11

How can I open magnet links with firefox? I tried setting following values in about:config,

network.protocol-handler.app.magnet -> /usr/bin/deluge
network.protocol-handler.expose.magnet -> true
network.protocol-handler.external.magnet -> true

But firefox keeps on complaining about

Firefox doesn't know how to open this address, because the protocol (magnet) isn't associated with any program.

I am using repository version of firefox (5) and deluge (1.3.1 - gui+daemon mode) on ubuntu 11.04

Edit: I was told to set network.protocol-handler.expose.magnet to false and firefox would ask which application to use, but I see no box asking me something appearing.

2
  • @Eyal Good idea. I've flagged this question for merging with one of the dupes. This will move all answers over.
    – Seth
    Mar 13, 2013 at 0:11
  • is this current? Jan 12, 2023 at 7:15

7 Answers 7

11

as of firefox 3.6 network.protocol-handler.external.* seems to no longer work

in about:config

network.protocol-handler.expose.magnet -> false

and 'reset' all other values to do with magnet.

once you click a magnet link you will be prompted to choose an application, navigate to and select /usr/bin/deluge

You might also try

$ gconftool-2 -t string -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/magnet/command 'deluge "%s"'
$ gconftool-2 -t bool -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/magnet/needs_terminal false
$ gconftool-2 -t bool -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/magnet/enabled true
5
  • Yes, I tried this (including the reset) but it didn't ask anything. The thing is this worked with Transmission (default app), but after I uninstalled transmission I can't get it to point to deluge in any way.
    – KillianDS
    Jul 18, 2011 at 6:43
  • Strange, worked for me. I've added the steps for changing gnome's default url handling, dont think firefox takes any notice of it but its worth a try.
    – Smithamax
    Jul 18, 2011 at 8:02
  • Okay, thanks, I'll try it again as soon as I get home.
    – KillianDS
    Jul 18, 2011 at 8:04
  • 2
    the other thing to check is in firefox's preferences under applications, if there is already an entry for magnet.
    – Smithamax
    Jul 18, 2011 at 8:52
  • Well, selecting "use..." there and manually going to /usr/bin/deluge did the trick, thank you :)!
    – KillianDS
    Jul 18, 2011 at 21:53
5

In Firefox go to Edit/Preferences/Applications, search magnet and set Deluge

enter image description here

4

Instead of clicking on the magnet link in Firefox (which requires some advanced configuration to set up), right-click on the link and select "Copy Link Location". Then, move into your Deluge window, click Add Torrent (the "+" at the top-left of the window), and then click the "URL" button.

Happy torrenting, and remember to go for a 3:1 seed ratio!

2
  • Well, it's not really that advanced, but that can be solved with a quick google search (I would tell you if I actually remembered how, I'm kind of a noob too). Jun 23, 2012 at 22:59
  • This is more of a workaround than a solution to the problem as stated, but it's good to note it, yes :) Oct 2, 2016 at 4:30
2

was trying to get magnets to open with deluge in chrome rather than firefox but after trying everything else i had seen i finally managed to make magnet links open in deluge by not only changing

MimeType=application/x-bittorrent;

to

MimeType=application/x-bittorrent;x-scheme-handler/magnet;

in /usr/share/applications/deluge.desktop but also removing

x-scheme-handler/magnet;

from /usr/share/applications/transmission-gtk.desktop before running

sudo update-desktop-database

hope this helps anyone with similar problems

1

Have you actually installed deluge? If not, open a terminal and enter this command. sudo apt-get install deluge When its done it should show up in the programs list.

1
  • I think that the problem is he doesn't know how to get it to link with firefox (e.g. he clicks a magnet link and then firefox wants to know what to open it with and asks him to browse to the executable). Jun 23, 2012 at 22:56
0

This worked for me, FF 47, Debian 9, KDE 5:

  1. In about:config find "network.protocol-handler.expose-all", change to "false";
  2. Click on some magnet link - a file browser pop-up should appear, show it full path to the executable (/usr/bin/qbittorrent for ex.);
  3. Change "network.protocol-handler.expose-all" back to "true";
  4. Download the world.
1
  • thanks, this is the only solution that worked for me, so weird Jul 15, 2017 at 9:37
0

The deluge.desktop file that's installed (in /usr/share/applications or similar) by the deluge package should already contain the

MimeType=x-scheme-handler/magnet

line that associates deluge with magnet links. However, in my case I found that for the system to pick up this association, I had to run:

sudo update-desktop-database

If this command is not found, the package desktop-file-utils needs to be installed first.

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