How To Optimize Soulseek For Downloading Music Easy Tweaks

If you’re setting up Soulseek for the first time, having trouble downloading, or need help using Soulseek with a VPN, use this method to properly configure your ports. If Soulseek is working fine but your downloads are slow, skip down to Get Faster Downloads.

In some cases, you’ll have to open the listening port on your router, firewall, and/or VPN to download and upload files.

When you click the button, you’ll see the results of the test in a web browser tab. If you see the port number, “TCP open,” and “Your router and Soulseek client is configured correctly,” you don’t need to open any ports to use Soulseek. If the port isn’t open or something is misconfigured, you’ll see the message “Port CLOSED. Your router and/or Soulseek client needs to be configured correctly. " In this case, you usually won’t be able to download or upload anything until the port is open. Even if you can download music but not upload, you risk being banned by other Soulseek users, so you’ll want to fix the problem.

Click the Options tab, and then the Login tab. Check the box next to “UPnP port mapping. " Check the box next to “NAT-PMP port mapping” (especially important if you’re using a Mac and/or connected to an AirPort wireless router). Close Soulseek. Make sure it’s really closed and not just minimized. Reopen Soulseek and go to Options > Login. Click the Check Ports button again. If the issue is resolved, great! If not, continue with this method.

Windows: Press the Windows key, type firewall, then click Windows Defender Firewall. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Scroll down to SoulseekQt and check the box next to “Public” and/or “Private,” depending on your internet settings. Click OK to save your changes. Mac: Open System Preferences and select Security & Privacy. [2] X Research source Click Firewall. Click Firewall Options. If Soulseek is already added, use the up and down arrows to allow connections. If not, click + and select Soulseek to add it. Then use the up and down arrows to allow connections.

Press the Windows key, type firewall, then click Windows Defender Firewall. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Scroll down to SoulseekQt and check the box next to “Public” and/or “Private,” depending on your internet settings. Click OK to save your changes.

Open System Preferences and select Security & Privacy. [2] X Research source Click Firewall. Click Firewall Options. If Soulseek is already added, use the up and down arrows to allow connections. If not, click + and select Soulseek to add it. Then use the up and down arrows to allow connections.

If your VPN allows you to do so, open both the Soulseek listening port and the obfuscated listening port (just below it) in your VPN client. Some VPNs only allow you to forward a random port (Private Internet Access being one of them), which means you’ll need to change your listening port every time you want to use Soulseek with your VPN. [3] X Research source We’ll show you how to do this with Private Internet Access, but you’ll find similar options Disconnect from the VPN, open your Settings, click the Network tab, and check the box next to “Request Port Forwarding. " Select a server that allows port forwarding. PIA US servers don’t allow it, but servers in Canada, UK, and many other countries do. Once connected, you’ll see the randomly selected open port above your VPN IP at the top of the PIA window. Click to copy it to your clipboard. Return to Soulseek and go to Options > Login, then paste the copied port number into the “listening port” field. Make sure you’ve enabled UPnP and NAT port mapping if you haven’t already. Close Soulseek (don’t minimize it) and re-open it. Check your ports again. Some VPNs don’t offer port forwarding at all. If you’re using a VPN that doesn’t have port forwarding, you won’t be able to use Soulseek with it.

In the Xfinity app, click the Account tab. [4] X Research source Click xFi Advanced Security. Select Turn Off under “xFi Advanced Security.

Keep in mind that your download speeds are not only depending on your own internet speed, but the connection speed of the person you’re downloading from. Even if your connection is super-fast, you might be downloading from somebody with a slower connection or somebody who’s limiting their upload speeds. If you can’t search or download from Soulseek at all, check out Port Configuration and Forwarding first.

While the “Limit Download Speed” box is checked, make sure you don’t enter a value other than 0 into the box. For example, if you enter a “1” here while the box is checked, your download speeds will be capped at 1 kbps, which will result in extremely slow downloads and aborted transfers.

Similarly, make sure other devices sharing the same internet connection are also not hogging your bandwidth. For example, if your smart TV is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your computer and somebody is streaming a movie, you’ll likely notice a speed decrease in Soulseek.

Just don’t lower your upload speed too much, as slow speeds might cause other users to abort their downloads and look for a faster connection. Some users may even ban you if your upload speed is too low. For broadband connections, setting your upload limit to 200 kbps is a safe option—people can still download from you, and you’ll still have plenty of room to work with.

This ensures that you’re getting the most out of your internet connection for the purpose of your downloads. Don’t leave your upload slots limited for long. Soulseek users may accuse you of leeching.

Move closer to the router (if you’re using Wi-Fi). Wireless interference can affect your download speeds, so make sure you’re as close to your Wi-Fi router as possible while downloading. Unplug your router for 30 seconds and then plug it back in. After a few minutes, reconnect and try downloading again. If your speeds remain slow, try connecting your computer to the router with an ethernet cable instead of using Wi-Fi. Ethernet connections can be faster than Wi-Fi and may clear up download speed issues.