# Tor: Why should I avoid torrenting over Tor?

Torrent clients can ignore proxy settings or announce an ordinary IP address through tracker requests, defeating the privacy you expected.

2026-08-25
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Switchboard Tech Services


![Tor: Why should I avoid torrenting over Tor?](https://switchboardtechservices.com/static/images/defaults/guides.webp)

## Short answer

Torrent clients can ignore proxy settings or announce an ordinary IP address through tracker requests, defeating the privacy you expected. Torrent traffic can also consume substantial shared Tor capacity and slow the network for others. The Tor Project explicitly advises against BitTorrent over Tor. Use a tool designed for your lawful file-sharing needs and assess its privacy properties separately.

## Sources

[Tor Project: Tor Browser best practices](https://support.torproject.org/tor-browser/security/using-tb-safely/).

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tor-why-should-i-avoid-torrenting-over-tor/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-25T20:26:21+00:00

Description: A practical answer to Why should I avoid torrenting over Tor?