Best Torrent Client Chromebook

Download and install a torrent client to enable you to download. There aren’t many for Chromebook, it seems JSTorrent Lite is popular but you might find others. Install the JSTorrent Helper extension if you choose to use JSTorrent to make life a little easier. Most good VPN services come with a VPN Kill Switch.

Torrent safely on your Chomebook using a VPN

BitTorrent Add manget with One Click%100 WORKING Send a link to the BitTorrent Web UI and BitTorrent PC UI The extension adds an item in the contextual menu when right click is done over a magnet link. You can then, send that link to the BitTorrent UI without leaving the current page. Print Chromebook - Chromebook torrent, you will need torrent client and a VPN EXPERT The extension work on this? The latter two, JSTorrent of the four tools Best VPN 2020Nt 6.1.7601 Best Chromebook 2020: movie.

Unlike we have seen suggested elsewhere on the web, it is not necessary to use a cloud torrent service to download torrents on a Chromebook. In fact, thanks to Chrome OS increasing its support for Android and Linux apps, you can torrent files conventionally and it's never been easier.

Choose your path: Android or Linux

Before you torrent on a Chromebook, the first thing you need to decide is whether to do it in Android or Linux, although that decision might be made for you depending on what device you own. Almost all Chromebooks are now compatible with Android apps, while Linux support is reserved only for newer models.

Check if your device is compatible with Linux.

Chrome OS’s native integration of the Google Play Store means that torrenting using Android VPN and BitTorrent apps is undoubtedly an easier option. It is, therefore, the option we recommend for most Chromebook users, although Linux does have its advantages.

The main benefit of torrenting in Linux on your Chromebook is that it allows you to use full desktop BitTorrent clients, such as qBitTorrent. These are undoubtedly more powerful than their Android cousins, although it is questionable whether many torrenters will ever really use their advanced features.

Torrent

Below, we show you how to set up using both the Android and the Linux method, so you can pick the solution that works for you.

How to Torrent on Chromebook - The Android way

Chromebook users can torrent safely using Android VPN and BitTorrent apps available from the Play Store. Simply follow the steps below.

  1. Enable Android apps (if you haven’t already)

    Most Chromebooks these days support Android apps, although on older devices you may need to enable them by updating your OS and going to

    Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store.

    Now you can access the expansive selection of Google's Play Store.

  2. Sign up for VPN service

    Now that you have access to Google Play Store's expansive selection of apps, it's time to choose the right VPN for you. We recommend ExpressVPN as it's fast, reliable, and secure. If you want a list of great VPNs, then take a look at our best VPNs for torrenting article for more great services.

    These can be downloaded and installed for free, but you will need to subscribe to them via an in-app purchase.

    Looking for a free option? While free VPNs do exist, we do not recommend them for torrenting because they are both restrictive on data allowance and can be questionable with privacy. After all, there are many cowboys out there in the land of Android.

    Choosing the right VPN: If you do deviate from our recommendations, it’s important to choose an Android VPN app that allows for torrenting. Most do, and in doing so, they shield their users from copyright enforcers. But those that don’t may cancel your VPN subscription, or even hand your details over details upon receipt of a DMCA-style notice.

    Once you have chosen your VPN, you simply need to install it onto your device, launch the app and choose a server.

    Top Tip: For faster torrenting choose a server closer to your real location. These tend to be faster than those further away.

    It’s worth noting that while Android VPNs secure online activity from other Android apps and regular Chrome browsing, they do not protect Linux apps in the same way, as Linux runs in its own sandbox environment. Similarly, you can configure a VPN in Chrome OS itself using PPTP or L2TP/IPsec, but this also will not secure Linux sessions.

  3. Enable a kill switch

    A “kill switch” prevents your Chromebook from accessing the internet without a VPN connection. They are particularly useful for torrenters because they often leave their computers downloading and seeding unattended for hours at a time. And a VPN dropout during that time can leave you very exposed!

    Please note: Kill switches may be called something else, such as “Network lock” or even just “Firewall”. Kill switches are usually enabled manually in your VPN app but are sometimes transparently built-in. For example, the ExpressVPN app for Android includes a kill switch labeled “Network protection.”

    Can't find your kill switch?

    Unfortunately, many Android VPN apps lack a kill switch. If you can’t see a kill switch option in your VPN app, then contact your provider to ask if one is built-in. If one isn't, then either change provider or you can configure the OpenVPN for Android app to act as a kill switch as so:

    a) Edit the specific connection in the “Profiles” tab.

    b) Go to the “Advanced” tab and check “Persistent Tun” and set “Connection retries” to Unlimited.

