How to Use Bit Torrent

Level of difficulty: Easy

Using Bit Torrent is a great way to download and share files, especially since they do not take up much bandwidth compared to HTTP downloads and can be paused and resumed anytime. However, Bit Torrents are a bit more complicated than your standard computer downloading process but with just a few minutes of reading this, you can find and use basic Bit Torrent services in no time.

Materials Needed:
- Bit Torrent client
Step 1
To begin, you must first have the Bit Torrent client. The Bit Torrent client is the software that handles the Torrent downloads on your computer. It can be downloaded for free at http://www.bittorrent.com.
Step 2
After downloading and installing the Bit Torrent client, it is now time for you to find the site with the Torrent you wish to download. Torrent files are widely available in Torrent storage sites such as ISOHunt and MiniNova. However, be careful when downloading Torrents from such sites, as some of these files are pirated and infringe copyright laws. As a rule, always check the Torrent’s details or readme file on the site before downloading.
Step 3
Once you have found the Torrent you want to download from, click on its link. Depending on how your computer is configured, clicking on the Torrent link should either ask you to open it or save the Torrent to the local hard drive. If you choose to save the Torrent in your computer, place it in an accessible folder in your local hard drive and add it to Bit Torrent by clicking the 'Add Torrent' button on the top left corner of the client.
Step 4
At this point, the 'Add New Torrent' window should appear. Choose a location in your computer where you want the downloaded files to be saved and click 'OK'. If the Torrent features multiple download files, you can also choose which files you want to download and which ones you want to ignore. If you want to download all the files, simply check all the boxes and click the 'OK' button.
Step 5
Once you have clicked the 'OK' button, the Bit Torrent client will automatically start downloading the files onto your system. You need to have the Bit Torrent client running in the entire process, which could take from a couple of minutes to several hours depending on the file size and your computer’s network connection. Once the download bar reaches 100%, the client has finished downloading all of the files onto your hard drive and is now ready for use.