How to Back Up and Restore qBittorrent Settings

Have you ever reinstalled Windows, or moved to a new computer, and found that qBittorrent came back empty?

All your torrents are gone from the list, your categories vanished, your speed limits are back to default, and your RSS rules no longer exist. If you seed many torrents, that is a lot of work to rebuild.

The good news is that qBittorrent keeps all of this in a small set of folders and files. If you copy them before the change, you can restore your whole setup in a few minutes, and you do not have to download anything again.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to back up and restore qBittorrent settings on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Docker. We’ll explain where the files are, what each one holds, how to restore them safely, how to automate the backup, and how to fix the common problems after a restore.

What Does qBittorrent Store, and Where?

qBittorrent separates its information into two groups.

• Configuration: your settings and preferences, such as the save path, speed limits, connection options, Web UI details, categories, and similar choices.
• Data: your torrent list, including a copy of each torrent file and the resume data that tells the client how far each torrent got.

The resume data is the reason a restore works so well. For every torrent, qBittorrent stores a .torrent file and a .fastresume file. Together they say what the torrent is, where its files are saved, and which pieces you already have. When you restore them, the client knows your torrents again and only has to check them.

Our guide on why qBittorrent keeps rechecking torrents explains how resume data is used and why a check can run after a restore.

Where Are the qBittorrent Files on Each System?

The exact folders depend on your system and on how you installed the client. These are the usual locations.

Windows

• Configuration: the qBittorrent folder inside %APPDATA%, which is normally C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\qBittorrent. The main file is qBittorrent.ini.
• Data: the qBittorrent folder inside %LOCALAPPDATA%, which is normally C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\qBittorrent. The torrent data lives in a folder named BT_backup.

You can open these folders quickly. Press the Windows key and R, type %APPDATA%\qBittorrent, and press Enter. Do the same with %LOCALAPPDATA%\qBittorrent.

Linux

• Configuration: ~/.config/qBittorrent
• Data: ~/.local/share/qBittorrent, where you find BT_backup

macOS

• Configuration: ~/Library/Preferences/qBittorrent
• Data: ~/Library/Application Support/qBittorrent

Docker and NAS setups

Containers store these files in the folder you mapped as the configuration volume, often called config. Look inside it for a qBittorrent folder that holds the configuration file and the BT_backup folder. If you did not map a volume, the data lives inside the container and is lost when you remove it, so set up a volume first.

Portable installations

If you use portable mode, everything sits inside the profile folder you chose. Our guide on qBittorrent portable mode explains the layout.

A Note About Resume Data in Newer Versions

Newer releases of qBittorrent can store resume data in a database instead of many separate .fastresume files. You can choose this in Tools, Options, Advanced, in the resume data storage type setting. If your version has the database option and you use it, the data folder holds a database file instead of one file per torrent.

For a backup this makes no big difference. You copy the whole data folder either way. But when you restore, you must keep the same storage type, or switch it after the restore, because qBittorrent reads the kind of storage that is selected.

Before You Back Up: Close qBittorrent

This is the most important rule. Always close qBittorrent completely before you copy files.

qBittorrent writes resume data and settings while it runs, and it saves some settings when it exits. If you copy files while the client is open, you may capture half-written data or old settings.

• Right-click the qBittorrent icon in the system tray and choose Exit, or use File, then Exit.
• Check Task Manager and confirm that no qbittorrent process is still running.
• Wait a few seconds for it to finish saving.

If you use the client as a service or in a container, stop the service or container first.

How to Back Up qBittorrent Settings

Step 1: Close the client

Exit qBittorrent as described above.

Step 2: Copy the configuration folder

Open the configuration location for your system, and copy the whole qBittorrent folder to your backup location. Copy the entire folder, not just one file. It may hold more than the main settings file, such as category lists and other data used by the client.

Step 3: Copy the data folder

Do the same for the data folder, including BT_backup. The official qBittorrent forum also explains that you need both folders. This is the folder that holds your torrent list, so do not skip it.

Step 4: Check the size and the contents

The configuration folder is small. The data folder grows with the number of torrents, but it is still small, usually from a few megabytes to a few hundred, because it holds torrent files and resume data and not your downloaded files.

Open the backup folder and make sure you can see the settings file and the BT_backup folder with many files inside.

