When it comes to downloading Torrents, uTorrent is the best platform and popular BitTorrent client. You can able to download any Torrent such as games, movies, software, or anything that is available on the internet. No doubt that uTorrent has made life easy for people, in short, the downloading experience has improved than in earlier days. There are some unfortunate users who are experiencing issues related to uTorrent, while downloading any file it just stuck at one position that accompanies the error message as “connecting to peers”.

Due to this error, users are unable to download the file, the downloading bar just won’t move further and get stuck at the same position like forever. This can frustrate you, won’t allowing your desired file to download, and can completely ruin your download experience.

If you are one of those who are victimized by uTorrent stuck on connecting to peers error, then you probably have landed on the right post. We have managed to provide you a guide that has covered all the effective fix methods that can help you to fix the error. Without further ado, let’s get started.

See also: Torrent Direct Download without any Torrent Client (9 Ways)

Why uTorrent Stuck on Connecting to Peers error occur?

Before moving heading to our main topic, it is important to know why the error in UTorrent occurs?

uTorrent is a BitTorrent client, while downloading the Torrent on your computer BitTorrent client fails to interact with BitTorrent users due to some reasons. When a BitTorrent client fails to communicate with BitTorrent users, uTorrent fails to download the file which then accompanies the error message as “connecting to peers”.

It is uneasy to point towards a single reason, so there could be multiple reasons such as client service is down the internet connection, or the torrent file itself.

Now let’s see how to fix the error.

How to Fix uTorrent Stuck on Connecting to Peers?

To fix the error related to uTorrent, users need to do the following:

Check Your Internet Connection

As mentioned, connecting to peers’ errors could be due to poor, unstable, or intermittent internet connection. If that’s the case, it will be hard for uTorrent to download the torrent file on your system. Thanks to the uTorrent client, that they have provided a built-in network tester that can easily help you to test the bandwidth and port settings.

Step 1: Open the uTorrent client on your computer.

Step 2: Click on the Options tab located on the top navigation bar of the uTorrent client.

Step 3: Once done, select the Setup Guide tab or just press the Ctrl + G shortcut key to open the network tester.

Step 4: Finally, click on the Run Test button located at the very bottom of the window in order to start the process.

After performing the test, you will get to know whether your internet connection is stable enough to download the torrent files. If your internet connection is bad then move onto the next method.

Restart your Wi-Fi router or Modem

When your internet connection is poor or unstable. Then your Wi-Fi router or Modem might be having a problem connecting to the ISP (Internet Service Provider). This can be get fixed by restarting your modem or router, here is how to do that in a proper way.

Step 1: Turn off your Wi-Fi router or modem.

Step 2: Unplug the power cables from the network hardware, and wait for 10-15 seconds.

Step 3: Once done, plug back the power cables and turn on your Wi-Fi router or modem.

No go to the uTorrent client and try to download the same torrent file to see if this works. If your internet connection is still bad then you have no option but to connect to your ISP and let them know about your internet connection issues.

Enable Port Mapping and Firewall Exception

BitTorrent clients such as uTorrent need incoming and outgoing traffic in order to communicate with BitTorrent users. If this route is blocked known as port forwarding or port mapping the uTorrent will not able to download any file on your computer.

Some network hardware such as Wi-Fi routers or modems has automatic port forwarding options like UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and NAT PMP (Network Port Mapping Protocol) available. In order to make the connection between the uTorrent client and torrent senders, there should your Firewall should not interfere with ongoing communication, but sometimes it bypasses the firewall. Here’s how to check those settings.

• We need to check that the correct setting are enabled, so open uTorrent.
• Visit Options > Prferences.
• Tick on the Enable UPnP port mapping, Enable NAT-PMP port mapping, and Enable Windows Firewall exception checkbox as shown in the image below.

Add uTorrent in Exception List of the Firewall

If the error of the uTorrent is still unable to download the torrent file then Windows Firewall might be blocking uTorrent. Firewall settings can get changed when you install a third-party antivirus, here we will just bypass uTorrent in the Firewall list.

Step 1: Visit the start menu, and type Firewall and Network Protection.

Step 2: Select Allow an app through the firewall option and choose the Change settings button.

Step 3: A lit of apps and programs will appear, here find uTorrent and check both on Public and Domain options and save settings. If you aren’t able to find uTorrent in the list then click on Add another app… to add uTorrent manually.

Now see if adding uTorrent in the exception list of the firewall works.

Run uTorrent Client as Admin

Here, we are trying to run the uTorrent client an admin to see if this can download your torrent file without showing the error.

Step 1: Visit your Windows home screen (desktop), and locate the uTorrent client.

Step 2: Do a right-click on uTorrent in order to open the Options list.

Step 3: From the list of options, select to choose Run as administrator.

Step 4: Click on Yes to run the uTorrent client as Admin.

Update Torrent Trackers

In order to find peers from all over the world, torrent trackers are uses by uTorrent clients. If the torrent file that you are trying to download might have been uploaded very earlier. If that’s the case then trackers might be having issues finding peers on the internet because it’s outdated.

So we need to update the torrent trackers.

Step 1: Visit your Windows home screen (desktop), and open the uTorrent client.

Step 2: Do a right-click on the torrent file that you are trying to download.

Step 3: Now, select the Update Tracker from the menu list in order to start updating the file’s trackers.

Just wait for a minute or two to finish the process. Check if the “connecting to Peers” issue has been resolved.

Use VPN service to Bypass Restrictions

As mentioned, your ISP can set restrictions. As a result, your computer cannot able to download certain files. To bypass this, VPN is used. While using a VPN, make sure that you are using a good VPN platform as some VPN services are likely to cause the issues.

You can use VPN to download the BitTorrent files or share the files, for that make sure that the VPN server is allowing the connections to do so. Always use BitTorrent friendly server VPN which has P2P (peer-to-peer) servers. Here are some best VPN platforms:

• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• ExpressVPN
• ProtonVPN

Is your Torrent File is no more? Files with No Seeds Available?

When a BitTorrent file has been deleted or is no longer able to share or no longer exists then you can’t download the torrent file. Once BitTorrent users stop seeding the file you will experience a “connecting to peers” error continuously. The only thing you can do here is to find another similar torrent file available.

Download Torrent files from another BitTorrent Client

uTorrent is not only one client of BitTorrent, there are other BitTorrent clients available that can able to download your torrent file. You can use mobile BitTorrent cline or any other option such as qBittorent.

If uTorrent is no more working then just use another torrent downloading platform to see if this works.

Conclusion

All the methods mentioned above are valid fixes. At this point “connecting to peers” error should be able to get resolved. While downloading any torrent file on your system always keep your computer protected as downloading files from another source can be risky. That’s the reason why people prefer to download the software from official sites and movies from valid trusted platforms such as Netflix.

That’s it for now, hope this helps! We are glad to know your thoughts in the comment section below. Till then, stay tuned for more info.

See next: How to Download Torrents on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch