TorMonitor

How to choose files and download them in order (sequential download)

Updated 1 min read

Short answer

When adding a torrent, untick the files you don't want and tick Sequential download to get each file from start to end. After adding, use the Files tab to set priorities (High, Normal, Low, Don't Download) or select files and use Move to Top, Move Up and Move Down to set the order in which they download.

A torrent normally downloads pieces in rarest-first order, which is best for the swarm but means no file is finished until near the end. TorMonitor gives you three ways to control what arrives first.

Steps when adding a torrent#

  1. Add the torrent with File ▸ Add Torrent… (⌘ O) or a magnet link.
  2. In Add New Torrent, under Torrent contents, untick files you don't want. Select all and Select none help with big torrents.
  3. Tick Sequential download to download each file from beginning to end, in order.
  4. Choose Save in, keep Start torrent ticked and click OK.

You can also switch sequential download on later: right-click the torrent and choose Sequential Download.

Set your own download order#

  1. Select the torrent and open the Files tab.
  2. Select one or more files.
  3. Use Move to Top, Move Up, Move Down or Move to Bottom. The # column shows each file's position; files without a position show ∞ and download after the ordered ones.
  4. Use Remove from Order to take a file out of the order again.

To skip a file entirely, set its Priority to Don't Download. Files set that way are never put in the order.

See what has arrived#

The Pieces tab shows the torrent as a grid of squares: downloaded, partly downloaded and missing. With sequential download on, you'll see it fill from left to right.

The TorMonitor Pieces tab showing all 3609 pieces of a torrent downloaded, drawn as a grid of blue squares
The Pieces tab of a finished torrent: 3609 pieces of 1 MB, all downloaded.

Questions#

Can I watch a video while it downloads?#

Sequential download, or putting the video at the top of the order, makes the start of the file arrive first, so a player that can open partial files can begin earlier. TorMonitor itself doesn't include a video player.

Is sequential download bad for the swarm?#

It makes your client less helpful for spreading rare pieces. For popular torrents it hardly matters; for poorly seeded ones, normal order finishes faster for everyone.