---
title: "How do speed limits, Turtle mode and the Performance proposals work?"
url: "https://forum.qnap.net.pl/threads/how-do-speed-limits-turtle-mode-and-the-performance-proposals-work.46351/"
thread_id: 46351
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 speed limits, Turtle mode and the Performance proposals work?

> Source: <https://forum.qnap.net.pl/threads/how-do-speed-limits-turtle-mode-and-the-performance-proposals-work.46351/> · FAQ · Forum QNAP Polska · 2026-11-11

**Symptoms**

- You want to limit how fast Rtorrent 16 downloads or uploads.
- You are not sure what Turtle mode or the proposals of the Performance page change.

**Cause**
Rtorrent 16 has two overall limits, one for download and one for upload, in KiB/s. Both are 0 by default, which means unlimited. Turtle mode replaces both with its own lower limits, 2048 KiB/s for download and 512 KiB/s for upload by default. When you switch it off, the normal limits come back. The Performance page measures your link and proposes limits based on the measurement. Nothing changes until you apply a proposal.

**Resolution**

1. Change a limit quickly. At the top of Quick access or the Dashboard, click the **Download** or **Upload** figure, type the limit in KiB/s (0 = no limit) and press **Save limits**. The limit stays after a restart.
2. Or open **Settings → Bandwidth & limits**. Under **Speed**, set **download** and **upload** in the **Max speed (KiB/s, 0 = unlimited)** row, and Turtle mode's own limits in the **Turtle mode limit (KiB/s)** row. Press **Review & save** and confirm the changes in the window that opens.
![](https://forum.qnap.net.pl/attachments/75999/)
3. Slow everything down for a while. On the Dashboard, press **Turtle mode**. Press the button again to switch it off.
![](https://forum.qnap.net.pl/attachments/76000/)
4. Let the Performance page propose limits. Open **Performance**, select **Link** under **What to test** and press **Run test**. Turn on **Advanced** at the top of the page. Under **Proposed settings**, each row shows the current value, the proposed value and the reason. Tick the rows you want, set **Headroom left for other traffic**, and press **Apply settings (…)**.
![](https://forum.qnap.net.pl/attachments/76001/)

**Notice & Advise**

- The proposed limit is the measured speed less the headroom. The headroom is 2 % by default and 1 to 10 % with the slider, but never less than 1 Mbit/s and never more than 50 Mbit/s. If you type the speeds of your plan before the test, the proposals use the lower of the plan and the measurement.
- Turtle mode lasts until you switch it off or rtorrent restarts.
- A link profile on the **Peers and their limits** card also sets both limits, for a line of that speed in both directions.

Ref. links:
[Rtorrent 16 guide: Performance tests](https://pub.qnaputilities.com/rtorrent16/demo/guides/?g=performance)

---

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