One of the most common ways to download torrent files is to do it from a remote computer. Whether it is a NAS, a remote VPS server, a seedbox, and even from a Raspberry Pi, it is very convenient to configure a uTorrent server, Transmission or the torrent client that we like the most to be able to download files directly from these devices without having to worry for nothing else. However, although these torrent servers have web interfaces, they are neither the most comfortable nor the best that we can use. It is much better to resort to other types of remote clients that allow us to easily control them, such as Electorrent .
Electorrent is a program designed to allow us to remotely control the main torrent clients that we can find for PC so that we don’t have to be using any web interface or commands, let alone having to control the server where it runs.
This program is completely free and, in addition, it is open source software. The entire application is developed in Electron, also using other frameworks such as AngularJS and SemanticUI. This program does not work as a torrent download client itself, but is exclusively designed to control other clients remotely.
A program that cannot be missed if we use clients, such as uTorrent, Transmission, qBittorrent, Deluge or rTorrent on a NAS server , a VPS or any other device other than the computer on which we work on a day-to-day basis.
Main features
As we have said, Electorrent is a totally free and open source program, written in Electron. It is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and is compatible with the following download clients :
- µTorrent
- qBittorrent
- Transmission
- rTorrent
- Synology Download Station
- Deluge
It is compatible with several servers at the same time, so we can control several torrent clients from the same program . And we can change from one to another very quickly. In addition, its developer asks users if they find an incompatible torrent client to let them know so that they can update the program and add compatibility with that client.
This program allows remote torrent clients to send both download torrent files and magnet links. In addition, it can be integrated as a default program to open torrent files, and capture magnet links, in Windows 10 so that everything we open on the PC is loaded directly into this program. It also supports drag & drop , so we can load any torrent file easily by dragging it to the window.
It also has an excellent notification system that will notify us when events occur in the remote torrent client (errors, completed downloads, etc.).
Connect and download
Simplicity is one of the fundamental pillars of the program. Hence, to start it, it is not necessary to configure anything other than the remote server where the torrent client is installed.
We must enter the IP address of the server , the protocol (HTTP or HTTPS), the user and the password and the port. We must also indicate to the program what torrent server it is so that it loads the corresponding module to connect to it.
As soon as the connection is established, we can see the main window of the program, which will be like the following.
In this list all the downloads that we have loaded in the program will appear. We can see your name, progress, speed, estimated time, etc. We can control the downloads from the buttons at the top, or by clicking on each one individually.
The program has no more: a remote client to control torrent download programs from a clear and light interface. A program 100% focused on its purpose.
Configuration options
Despite being a simple program, it has some configuration options that we can review and that will allow us to adapt the operation of the program to our needs. We can open the Configuration menu with the keyboard shortcut Control + comma, and it will be like the following.
This program allows us to configure the theme, the font, update time with the server, system integrations, notifications, automatic updates and other options. By default it works well, but if we want to modify any of the options hidden here we can do it.
We will also find other configuration sections. For example, the “Connection” section allows us to configure the configuration parameters with the server.
In “Layout” we can choose the options that we want to appear, or not, in the main interface of the program. Specifically in the download section.
The “Servers” section allows us to manage the different servers that we have configured. We can sort them, add new ones, delete existing ones and mark one as default.
Finally, in “About”, we can see the version of the program and all the dependencies that it needs to be able to work.
Download Electorrent
We can download this program safely and without having to pay anything from the following link to your GitHub repository . In addition, we do not have to worry about updates to the program, since when there are new versions they will be downloaded and installed automatically from its repository.
Electorrent installation is also very simple. Thanks to Squirrel, just by running the installer that we have downloaded the program will be installed on our PC without having to configure anything or complete any wizard.
Alternatives to Electorrent
In addition to this program, we can also find a good number of alternatives to this software that will allow us to remotely control our download clients from a single PC.
One of the best alternatives we can find to replace Electorrent is Transmission Remote GUI . This free and open source software is specially designed to allow us to configure Transmission remotely and manage its downloads without having to take control of the server at any time.
It has an interface very similar to that of uTorrent, it integrates with the operating system (both to open files and to show notifications) and gives us access and full control over the remote Transmission client. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with programs other than Transmission.
