---
title: "How do I limit how many torrents download at once?"
url: "https://forum.qnap.net.pl/threads/how-do-i-limit-how-many-torrents-download-at-once.46349/"
thread_id: 46349
date: "2026-11-11"
category: "FAQ"
section: "Knowledge base"
source: "Forum QNAP Polska"
site: "https://forum.qnap.net.pl"
language: "pl"
ai_policy: "https://forum.qnap.net.pl/ai-policy.md"
license: "https://forum.qnap.net.pl/ai-policy.md"
---

# How do I limit how many torrents download at once?

> Source: <https://forum.qnap.net.pl/threads/how-do-i-limit-how-many-torrents-download-at-once.46349/> · FAQ · Forum QNAP Polska · 2026-11-11

**Symptoms**

- Many torrents download at the same time and share the speed.
- You want new downloads to wait until earlier ones finish.

**Cause**
Without a limit, every started torrent downloads at once. The limit is experimental: **Max active downloads (experimental)**. It appears only in Developer mode and carries a **Not recommended** badge. Queued downloads wait even while running ones barely move, so a few slow torrents can hold up the rest. With Developer mode off, the limit has no effect, whatever number is set.

**Resolution**

1. Open **Settings** and turn on **Advanced** at the top.
2. Open **Settings → Advanced** and, under **Panel**, turn on **Developer mode**.
![](https://forum.qnap.net.pl/attachments/75995/)
3. Open **Settings → Bandwidth & limits**. Under **Slots and memory**, **Max active downloads (experimental)** appears. Type how many torrents may download at once. 0 means no limit.
![](https://forum.qnap.net.pl/attachments/75996/)
4. Press **Review & save** and confirm the changes in the window that opens. The limit applies without a restart.

**Notice & Advise**

- Downloads over the limit show **queued** in Quick access. A queued download starts by itself when another download finishes, stops or is removed, and immediately when you raise the number or turn Developer mode off.
- Seeding torrents never wait and do not count.
- Turning Developer mode off also turns auto-tuning off and starts every queued download.

Ref. links:
[Rtorrent 16 guide: Torrents](https://pub.qnaputilities.com/rtorrent16/demo/guides/?g=torrents)
[Rtorrent 16 guide: Auto-tuning](https://pub.qnaputilities.com/rtorrent16/demo/guides/?g=autotune)

---

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