Step 5: Store the backup safely

Keep a copy on another drive or in cloud storage. A backup on the same drive does not help if that drive fails.

A word of caution: the settings can contain sensitive details, such as a hashed Web UI password and, if you use a proxy, the proxy details. Do not share your backup folder with other people, and store it in a private place.

What About Your Downloaded Files?

The backup does not include the files that you downloaded. Those sit in your save folders and can be very large. The settings backup only remembers where those files are.

So you have two separate jobs.

• Back up the settings and torrent list, which is small and quick.
• Keep your downloaded files on a drive that you can move or connect to the new setup, with the same paths if possible.

If you plan to move the downloaded files too, read our guide on how to move torrents to another drive without downloading again.

How to Restore qBittorrent Settings

Step 1: Install qBittorrent

Install the same version you used before, or a newer one. You can get installers from the official qBittorrent download page. Do not restore to a much older version, because it may not understand data written by a newer one.

Do not open qBittorrent yet after you install it. If you do open it, close it again completely before you restore.

Step 2: Check that the paths for your downloads exist

Your resume data points to the folders where your files are saved. Make sure those drives and folders are available at the same paths. If your download drive was D: and it is now E:, change the drive letter first, or plan to fix paths afterwards with Set location.

Step 3: Copy the backup back

Copy the backed up configuration folder into the configuration location, and the backed up data folder into the data location. Replace the files that the new installation created.

Step 4: Start qBittorrent and check

Open the client. Your torrents should appear. Many of them will go into Checking for a short time. That is normal after a restore, because the client verifies the files against the resume data.

Step 5: Look at the settings

Open Tools, Options and look at the Downloads, Connection, Speed, and BitTorrent tabs. Confirm your save path, port, limits, and queue settings are back. Check your categories and tags in the sidebar.

Restore to a Different Computer

When you restore on a different computer, a few things can differ.

• Drive letters and paths: if the new computer uses different paths, torrents will show Missing Files. Use Set location to point them to the new folder, then force a recheck.
• User name: the path to your user folder may be different. Settings that include a full path may need to be changed in the Options window.
• Network settings: your listening port still works only if your router and firewall allow it on the new computer. Our guide on the qBittorrent listening port explains how to check it.
• Interface binding: if you bound qBittorrent to a network adapter, such as a VPN adapter, that adapter will not exist on the new computer under the same name. Select the interface again in Tools, Options, Advanced.

If you move from one operating system to another, do not copy settings files blindly. Paths in the files use the format of the old system. It is safer to copy only the data folder and then set the options again by hand.

How to Back Up Only What You Need

You do not always need a full backup. Here are smaller options.

• Export a torrent: right-click a torrent and choose Export .torrent. This saves the torrent file for one torrent. It does not save its progress, but it is enough to add it again.
• Export RSS rules: if you use the RSS downloader, open it and use the export option for your download rules. This gives you a file you can import later.
• Copy the settings file only: copying the main settings file saves your options, but not your torrent list. It is a quick way to move settings between computers if you do not care about the torrents.

For a complete move, the full folders are better.

How to Automate the Backup

A backup you do by hand is easy to forget. You can run a scheduled copy.

On Windows

Use Robocopy in a script and run it with Task Scheduler. The options are listed in the Microsoft Robocopy documentation. A command like this copies the data folder to a backup drive:

robocopy “%LOCALAPPDATA%\qBittorrent” “E:\Backups\qBittorrent\data” /MIR /R:1 /W:1

and this one copies the configuration:

robocopy “%APPDATA%\qBittorrent” “E:\Backups\qBittorrent\config” /MIR /R:1 /W:1

The MIR option mirrors the folder, which deletes files in the backup that no longer exist in the source. If you want to keep old versions, copy into a new dated folder each time instead.

On Linux and macOS

Use rsync with a cron job or a scheduled task. A command like this copies the folders:

rsync -a ~/.local/share/qBittorrent/ /backup/qbittorrent/data/

A note about running copies while the client is open

If you automate the backup, the client may be running when the copy starts. A copy made while the client is open can still be useful as a second layer, but do not rely on it alone. Schedule the job for a time when qBittorrent is closed, or take the manual backup before big changes.

How Often Should You Back Up?

