Questions and answers
Short answers to the questions people ask most. Something missing? Email hello@bitdinghy.com.
Is BitDinghy really free?
Yes. No ads, no “pro” version, no time limit and no features held back. It’s open source (MIT or Apache-2.0). Donations are welcome but never asked for inside the app.
Is BitDinghy safe?
BitDinghy treats everything it receives from the internet as untrusted. It never writes outside the download folder you chose, never overwrites a file it didn’t download, and only ever deletes files it downloaded itself. Its source code is public, and every release has a SHA-256 checksum so you can check your download is the real one.
Why does Windows say "Windows protected your PC"?
BitDinghy isn’t code-signed yet, and Windows warns about new programs it doesn’t know. Free signing for open-source projects is planned. Check the checksum first, then click More info and Run anyway; Windows asks only once.
My antivirus warns about BitDinghy. What now?
New, unsigned programs, and BitTorrent programs in particular, sometimes get false alarms. Download BitDinghy only from this site or its GitHub releases, and check the checksum. If it matches and your antivirus still complains, please let us know so it can be reported to the antivirus maker.
Do I need to install it, or have admin rights?
No. Unzip it and run BitDinghy.exe. It keeps its settings and download list in a data folder next to the program and needs no admin rights.
Can I run it from a USB stick?
Yes, that’s what “portable” means: everything travels with the folder. One thing to know: USB sticks formatted as FAT32 can’t hold files of 4 GB or more. BitDinghy refuses such a download at once instead of failing halfway, and tells you why.
How do I open a magnet link?
Copy it, paste it in the box at the top of BitDinghy’s window and press Download. Or make BitDinghy the default for magnet links (Settings, Make BitDinghy the default…) and simply click the link in your browser: BitDinghy asks before adding it. The guide has the details.
Can I download only some of the files?
Yes. A download with several files has a Files button: untick what you don’t want, at any time, even while it’s downloading. On the command line: dinghy files <number> --pick 1,3-5.
Does BitDinghy find or provide things to download?
No. BitDinghy has no search, no catalogue and no recommendations: it’s a download tool, and you bring your own links. Only download and share what you have the right to; Linux distribution images and other openly licensed files are good examples.
Does BitDinghy collect any data about me?
No. No tracking, analytics, ads or accounts, no automatic update checks, and crash reports stay on your computer. The only traffic is the downloading itself. See Privacy.
Can other people see what I download?
Yes, like with every BitTorrent program: the people you download from and share with see your internet (IP) address and which download it is. BitDinghy’s connections also aren’t encrypted yet, because the engine it’s built on doesn’t support that so far. BitDinghy itself doesn’t hide your address.
Why is my download slow, or stuck at 0%?
Speed depends on how many people share the same download and how fast they are. A download nobody shares can’t start. If you set speed limits, check them in Settings. Allowing incoming connections (Settings, Connections) and allowing BitDinghy in Windows Firewall helps you reach more people.
Can I use it from the command line?
Yes: dinghy.exe comes in the same zip. dinghy get "<magnet link>" downloads in the terminal, and list, pause, resume, remove, files and more work too, even while the window is open. See the command list.
How do I update BitDinghy?
Download the new zip and replace BitDinghy.exe and dinghy.exe, keeping the data folder. Your settings and download list carry over: BitDinghy upgrades them by itself. BitDinghy doesn’t update itself or check for updates; What’s new lists every version.
How do I uninstall it?
If you made BitDinghy the default for magnet links or .torrent files, press Undo in its Settings first (or run dinghy default-app off). Then close BitDinghy and delete its folder. Your downloaded files are in your download folder and stay where they are.
Is there a Linux or Mac version?
A Linux version comes after the Windows version is complete. A Mac version isn’t planned for now. The roadmap shows what’s coming.