    You now have an OpenVPN kill switch for Android, perfect for keeping your torrenting sessions private.

  4. Download and install a BitTorrent app

    There are plenty of good BitTorrent apps available in the Play Store, although we like BigyBT because it is open source and ad-free. It also supports port forwarding, if this is important to you (we cover this later in step 8).

  5. Visit a torrent site in Chrome

    If you are not sure where to look, Google (or better yet, DuckDuckGo) can help. Many ISPs block torrent sites, so there’s a very good chance you’ll need a VPN running just to access them.

    Once there, you can browse or search for the content you want. This can be movies, TV shows, music tracks and albums, games, apps, eBooks, and more. If it's digital, then you can torrent it.

    Many BitTorrent clients have a built-in search function, but visiting a torrent site provides much more information about the torrents, making it easier to find high-quality content.

    Top Tip: Check out our torrenting safely guide to make sure you know what to look for when picking a torrent to download. Installing a good adblocker also wouldn't be a bad idea.

  6. Start downloading a torrent

    Once you have found the content you want, click on its Magnet link or download its torrent file.

    Please note: The IP address shown above belongs to our VPN server and is not our real IP!

    Once you click on a Magnet link or download a .torrent file, it should automatically open in your Android BitTorrent app and start downloading (Chrome OS and Android play nice with each other on a Chromebook these days).

    Please note: If downloading a .torrent file doesn't auto-start your BitTorrent app, then simply double-click on it in the Chrome OS Files -> Downloads folder.

    It varies a bit by BitTorrent app, but most apps will ask where you want the torrent downloaded to. The torrent will then start downloading.

    And that’s all there is to it. Once the content is downloaded, you can run it or open it in a suitable Android/Chrome web/Linux app.

    Top tip: For video content, we highly recommend the VLC for Android app, which is designed to play any file you can throw at it on a Chromebook.

  7. Seeding

    It is considered good netiquette to seed torrents you have downloaded so that other users can also download them - sometimes even a requirement in certain communities. To do this, simply leave the torrent running in your BitTorent app after you have finished downloading it.

    For torrents obtained from public torrent sites, a seed ratio of 1:1 is usually considered sufficient. That is, you have seeded (uploaded) as much of the torrent data as you have downloaded. Private torrent sites often demand much higher seed ratios.

    Keep in mind that the Peers tab of your BitTorrent client provides graphic evidence about why you need to use a VPN when torrenting. It shows you the IP address of every other torrent user who is sharing (downloading or seeding) a file.

  8. Port forwarding (optional)

    Sims 4 self harm poses. Not all VPNs offer port forwarding, but if yours does it can be used to improve torrent speeds. It isn't an essential feature, but certainly a handy one.

    To find out more about the pros and cons of port forwarding, complete with instructions on how to enable it, please see our Ultimate Guide to VPN Port Forwarding.

How Torrent on Chromebook - The Linux way

  1. Enable Linux (if supported)

    All new Chromebooks now come with Linux (Beta) enabled by default. If you have an older Chromebook which supports Linux, you can enable it by going to Settings -> Apps -> Linux (Beta) and turning it On.

    You will now find the Linux Terminal app in the Linux apps folder of your Apps Drawer.

    Top tip: With Linux, it's worth updating all existing packages before installing new ones by opening Terminal and running:

    sudo apt-get update
  2. Install a Linux browser.

    To install Firefox for Linux on your Chromebook, open Terminal and enter:

    sudo apt install firefox-esr

    You will now find Firefox in the Linux folder of the Chromebook Files app. Hello neighbor mod kit not loading.

  3. Install a Linux VPN app

    There are only two GUI Linux VPN apps, of which we have only had success running the Mullvad app under a Chromebook Linux environment (AirVPN’s Eddie client will install but hangs on launch).

    The Linux command-line OpenVPN client works well, though, and can be used to connect to almost any VPN service. To install it, open Terminal and enter:

    sudo apt-get install openvpn

    In your Linux browser navigate to your VPN provider’s website and download OpenVPN files for the server(s) you want to use.

    Top Tip: You might want to visit your Linux Downloads folder in the Chrome OS Files app and rename the downloaded OpenVPN files to something that’s easy to type in.

