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windscribe-qbt-port-forward-guide

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Port Forwarding with Windscribe for qBitTorrent - A Guide

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# Port Forwarding with Windscribe for qBitTorrent - A Guide

### Requirements

* [Windscribe Pro](https://windscribe.com/upgrade)
     * If you'd like permanent port forwarding, you must also purchase a [static IP.](https://windscribe.com/staticips) 
     * You may notice that screenshots of the Windscribe client in this guide may look different from newer versions of Windscribe. Don't worry, the steps remain the same.
* qBitTorrent
* WireGuard, IKEv2, UDP (best), or TCP, Stealth, and WStunnel (not recommended unless you cannot use the others). Port isn't super important, and 443 is generally best, since this is the same port used for HTTPS. Feel free to experiment if you have the time! Some users get higher speeds on other ports. \
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m2jest1c/windscribe-qbt-port-forward-guide/main/Images/Protocol.png)

### Activate Ephemeral Port Forwarding

1. [Log in to Windscribe.](https://windscribe.com/login)
2. Go to the [ephemeral port forwarding page.](https://windscribe.com/myaccount#porteph)
3. Request **matching** or **specific** port. **Note down the port.**
     * If you selected specific, note down the port that **you typed in**, NOT the external port it assigns to you.
4. Disconnect (if currently connected) and reconnect. 
     * For WireGuard users, you may have to switch servers or disconnect for a brief period of time.

##### Keep in Mind

* You must renew the port every 7 days. Matching ports will require that you change the port number in qBitTorrent every time you renew. Specific port will allow you to keep that setting the same, though you'll have to reconnect qBitTorrent when you renew the port in either case.

### Activate Permanent Port Forwarding ([Static IPs Only](https://windscribe.com/staticips))

1. [Log in to Windscribe.](https://windscribe.com/login)
2. Go to the [static IP port forwarding page.](https://windscribe.com/myaccount#portforwards)
3. Select the location you've purchased, and configure your options. 
     1. Name the service. Choose whatever you want, since it doesn't affect anything.
     2. Select **TCP.**
     3. Select the device you want to port forward with. 
          * You must **connect at least once** for a device to appear.
     4. Choose a port number.
          * You can use a port number of your choosing for both internal and external, though it's [recommended you keep them the same](#matching-vs-specific-ports). **Note down the internal port.**
          * It's also a better idea to choose a higher port number (greater than 10000). 
4. Disconnect (if currently connected) and reconnect. 
     * For WireGuard users, you may have to switch servers or disconnect for a brief period of time.

### Configure Windscribe & qBitTorrent

1. Open Windscribe, and connect.
2. Turn on the **always on firewall**. This prevents your internet traffic from leaking in the event Windscribe disconnects. Leave this setting on for the remainder of your torrenting session. \
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m2jest1c/windscribe-qbt-port-forward-guide/main/Images/AlwaysOn.png)
3. Open qBitTorrent.
4. Press Alt + O. This should open the Preferences menu for qBitTorrent. You can also select Tools > Preferences on the top.
5. Select *Connection* on the left.
6. Select **TCP** as your peer connection method, and type in the port you noted down. **Disable UPnP** as well. \
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m2jest1c/windscribe-qbt-port-forward-guide/main/Images/Port.png)
7. Select *Advanced* on the left.
8. **Bind** qBitTorrent to your **VPN network interface**. 
    * Windows:
         * On WireGuard, it should be titled **Windscribe WireGuard**.
         * On IKEv2, it should be titled **Windscribe IKEv2**.
         * On OpenVPN (UDP/TCP/Stealth/WStunnel) it should be titled **Local Area Connection** (potentially with a number). You will have to check this in your Windows adapter settings. 
    * Linux, MacOS:
         * The network interface may show up as **utun420** or **tun0**.
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m2jest1c/windscribe-qbt-port-forward-guide/main/Images/Interface.png)

9. Check if your port is forwarding. You can do this at [YouGetSignal](https://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/) or [Can You See Me.](https://canyouseeme.org/) Make sure you type in the correct port. If it says it is open, then you are good to go.

Make sure you **do not turn off Windscribe's Always On firewall before you close your torrenting client.** Make sure to **close your torrenting client from the tray** before you shut down the VPN and its firewall. **You will need to turn off the Always-On firewall if you want to use the internet without a VPN after you are done.** You can set it to automatic or manual in order to disable the always on firewall.

Do not open your torrenting client without the VPN connected and with the Always On firewall active. This is a risk and **may leak your true IP.**

### Troubleshooting

#### Matching vs. Specific Ports
- I have observed that in certain cases, some people may have issues succeeding with port forwarding if they use specific port (as in, select their own port instead of using the matching option). If port forwarding does not work, try using matching port instead.
     - Matching port requires that you change the port in the qBitTorrent every week. Specific port (since the internal port is always the same) negates this, and if that functions properly for you, you're more than welcome to use it!

### ⚠️ A small word of caution

During Summer 2025, Windscribe *somewhat* tightened up on their bandwidth usage policies. This was due to users who significantly abused their previously relaxed bandwidth usage enforcement and often singlehandedly saturated entire locations for hours on end. This caused issues for dozens if not hundreds of other users on those servers.

This resulted in an influx of complaints on the r/Windscribe subreddit, which may come up when you search for information regarding torrenting with Windscribe. Since then, the subreddit seems to have been semi-inundated with misleading complaints regarding the service.

While **this has not been an issue for most users**, a handful (around **40 out of Windscribe's 20 million active users**) have been banned.

Windscribe cannot differentiate between torrenting and other use cases. Torrenting itself is generally not prohibited. This does not apply to certain countries which are marked as 'File Sharing Frowned Upon'. Torrenting is discouraged in those locations, and methods of blocking it are implemented.

Torrenting is often a high bandwidth use case, especially when you seed. As long as you don't use far too much bandwidth a month (above 20TB in my opinion), and don't saturate a location via high bandwidth continuous download/upload, you should be fine. If this does not meet your needs, I recommend purchasing a seedbox.

I still recommend Windscribe. I am not a Windscribe employee, and these opinions are my own.

windscribe-qbt-port-forward-guide

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