.torrent files

Common questions

How do I open a .torrent file?

On Windows use qBittorrent; on macOS use Transmission; on Linux use Transmission (built in on many distros). A few kilobytes of metadata describing what to download and from whom — not the content.

What is a .torrent file?

BitTorrent Metainfo File. A .torrent file lists the file names, sizes, piece checksums and tracker addresses for a download; the actual data comes from other peers. You open it with a BitTorrent client, which then does the transfer.

Can I convert a .torrent file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .magnet, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

Related pages

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• .json — JavaScript Object Notation The standard text format for structured data on the web and in config files.
• .xml — Extensible Markup Language A tag-based text format for structured data, still everywhere in enterprise syst
• .yaml — YAML Data File An indentation-based configuration format, readable but unforgiving about whites
• .log — Log File A plain-text record of what a program did, newest events usually at the bottom.
• .dat — Generic Data File A meaningless extension — .dat says only that some program stored data here.
• .vcf — vCard Contact File One or more contacts as plain text — the standard way to move an address book.
• .sql — SQL Script A text file of database commands — often a full database dump.
• .ics — iCalendar Event A calendar invitation or event feed in a plain-text standard format.
• .sqlite — SQLite Database A complete relational database in a single file — the most deployed database in
• .db — Generic Database File An extension many programs use for their data — it does not identify one format.
• .bin — Binary File Raw binary data — most often a disc image paired with a .cue, or device firmware