    To run the VPN, open Terminal and enter:

    cd Downloads

    Followed by:

    sudo openvpn [openvpn file]
  4. Download and install a Linux BitTorrent app

    The Chrome OS Linux container is based on Debian, and the Files app includes a packet manager that can install regular DEB files simply by double-clicking on them.

    Alternatively, you can install qBittorrent using the following Terminal command:

    sudo apt-get install qbittorrent
  5. Visit a torrent site in the Linux Browser

    While BitTorrent clients include a handy built-in search function to discover new content, you lose out on benefits found when visiting websites directly, such as comments from the community, which can all help direct you towards higher-quality files.

    If you don't know where to look, try using Google or, preferably, DuckDuckGo to find the right website for you.

    Top tip: We recommend checking out our torrenting safely guide so you know what to look at for when picking a torrent to download.

    Unfortunately, ISPs place restrictions on certain torrenting websites, meaning you will likely need to be connected to a VPN server to visit them.

    Once you've gained access, you should be able to search for any kind of content you want; whether it is entertainment-based, a program you've been searching for or any other digital thing that's made its way to the torrent catalogs.

    Consider using an Adblocker

    Although you might get lucky and choose one of the good ones, many of these websites rely on spamming visitors with pop-ups and inappropriate ads as a form of revenue. Worse yet, these can contain malicious files that will want to avoid. Simply choose a good adblocker and you will be able to navigate anywhere safely.

  6. Start downloading a torrent

    You can begin downloading torrents directly by file, or by using the more convenient Magnet Link. There is little difference to the average user.

    Clicking either format should see a window pop-up in your BitTorrent client automatically, confirming the files you're about to download. You might also be asked if you want to associate Magnet links or .torrent files with your BitTorrent client if it is the first time you've clicked on it.

    In the event that your .torrent file doesn't boot your BitTorrent client, you will need to navigate through Files -> My Files -> Linux Files -> Downloads folder.

    This process might vary depending on the client you've chosen, but most clients will check you are happy with your downloads pathway. If successful, you should see your torrent begin downloading.

    And that’s all there is to it. Once the content is downloaded, you can run it or open it in a suitable Linux program, Android app, or Chrome Web App.

    Top tip: As always, VLC Media Player remains the best media player for videos, as it can play any codec out there.

  7. Seed

    Seeding torrents is simply courteous to others in the peer-to-peer community. This is the process in which you upload parts of the file you've just downloaded so that others can repeat the process, creating a larger network that doesn't rely on the expensive costs of host servers.

    Doing this is easy, as you simply need to leave the torrent open in your BitTorrent client once the download has finished. Generally, a 1:1 ratio is considered acceptable, as you have uploaded just as much as you've downloaded, but closed communities might expect more.

    Using a VPN is essential to avoid peeping Toms, as the Peers tab on your client shows the IP address of everyone that has downloaded and seeded the file - including yours. VPNs mask your IP address, replacing it with one belonging to one of its servers.

  8. Port forwarding (optional)

    If your VPN service uses a NAT firewall (most do) and if it offers the feature (many don’t), then you may want to port forward through the NAT firewall.

    If your VPN service doesn’t use a NAT firewall.. well, you can’t port forward through something which doesn’t exist. If it does, then port forwarding will likely improve your torrenting speeds. But doing so is most definitely not essential.

    To find out more about the pros and cons of port forwarding, complete with instructions on how to do it, please see our Ultimate Guide to VPN Port Forwarding.

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How to test your VPN is working before you torrent

The easy way

No BitTorrent client we know of supports IPv6 connections by default, although some (including qBittorrent) allow you enable this feature manually. WebRTC leaks and DNS leaks are browser-based issues and do not affect torrent clients.

So as far as just torrenting is concerned, all you need do to check your VPN is working is to ensure your external IPv4 address is that of your VPN server. To do this, simply:

  1. Turn off your VPN and use our widget below to find out your real IPv4 address.

  1. Turn on your VPN

  2. Refresh this page and rerun the widget. The IPv4 address should have changed to the VPN server you are supposed to be connected to.

Having issues?

If you are still seeing the same IPv4 address on and off your VPN, then something is wrong. First, you should try reconnecting to your VPN. If this doesn't resolve the issue then contact your provider for further technical assistance.

If you have an IPv6 connection and you have enabled IPv6 connectivity in your BitTorrent client, then you might run to check for IPv6 leaks using our new IP leak test tool. This is something that you probably want to do anyway if you also use the VPN at all for non-torrent related stuff.

