Disclosure: the BitTorrent for Chrome – Classic extension is made by the team behind App How To Use It. It is an independent extension and is not affiliated with BitTorrent, Inc.
BitTorrent for Chrome connects your browser to the BitTorrent Classic app on your PC. When you find a magnet link, you right-click it and send it to BitTorrent, instead of copying and pasting it by hand. This guide covers installing BitTorrent Classic, switching on its Web UI and connecting the extension in Chrome or Edge.
What happens when you send a link
BitTorrent Classic has a small built-in web server, the Web UI, that accepts commands from a browser. The extension logs in to it with your username and password and passes the magnet link or .torrent file along. BitTorrent then adds the torrent to its list exactly as if you had pasted it yourself, using your usual download folder and speed limits. Nothing leaves your computer in the process: the browser and BitTorrent talk to each other locally.
Step 1: install BitTorrent Classic
- Download BitTorrent Classic for Windows from the official site, bittorrent.com.
- Run the installer and read each screen: installers like this can offer optional extra software, which you can decline.
- Finish the installation and open BitTorrent Classic.
Step 2: turn on the Web UI
- In BitTorrent, open Options > Preferences.
- Expand Advanced and choose Web UI.
- Tick Enable Web UI, then set a username and password.
- Tick Alternative listening port, enter 8080 and click OK.
Step 3: connect BitTorrent for Chrome
- Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store, or the Edge version from Edge Add-ons.
- Right-click its icon and open Options.
- Enter the same username, password and port, then use the connection test to confirm it works.
- Right-click a magnet link and send it to BitTorrent.
BitTorrent Classic or BitTorrent Web?
| BitTorrent Classic | BitTorrent Web | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Desktop window | Runs in your browser |
| Settings | Detailed: bandwidth, queue, Web UI | Simplified |
| Works with this extension | Yes, through the Web UI | Not needed: it opens magnet links itself |
Why is the connection failing?
- BitTorrent Classic must be open; the extension cannot start it for you.
- Username, password and port have to match exactly, including capital letters.
- If another program uses port 8080, choose a different port in both places.
- Allow BitTorrent through your firewall for local connections.
Settings worth changing in BitTorrent
- Bandwidth: set a maximum upload rate so web pages and video calls stay responsive.
- Queueing: limit active downloads to two or three; running many at once rarely makes any of them faster.
- Directories: choose a download folder that your antivirus scans.
- General: decide whether BitTorrent should start with Windows; the extension only works while it is running.
Is torrenting legal and safe?
The BitTorrent protocol is legal and is used to distribute Linux distributions, open-source software, game patches and public-domain media, for example through the Internet Archive. Downloading or sharing copyrighted films, shows or software without permission is not. Download only from sources you trust, keep antivirus on, and never run an .exe from a torrent you are unsure about.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work with uTorrent?
Use uTorrent for Chrome instead; it follows the same setup for uTorrent Classic.
Can I use it on a Mac?
The extension needs BitTorrent Classic with its Web UI, which is a Windows app.
With the Web UI switched on and the extension connected, BitTorrent for Chrome saves you the copy-and-paste routine every time you add a torrent. Keep it to files you are allowed to share, and it is a simple, handy tool.