Q&A for How to Download and Play Torrents

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How do I avoid viruses when downloading torrents?

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
Gonzalo Martinez is the President of CleverTech, a tech repair business in San Jose, California founded in 2014. CleverTech LLC specializes in repairing Apple products. CleverTech pursues environmental responsibility by recycling aluminum, display assemblies, and the micro components on motherboards to reuse for future repairs. On average, they save 2 lbs - 3 lbs more electronic waste daily than the average computer repair store.

Gonzalo Martinez

Computer & Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

Check to see how many people are sharing the file. Usually, the higher the number of people sharing it, the less likely it is to be corrupted or contain malware. Also, if there's a voting system, take that into account as well.

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Are torrents legal?

Community Answer

While torrents themselves are not illegal, the content you're downloading may be. For example, there's nothing illegal about downloading a video that your friend made and is sharing with you, but downloading the latest Hollywood blockbuster may be illegal in your area.

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Do I have to be online to watch a movie torrent after downloading it?

Community Answer

No. If you have already downloaded the video completely, you do not have to have an Internet connection to see said video.

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How do I install this program I've just downloaded through a torrent?

Community Answer

The process for this will vary significantly depending on the program and your operating system. Look for a README file included in the torrent, or check the torrent's details on the tracker website. You can usually find installation instructions in one of these locations.

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How do I play a film I downloaded from a torrent site if the name of the file appears like "Name (2016).720p.BluRay.x264.AC"? Is ".AC" an extension?

Community Answer

That stuff doesn't matter. If it won't play it's likely in the wrong format. No, "AC" isn't an extension. Most likely it's an MKV. If your file won't play, download VLC. Also, on Windows you can right click the file and click "properties" and it should tell you the extension in the window that pops up.

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What do I do if the video I downloaded won't play?

Community Answer

Video files can come in a variety of different formats, and some of the most popular cannot be used in Windows Media Player or QuickTime. Try downloading an open-source media player like (do an Internet search to find one that is safe, reliable, and free). These players can play virtually any type of video file.

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How do I unzip the file I downloaded?

Community Answer

The content you download from a torrent file will often be compressed into an archive. There are four major compression formats: ZIP, RAR, 7z, and TAR. ZIP files can be opened simply by double-clicking them. For all other formats, you'll need to install an archive program to open them -- you should be able to find one that is safe, reliable, and free online.

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Why can't I play the video that I downloaded on my Smart TV?

Community Answer

There's a good chance that the video you downloaded is in a format that is not supported by your TV. See How to Convert Video to MP4 for instructions on converting the video into a more compatible format.

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