Ability to download metadata without starting files download #13870

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opened 2026-02-22 00:25:42 -05:00 by deekerman · 3 comments

deekerman commented

2026-02-22 00:25:42 -05:00

Owner

Originally created by @tristanleboss on GitHub (Sep 28, 2022).

Originally assigned to: @glassez on GitHub.

Suggestion

When you add a magnet, often you have no idea of the final size or content of the torrent. It's possible that, once you discover the content, you don't want the files, don't have the disk space, don't want all the files, ...

There is 2 ways to add torrents to qBt: throug the add dialog box or automaticaly ("Display torrent content and some options" global option) in either paused or started mode ("Do not start the torrent automatically" global option).

It would be great to either:

continue downloading metadata even if the torrent is paused (is there any drawback to this? if there is drawbacks, add a global option "Download metadata while torrents are paused"?),
add the ability to tick a checkbox "Only download metadata" on 1) the add torrent dialog (and disable it if qBt manage to download the metadata while the dialog box is shown), 2) the "Download from URLs" dialog if "Do not start the torrent automatically" global option is enabled because if not, you will have the checkbox on the add torrent dialog... It would be great if the checbox can be there and the setting propagate to all the following add torrent dialogs....

Use case

Add 4k magnets and pray.

Extra info/examples/attachments

No response

Originally created by @tristanleboss on GitHub (Sep 28, 2022). Originally assigned to: @glassez on GitHub. ### Suggestion When you add a magnet, often you have no idea of the final size or content of the torrent. It's possible that, once you discover the content, you don't want the files, don't have the disk space, don't want all the files, ... There is 2 ways to add torrents to qBt: throug the add dialog box or automaticaly ("Display torrent content and some options" global option) in either paused or started mode ("Do not start the torrent automatically" global option). It would be great to either: - continue downloading metadata even if the torrent is paused (is there any drawback to this? if there is drawbacks, add a global option "Download metadata while torrents are paused"?), - add the ability to tick a checkbox "Only download metadata" on 1) the add torrent dialog (and disable it if qBt manage to download the metadata while the dialog box is shown), 2) the "Download from URLs" dialog if "Do not start the torrent automatically" global option is enabled because if not, you will have the checkbox on the add torrent dialog... It would be great if the checbox can be there and the setting propagate to all the following add torrent dialogs.... ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1431508/192902170-faebb62b-126e-488d-a2e8-d14cbd891bfa.png) ### Use case Add 4k magnets and pray. ### Extra info/examples/attachments _No response_