are some of the most notable features of ExpressVPN:

  • Incredibly fast connection speed.
  • VPN Test speed
  • Latest data encryption tools
  • Intuitive UI experience with an instant connection

To add to the mixture, Express allows you to connect 5 different devices at the same time and offers full compatibility with Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and smart TVs or routers.

ExpressVPN

Go for a smooth connection with BitTorrent and stay fully protected online with this fast VPN.
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2. Allow your client on Windows Firewall

  1. Hit the Windows key and search for Firewall in the Start Menu.
  2. Select Windows Defender Firewall.
  3. From the left area, click on the Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
    allow-app-through-firewall
  4. Find your BitTorrent client on the list and mark the Private and Public checkboxes for the program.
  5. If you don’t see the BitTorrent client, click the Allow another app option and add it.

Sometimes the Windows Firewall may block the ports for torrenting, thus preventing you from connecting.

3. Delete and modify the settings files

  1. Save all current torrent downloads.
  2. Take note of the download folder and other important settings.
  3. Stop BitTorrent.
  4. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following directory: C:\Documents and Settings\[YourUserAccountName\Application Data\Bittorrent or C:\Users\[YourUserAccountName]\Application Data\Bittorrent
  5. Find and delete the following files:
    • settings.dat
    • settings.dat.old
  6. Restart BitTorrent.
  7. Modify your settings as needed.
  8. Reload your torrent list.

These are the solutions that work when BitTorrent is stuck at connecting to peers. In the unlikely situation where you try these and they all don’t solve the problem; you can consider using a different BitTorrent client.

This also helps you fix the issue because if your downloads still get stuck at connecting to peers, you can be sure that the problem is from the torrents.

Moreover, in case you have a concern where BitTorrent connecting to peers but not downloading, you should also check the solutions from above that involve the Internet connection or your torrents.

To access similar in-depth and easy-to-follow guides, visit our extensive How-To Hub.

To find more useful information about this topic, don’t hesitate to explore our BitTorrent webpage.

All being said here, we encourage you to give your opinion on this subject and share your experience with our solutions in the comments section.

More about the topics: bittorrent