• Before you update qBittorrent to a new major version.
• Before you reinstall the system or change drives.
• After you set up a large number of categories, tags, or RSS rules.
• Once a month, if you seed many torrents and changes happen often.

Keep at least two copies of the backup, and test a restore on another computer or in a spare folder once in a while. A backup that has never been tested is only a guess.

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong After a Restore

The torrent list is empty

The data folder was not copied to the right place, or the client created a new profile. Close qBittorrent, check that BT_backup holds your files in the correct data folder, and start again.

Settings are back to default

The configuration folder is in the wrong place, or you restored it while the client was running and it overwrote the file when it closed. Close the client, copy again, and start it.

Torrents show Missing Files

The paths do not match the new system. Use Set location to choose the folder that holds the files, then run Force recheck.

Everything goes into Checking and it takes forever

This is normal after a restore, especially on a hard drive. It does not download anything. Let the checks finish. If you have many torrents, reduce the number of checks that can run at the same time, if your version has that option.

The Web UI does not open

Check that the Web UI is enabled in Tools, Options, Web UI, and confirm the port. If you restored on a server, check that the firewall allows the port.

Torrents show Errored

Read the Execution Log and fix the cause. Our guides on the qBittorrent access denied error and the I/O error on Windows cover the usual ones.

How to Reset qBittorrent Without Losing Your Torrents

Sometimes you want to reset the settings but keep the torrent list, for example when a setting breaks the client.

• Close qBittorrent.
• Rename the main settings file in the configuration folder, for example from qBittorrent.ini to qBittorrent.ini.old.
• Leave the data folder and BT_backup alone.
• Start qBittorrent.

The client creates new default settings and still shows your torrents, because they come from the data folder. You can then set your options again step by step. If you want to go back, delete the new file and rename the old one back.

Common Mistakes When Backing Up qBittorrent

• Copying the files while the client is open.
• Backing up only the settings file and forgetting BT_backup.
• Keeping the only backup on the same drive.
• Restoring a backup from a newer version into an older one.
• Forgetting to check that the download paths exist.
• Sharing a backup that holds Web UI or proxy details.
• Never testing the restore.

A Quick Checklist

• Exit qBittorrent fully.
• Copy the configuration folder and the data folder.
• Check that BT_backup holds many files.
• Store a copy on another drive.
• Install the same or a newer version on the new system.
• Copy the folders back before you open the client.
• Check Options, categories, and paths.
• Let the checks finish.

What Is Inside the Settings File?

The main settings file is plain text, so you can open it with Notepad or any text editor. It is split into sections, and each line holds one setting and its value. You do not need to edit it, but it helps to know what it contains.

• Download options: the default save path, the incomplete folder, and the extension option.
• Connection options: the listening port, the connection limits, and the network interface you chose.
• Speed options: global limits and the alternative speed limits with their schedule.
• BitTorrent options: queue limits, seeding limits, and the settings for DHT and peer exchange.
• Web UI options: the port, the user name, and a hashed password.
• Window state: the size and position of the main window and the columns you chose to show.

Only edit this file when qBittorrent is closed. If you change it while the client is open, the client may overwrite your change when it exits.

What About Categories, Tags, and RSS Rules?

Categories, tags, and RSS rules are part of your setup, and people often forget them.

• Categories hold a name and an optional save path. They are stored in the files inside the configuration or data folder, depending on your version, so copy both folders and you keep them.
• Tags are saved the same way, and each torrent remembers its own tags in its resume data.
• RSS feeds and download rules are stored in their own files. If you use RSS to add torrents automatically, the full folder backup keeps them. For extra safety, open the RSS Downloader and export your rules to a file.

After a restore, open the sidebar and the RSS window and confirm that each of these is back. If a category looks empty but you know it had torrents, check that the torrents loaded, since each torrent keeps its own category.

How to Test Your Backup Without Touching Your Real Setup

A backup is only useful if it restores. You can test it without risking your working setup by running qBittorrent with a separate profile folder.

• Create an empty folder, for example C:\QBTTest.
• Copy your backed up configuration and data folders into it, using the folder layout that qBittorrent expects for a custom profile.
• Start qBittorrent with the profile option pointing to that folder.