The paranoid way

Simply checking that you have no IPv4 leaks as described above is sufficient to show that your VPN is working properly for torrenting. If you are of a more paranoid disposition, however, then you can double-check specifically for torrenting using the ipMagnet tool.

  1. Visit the ipMagnet web page and click on the Magnet Link to open a dummy torrent download in your BitTorrent app or client. Chrome should be your first choice when doing things the Android way, while Linux-based browsers (such as Firefox) can be used if you're running Linux.

  2. A few seconds later you should see the IP address trying to download the dummy torrent file on the ipMagnet web page. This should belong to your VPN server.

How to test for speed

There are too many variables in play when it comes to torrent download speeds to isolate the effect using a VPN has on them. The most important of these are:

The number of seeds

How many peers are seeding the torrent you are downloading. The more sources you have, the faster your download speeds will be. There is nothing you can do about this except choose torrents that have a good seed (number of uploaders) / leech (number of downloaders) ratio. Most torrent websites clearly show these figures.

Your bandwidth

How much upload bandwidth you have (and are allowing the BitTorrent to use). The BitTorrent protocol is designed to encourage sharing by rewarding those who share more with higher download speeds.

Best torrent client chrome

All BitTorrent clients and apps allow you specify how much upload bandwidth they can use for seeding, although this is, of course, limited by whatever plan you have purchased with your ISP.

NAT Firewalls

A VPN that uses a NAT firewall may restrict incoming connections, which reduces the number of peers you have and, therefore, limits your upload speeds. This is why you might want to consider using port forwarding if your VPN uses a NAT firewall and supports the feature.

How to test the kill switch

Finally, if you have a kill switch enabled, you may want to test that it's working. To do this, simply:

  1. Connect your VPN.

  2. Start your BitTorrent client. We suggest performing this test when only legal torrents are running.

  3. Disconnect your VPN.

  4. Check your BitTorrent client. All downloads should have ceased - if they haven't then the kill switch isn’t working.

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Strong presence, no-logs policy

Chromebooks are lightweight notebooks that run on Google Chrome OS. As Linux kernel powers the operating system, the Chromebooks are reliable and secure. They are perfect companions for people accessing the internet frequently.

If you have purchased a Chromebook, download and install the following Chrome apps to get the same experience as the Windows OS.

  • Best Photo Editors for Chrome
  • Best Office app for Chromebooks
  • Best video converter for Chrome OS
  • The best Chrome news/RSS reader
  • Best Torrent client for Chromebooks
  • The best Chrome RDP client
  • Best Chrome task manager
  • Best offline email client for Chromebooks
  • Best Chrome video/music player
  • Best Chromebook diagramming app
  • Taking screenshots

Best Photo Editors for Chrome

Polarr

If you’re looking for a Chrome app to apply filters to the photos or you want to change the brightness, color, contrast ratio of the images, install Polarr.

Polarr supports the drag-and-drop feature. It offers over 40 filters and has an auto color adjustment function. Its size is 13 megabytes. The app lets you resize the window and it provides sliders to change the field’s value. It supports the batch export feature and RAW format files. Polarr consumes a small amount of RAM. It doesn’t affect the Chrome OS performance when you run it.

Pixlr

The only drawback of Polarr is that it doesn’t provide photo editing tools such as brush, bucket fill, etc. Pixlr is an online photo editor for Chromebooks. It overcomes the limitations of Polarr by offering many tools. Hence, Pixlr is a good alternative to Polarr. Apart from providing filters, this Chrome app offers tools that you’ll find in GIMP, Photoshop, or MS Paint.

Pixlr offers an easy to use interface. It allows you to save pictures offline on PC in one of the following formats:

  • TIFF.
  • PXD.
  • JPEG.
  • PNG.

If your Chromebook doesn’t have enough free space, create a free account on Pixlr. If you do so, you can save your work on the server of Pixlr.

Best Office app for Chromebooks

Office online

Office Online from Microsoft Corporation allows you to create or edit MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, sway files on a Chromebook. To use it, you must sign in to your MS OneDrive account.

Unlike MS Office for PC, Office Online is a free service. It offers the same set of tools you’ll find in the desktop version of Microsoft Office Suite.

If you’ve installed the offline version of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, you can launch the application from the web interface of OO. The app syncs your work automatically to the PC if you use this feature.

OO saves your files securely on the secure Microsoft servers. You can access them anytime. OO is the best Chromebook office app for editing excel, CSV, presentation files. It is one of the top Chrome productivity apps.

