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rTorrent Quick Guide

Page created: 2025-04-02
Updated: 2025-08-18

Setup

Make directories for torrents:

$ mkdir linux-isos
$ mkdir linux-isos/.sessions
$ mkdir linux-isos/torrent-files
$ mkdir linux-isos/downloaded

Make a ~/.rtorrent.rc config by copying the sample and adjusting for the directories:

$ cp /usr/share/doc/rtorrent*/rtorrent.rc ~/.rtorrent.rc
$ vim ~/.torrent.rc

...

    directory.default.set = /home/dave/linux-isos/downloaded
    session.path.set = /home/dave/linux-isos/.sessions
    schedule2 = watch_directory,5,5,load.start=/home/dave/ebook-torrents/torrent-files/*.torrent
    schedule2 = low_diskspace,5,60,close_low_diskspace=100M

The schedule2 lines are cool - any time you add a .torrent file to the watch directory, it will automatically start downloading with rTorrent. And if you’re getting low on disk space, it’ll stop.

Use

Start the rTorrent TUI:

$ rtorrent

With the directories set up, you can save a .torrent file to the watch directory and rTorrent will automatically pick it up and start the download:

$ cp Downloads/slackware64-14.2-install-dvd.torrent linux-isos/torrent-files/

Give it a moment and you’ll see rTorrent start the new download.

Commands:

  • Select a torrent with the up/down keys.

  • Ctrl-q Quit rTorrent, all transfers will stop

  • Ctrl-d Stop a running torrent. Delete a stopped torrent.

  • Ctrl-s Start a torrent

You can switch views with keys 1, 2, etc. The most useful ones for me are:

  • 1 All torrents

  • 6 Incomplete downloads

On a server

You can run it under tmux or screen, which allows you to connect/disconnect from the rTorrent TUI without stopping it.