Our guide on qBittorrent portable mode shows the profile option and the folder layout. In the test, look at the torrent list, the categories, and the options. Do not let the test copy start downloads or seeding while your main client runs, because two clients using the same files can cause errors. Pause all torrents in the test, or close your main client first.

Moving From Version 4 to Version 5

Upgrades are a common reason for a backup.

• Take a full backup of both folders before you install the new version.
• Install the new version over the old one, or uninstall the old one and keep the folders.
• Open the client and let it convert the data if it asks.
• Check your settings and your torrents.

Once the new version has written its data, do not go back to the older version with the same folders. If you need to go back, restore the backup you took before the upgrade.

Some options change names or defaults between versions, so look through the Options window after the upgrade. Settings that you have set on purpose, such as the port and the limits, are kept.

Recovery Scenarios

Scenario 1: Windows needs a full reinstall

Before the reinstall, copy both folders and your download folders to another drive. After the reinstall, install qBittorrent, close it, copy the folders back, and start it. Because your download folders are on a separate drive that keeps the same letter, everything continues.

Scenario 2: Your drive failed and you have an older backup

Restore the folders from the backup. The torrent list will be as old as the backup. If you added torrents after the backup, you need to add those again. If your downloaded files survived on another drive, qBittorrent checks them and carries on.

Scenario 3: You broke the settings and the client will not start

Rename the main settings file, as shown in the reset section, and start the client. If it opens, the old settings file was the cause. Set your options again, or restore the settings from your backup and compare.

Scenario 4: You moved to a seedbox or a server

Copy only the data folder and the files that the torrents point to. Then set the options in the Web UI by hand, since paths and networks are different on a server.

Scenario 5: You want the same setup on two computers

Use the backup as a starting point, and then change the paths on the second computer. Do not run both computers against the same set of files at once. Two clients writing to one file cause errors and hash failures. Our guide on the qBittorrent hashing error explains what happens.

Keep a Small Record of Your Own Settings

Besides the backup, write down a few of your settings in a note. If something breaks, you can set them again in a minute.

• Your listening port and any port forwarding rule on the router.
• Your network interface if you use a VPN. Our guide on how to bind qBittorrent to a VPN interface on Windows shows how to set it.
• Your speed limits and the alternative speed schedule.
• Your queue limits.
• Your default save path and any category paths.
• The Web UI port and user name, but not the password in the same note.

This note takes five minutes to write, and it is useful even when your backup folder is fine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where does qBittorrent store its settings on Windows?

In the qBittorrent folder inside %APPDATA% for the configuration, and in the qBittorrent folder inside %LOCALAPPDATA% for the data, including BT_backup.

Does qBittorrent have a built-in backup option?

It does not have a single button that backs up everything. You copy the configuration and data folders yourself. You can also export a torrent file and RSS rules from inside the client.

What is the BT_backup folder?

It holds a copy of each torrent file and its resume data. This is what lets qBittorrent remember your torrents and their progress.

Will I have to download my torrents again after a restore?

No, as long as your downloaded files are still in the same location. qBittorrent checks them and continues to seed.

Do I need to close qBittorrent before I back it up?

Yes. Close it fully so the files are saved and not in use. A copy taken while it runs can be incomplete.

Can I restore my settings on a new computer?

Yes. Install qBittorrent, close it, copy the folders into the right locations, and fix any paths that changed. Select your network interface again if you used a VPN adapter.

Can I restore from a newer version to an older one?

It is not a good idea. Newer versions can write data that older ones do not read. Use the same version or a newer one.

Why do my torrents say Missing Files after I restore?

The saved paths do not exist on the new system. Use Set location to point each torrent to the right folder, and force a recheck.

Does the backup include my downloaded files?

No. It only includes your settings and your torrent list. Back up the downloaded files separately.

How do I back up qBittorrent in Docker?

Keep the configuration in a mapped volume and back up that folder. Stop the container before you copy, and restore by putting the folder back and starting the container.

Final Thoughts

Backing up qBittorrent is a simple job once you know where the files are. Close the client, copy the configuration folder and the data folder, and store them somewhere safe.

When you restore, install the same or a newer version, copy the folders back before you open the client, and make sure the paths for your downloads still exist.

A few minutes spent on a backup saves hours of rebuilding your torrent list, categories, and rules. Do it before every big change, and test the restore at least once.