Best video converter for Chrome OS

Video Converter

VC provides a no-nonsensical approach of converting media files from one format to another. Once you install it, VC takes you to its official website where you’ll find the option to upload a media file. VC supports files stored on Dropbox, Google Drive, or another storage platform.

Once you upload the file, you must select one of the output formats:

  • MP4, AVI, MPG.
  • MOV, FLV, 3GP.
  • WEBM, MKV, APPLE.
  • GIF.

Then, you must choose the target file video resolution and specify the video, audio codecs. You must also set the desired output file size. Finally, click on the convert button and wait for the tool to complete its task.

The best Chrome news/RSS reader

Feedly

Feedly is one of the top-rated apps on the Chrome Webstore. It enables you to read the news on the Chromebook without opening a website. Feedly doesn’t recommend news stories to the users. It provides a search option that you can use to find a list of top news portals/channels and articles containing a specific word.

Feedly gives you complete control of the news you want to read. If a website provides RSS feed, you can copy the feed URL and add it to your subscription list in Feedly. The RSS reader app has options to:

  • Save a story for reading it later.
  • Copy the news source URL to the clipboard.
  • Share the story on social networks or send the news to the inbox of an email address.

Best Torrent client for Chromebooks

JSTorrent

Utorrent Download Chromebook


Apart from work, you may like to watch videos or listen to music in leisure time. With JSTorrent, you can easily download large torrent files. By default, JST saves downloaded files to the “Downloads” folder. JST has advanced functions i.e. you can pause, resume, seed a torrent file. It supports large files having a size of over 1GB.

Also see: Best download manager apps for Android

The best Chrome RDP client

VNC Viewer


With VNC Viewer, you can gain access to a computer running on Windows or Linux OS and of any geographic location. VNCV prompts users to enter the IP Address of the remote PC and asks you to chose a picture quality.

If the computer is on the same network, choose the highest picture quality. If the PC is on a different network and your internet connection is slow, select lower picture quality for a good experience.

Best Chrome task manager

Todoist

Todoist is a task-management utility with the highest ratings among the apps of the same category. It allows you to create a to-do list, set reminders, and more.

Todoist offers an intuitive interface. Once you register a free account, it asks you to select the type of list you want to create. Then, the application shows a text box and a button to add items to the list.

Todoist enables you to duplicate a list. It has the option to share to-do lists on social networks. In case you’ve created plenty of lists, Todoist lets you sort the lists alphabetically. It is one of the must-have Chrome apps for 2020.

Best offline email client for Chromebooks

Gmail offline

Best Torrent Client Chromebook App


Gmail Offline lets you access your emails offline. It takes a few kilobytes storage memory on your Chromebook and provides a brilliant UI for a great experience. Gmail Offline keeps copies of recent emails you’ve sent or received on your Chromebook. Learn how to use Gmail in offline mode.

Also read: Best email client apps for Android

Best Chrome video/music player

VLC (Video LAN Codec)

A notebook is incomplete without a media player application. VLC is a popular program that supports playback of almost all media files known to mankind. It is a free application with superb features. VLC is easy to use and provides a variety of options to the users.

Best Chromebook diagramming app

Best

Draw.io

If you’re a computer science student, install Draw IO to improve your productivity. DIO allows users to create entity relationships, flowchart and many other types of diagrams for their project. Although it is a lightweight application, DIO offers many functions. For the proof, you can see the above screenshot.

Taking screenshots

Chromebook Reviews

Chromebook

NImbus

Nimbus is an app with which you capture screenshots and create videos of the screen on your Chromebook. Its size is 40.1 megabytes. NimBus lets you save the screenshot as a PDF, JPG, or a PNG file and enables you to convert the recorded video to MP4 or Graphic Interchange format. It also allows you to crop/trim the captured pictures and record videos of applications that you’re currently using. NB also lets you annotate or highlight texts. If you create video tutorials and capture screenshots often, make sure you download and install Nimbus on your Chromebook.

Our list of best Chrome apps for 2020 features lightweight applications with incredible features. If you have bought a new Chromebook, install Offline Online, Todoist, JSTorrent, Diagram IO, VNC, Pixlr, Polarr, Video Converter, VLC, Gmail Offline, Nimbus, and Feedly.

Note: You can use the above apps on Linux or Windows OS. To launch an app, paste this URL chrome://apps/ in the browser’s address bar and press the enter key.