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A Simple Way to Remotely Download Torrents on the Mac

There are many ways to remotely initiate BitTorrent downloads, but most are complicated and require tweaking. Here’s an easy way to remotely download torrents with only an instant messaging application and a BitTorrent client.

The most common way to remotely download torrents is via a WebUI. On the Mac, the only BitTorrent client with a WebUI is Azureus, and that’s via a plug-in. Most people would find it confusing to open up ports in their software firewall to configure the plug-in, and TorrentFlux is strictly for über geeks. Thanks to a bit of clever thinking on the part of Ruairi, a contributor to macosxhints.com, you won’t have to bother with any advanced settings or run the PHP-based TorrentFlux on your web server.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • You will need to have either Adium or iChat+Chax installed. Both Adium and the Chax plug-in for iChat are free.

  • Set up a new iChat account (or any other kind of account — except Gtalk — for Adium). This will be logged in on your home machine.

  • Then add the new account you’ve created as a buddy on your normal account, which you’ll use at work, school or wherever.

  • In iChat > Preferences > Chax (or Adium > Preferences > File Transfer) set it to automatically accept file transfers, and specify a directory, even Desktop will do. I recommend you use Adium, since it gives you the extra option of accepting file transfers only from your contacts.
    • Adium Auto-Accept

  • Now set up either Transmission (Beta), Azureus or Xtorrent to watch that directory for torrent files.
    • Transmission Prefs

    That’s it, you’re done. Now whenever you send your IM account that’s logged in at home a torrent file, it’ll automatically start downloading it! A simple, yet effective solution.

    Have you already tried this, and has it worked for you?

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    • Ben

      Nice idea and a good text :). I will try it at the weekend.
      Thanks

      Regards Ben

    • oli young

      “set it to automatically accept file transfers”

      welcome to a whole world of hurt … the horrible inherent dangers in doing that should be pointed out

    • Joseph Le Brech

      “welcome to a whole world of hurt … the horrible inherent dangers in doing that should be pointed out”

      Notice the “only accept from my contact list”, this means you make a IM user with just you as a contact, then you are safe. And you can send it torrent files all day long.

    • Gaz

      Not Tried this but could you not do a similar thing but using FolderShare instead. Set it up to sync a folder between machines then when you place the torrent in that folder it’s synced to the mac. Saves having to setup a new IM Account just for sending torrents to your Mac. Best of all FolderShare has a Windows & Mac client (Although it has now been bought by microsoft so watch this space).

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    • gez

      my solution is:

      1) ssh to mac
      2) cd /Downloads
      3) wget http://the.torrent.file.i.want.to.download/file.torrent
      4) open Applications/Bittorrent.App &

      if Bittorrent.App is running, it just simply adds the file to it.
      good bye.

    • Tim

      My solution is:

      VNC to my mac.

    • http://torrentfreak.com Smaran

      @ Ben: Glad you liked it. Check back later for a tutorial on how to set up the Azureus WebUI.

      @ Oli: As I mentioned in the article, it’s much safer to use Adium. If you don’t want to, then just create a really complicated and long AIM ID to use with iChat+Chax.

      @ Gaz: I try and avoid Microsoft products, other than Windows, which I cannot live without (for games).

    • Scott

      Ignoring FolderShare is like ignoring you won $1000.

    • larry the dwarf

      I just use the Azureus web interface…

    • Gustavo

      I’ve set up a azureus rss plugin pointing to my blog. All I have to do is post whatever I want in my blog and azureus will start downloading it in a few minutes.

    • what-the-who-what?

      What is the point of remotely initiating BitTorrent downloads? Is it for safety or just a cool thing to do? Sorry, I am not too bright.

    • Tom

      @what-the-who-what?: If your at work, you could start downloading Lost on your home machine, so it’s ready to watch when you get home.

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    • beosro

      Nice and crystal-clear solution. I love Macs!

    • alex

      this is not a good idea… setting up torrentflux is MUCH easier

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    • Fishd

      Set up Mail.app with your regular e-mail account.

      Create a rule that activates when matching *all* of the following conditions:

      From is: your e-mail address
      Subject is: a secret passphrase
      Attachment name contains: torrent

      And get it to run a custom applescript to save the torrent to your torrent directory. set up transmission as above.

      Suggested Applescript:
      using terms from application “Mail”
      on perform mail action with messages The_Messages
      tell application “Mail” to repeat with this_message in The_Messages
      set attachement_file to first mail attachment of this_message
      set attachment_name to name of the first mail attachment of this_message
      save attachement_file in “Users::Desktop:” & attachment_name
      end repeat
      end perform mail action with messages
      end using terms from

      And you’ll need to alter the save attachment path listed in the applescript which, to give proper credit, was listed here: http://bbs.applescript.net/viewtopic.php?pid=72121

    • Teeerevor

      Hey has any one had a problem with transmission not opening the torrent files once they have been downloaded?

      It’s just not starting the download. is there a way to make it check for new files? say every 1/2 hour?

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    • Ben

      What does this mean. Please explain the abbrebiations and references. Thanks:

      Jan 05, 2007 at 14:20 by gez
      my solution is:

      1) ssh to mac
      2) cd /Downloads
      3) wget http://the.torrent.file.i.want.to.download/file.torrent
      4) open Applications/Bittorrent.App &

    • Ritch

      [quote comment="36729"]this is not a good idea… setting up torrentflux is MUCH easier[/quote]
      I agree – much less work, too…

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    • Ruairi

      As i wrote the orginal hint on osxhints I want to clear up two things pointed out here:

      answering comment;

      (2): you do not need to set all your friends/contacts to send you torrents. ou can create a custom group for the account you create. Also bear in mind that for iChat this can be a free account as yout IM account does not runout after 30 days or whatever it is for .mac

      So you can limit that to just yourself or the people you want.

      (4) *
      (5) *
      (6) *
      (8) **
      (9) *
      (10) Very good idea.
      (11) Lot of people can browser the sites at work but the portsare blocked and they like having jobs : )
      (14) torrentflux is not easyier for the non techy person. It requires much knowledge;
      a mysql
      b php
      c staic ip or one of the alternatives.
      (15) Also would do fine. I prefer the IM way cause I dont want my Mac Mini under the tv getting all my email.
      (16) I use azerus only due to other reasons. It may not be the best but I have my reasons. Transmission is able to look at a folder at intervals for a torrent. goolge your question :)
      (17) Good if not *
      (18) see (14)

      * wont work unless you use something like ssh tunneling to forward your ports to another machine if you are not in controll of the network.

      ** FolderShare (try it Free) humm therefore it cost money

      On a final note simple is always the best for non technical users.

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    • ma629zda

      c482t

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    • Miffed

      What fucking language are you people speaking???
      I thought this was meant to be for the non techie folk?!!!?

      Lets start again:

      HOW DO I SIMPLY GO ABOUT DOWNLOADING TORRENTS ON TO MY MAC?

    • fasz

      anyatok picsaja

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    • Sean

      You assume alot of knowledge about computer stuff. I managed to figure out everything up until the final step (after hours of struggle!)
      I set up Azureus, because I have mac 3.9 which does not allow for Xtorrent. But the final thing is you show a box which says ‘transfers’ and in your illustration one is supposed to select download to ‘same as torrent file’ and watch for torrent files on desktop,etc. However I could not find anywhere the illustrated box that says ‘transfers’ and which has those settings and so on like the box in the final illustration. Where is that??? Where am I supposed to find that???
      And then, finally you say “Now whenever you send your IM account that’s logged in at home a torrent file, it’ll automatically start downloading it!” How do you ‘send a torrent file’ to the IM?

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