Ban an IP range in qBittorrent using CIDR or start–end syntax

qBittorrent 5.3.0 lets you enter an IP range directly in the manual ban list, using either CIDR notation such as 192.0.2.0/24 or a start–end range such as 192.0.2.10 - 192.0.2.20. The feature appears in the October 19, 2026 release notes.

You do not need a new range-blocking screen. The change extends the existing ban-list parser while retaining single-address entries, as explained in the implementation discussion. This guide covers the desktop interface, for managing peers while downloading or sharing files you have the right to use.

Add a range to the manual ban list

Use qBittorrent 5.3.0 or later for this built-in manual-range feature.

1. Open Options or Preferences, then select Connection.
2. Find IP Filtering and click Manually banned IP addresses…. This is separate from the nearby filter-file path control in the desktop settings layout.
3. Enter one address or range in the text field. For example, 192.0.2.10 - 192.0.2.20.
4. Click Ban IP to add it to the list. Repeat for additional entries.
5. Click OK in the ban-list dialog to save the changes. You can then close the main settings window.

Despite its name, Ban IP now accepts ranges. Adding an entry stages it in the dialog; clicking that dialog’s OK saves the modified list to the session without requiring Apply in the main settings window. Cancel in the ban-list dialog discards its unsaved edits. These behaviors are defined in the 5.3.0 ban-list dialog code.

Supported syntax

The following are illustrative values; replace them with the addresses you actually intend to block.

The 5.3.0 range parser supports single addresses, hyphen-separated endpoints and CIDR notation, including IPv6 subnets. For an explicit range, use endpoints from the same address family and put the lower address first. Use a plain hyphen (-), not a typographic dash; omit ports and URL prefixes.

Both endpoints are included. qBittorrent passes them to libtorrent’s blocked-range rule, whose documented semantics cover the entire interval, including its first and last addresses.

Prefer the smallest range that solves the problem. An IPv4 /24 covers 256 addresses, not just the peer that prompted the ban.

Check, troubleshoot or undo the ban

Reopen the manual ban list after saving. A CIDR entry will appear as a start–end range unless it covers just one address: qBittorrent normalizes accepted entries before storing them. That change in display is not evidence that the ban failed.

If Ban IP stays disabled, check your version and syntax. The desktop dialog validates the input before enabling the button. Check for reversed endpoints, mixed IPv4/IPv6 endpoints, or a copied dash that is not -.

To undo a ban, select its entry, click Delete, and click OK in the ban-list dialog. If another remaining range also covers that address, deleting only one entry will not unblock it.

Manual entries feed a session-level filter, so treat them as client-wide rules rather than rules for one selected torrent. You do not need to enable the Filter path checkbox for manual bans to work. An enabled imported filter file can still block addresses after you remove a manual ban; qBittorrent combines the file’s rules with the manual list.

A range ban is peer control, not anonymity

Libtorrent’s blocked flag means matching addresses should neither be connected to nor accepted as incoming connections. It does not hide your address from other peers or turn an IP range into a verified list of malicious users.

Tracker responses distribute peer addresses, and BitTorrent peer handshakes identify the torrent through its info-hash, as specified in BEP 3. Blocking selected ranges does not make the rest of that activity private. For the underlying distinction, see how magnet links find peers and what the swarm sees.

If a lawful download loses useful peers after a broad ban, narrow or remove the range before changing unrelated connection settings.