What is a Torrent Magnet link and how does it work?

You probably download content from Torrent by first downloading the Torrent file and then running it in a Torrent client and the download begins. These Torrent files are useful because they are small and help to download gigabytes of content. Read more about how Torrent works HERE.

But there is another way to download content via Torrent, and that is using Magnet links.

What are Magnet Links?

Today, most sites host Magnet links instead of Torrent files, which is much safer for them in case of loss (seizure) of content. The magnet link contains a hash for the file that is downloaded through it. This link is very easy to put on the site using the HTML href tag for links. Linking example Magnet link:

<a href="magnet:?xt=urn:btih:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&dn=name">
  Click here </a>

The magnet link uses  DHT (Distributed Hash Table) instead of a tracker to download data from the P2P Torrent network. They don't have to host anywhere, because these are simple links, they don't exist physically on any server. Because of all these features, this way of downloading content from torrents is much better and faster.

For example, ThePirateBay removed Torrent files from its servers and replaced them with Magnet links. That was a much better solution for them because links cannot be destroyed, seized, deleted…

In addition, links are easier and faster to share between users, and there is a greater chance of downloading content if the tracker is not available at that time.

Although Magnet links save disk space and make things easier for users (just click on the link, you don't have to download anything extra), many don't.

How to enable Magnet links?

For Magnet links to work with a click, a web browser must offer you to open an application from your computer when you click on a specific link. By default, every web browser is set to do this, but you can check just in case.

Chrome

Open Chrome, go to Settings > Advanced > Privacy and Security > Content Settings > Handlers > Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols > on

Firefox

Open FF and go to about:config and enter "handler.expose" without quotes. Right-click and select "New" > "Boolean".

Give the name "network.protocol-handler.expose.magnet" and set it to "False".

How to use Magnet links?

Now you need a Torrent client. My recommendation is qBittorrent because it is light and has no ads, and yet it has all the necessary options. When you install a client, after clicking on the Magnet link your web browser will ask you to run it. When that question arises, just allow it.

Here is one example, you can test immediately, click > Big Buck Bunny video

After that, the Torrent client will open and a window with information about the file will appear. Depending on the client, you will have the option to choose where you want the file to be saved, which files you want to download (if there are more than one), and the like. Basically, the same thing will happen if you double-clicked to open a Torrent file from your computer.