qBittorrent Search Plugins: torrent site search
/search-plugins
qBittorrent Search Plugins add multi-tracker search directly inside qBittorrent — something the client simply doesn't do natively. The plugin architecture is surprisingly clean and Jackett integration is covered in the wiki. But maintenance is volunteer-only with no SLA; when a tracker updates its site layout, you're at the mercy of whoever submits a fix next. Worth using if you want unified public torrent discovery; don't depend on it for private trackers that require login, since auth handling is a known weak spot.
About qBittorrent search plugins
qBittorrent Search Plugins is a Python-based repository of search engine plugins that hook into qBittorrent's built-in search tab. Each plugin handles the HTTP requests and HTML parsing needed to query a specific torrent site, returning results in a format qBittorrent can display. The repository is community-maintained under GPL-2.0 and lives separately from the qBittorrent core project — the README is explicit that the core team does not directly manage these plugins, though pull requests to fix existing plugins are welcome.
What's included in the repository
- ✓Python plugin architecture — each plugin is a Python file loaded at runtime by qBittorrent's search tab
- ✓Jackett integration documented in the wiki, covering the setup needed to use Jackett as a unified backend for private trackers
- ✓Unofficial plugin registry in the wiki lists community-submitted plugins beyond what's in the repository
- ✓Installation instructions in the wiki walk through placing plugin files in qBittorrent's designated search plugin directory
- ✓How-to guide for writing custom plugins covers the plugin interface, expected return format, and error handling
- ✓Support for qBittorrent's search aggregation — results from multiple plugins can be collected in one view
- ✓Dropped Python 2 support — all plugins now require Python 3, which is enforced by the repository
- ✓GPL-2.0 licensed — plugins are open source and you can audit or modify them
Installing search plugins in qBittorrent
Plugins are installed by placing Python files into qBittorrent's search plugin directory. The wiki documents the exact path for each operating system. After placing a plugin file, restart qBittorrent and enable the plugin in Search > Search plugins within the client. Jackett plugin configuration is covered separately in the wiki and involves providing qBittorrent with your Jackett server URL and API key rather than individual site credentials.
Using the search feature after installation
Once a plugin is enabled, open qBittorrent's Search tab, select the plugin(s) you want to use from the dropdown, enter a query, and click Search. Results appear in a list showing name, size, seeds, and source site — click a result to download it directly into qBittorrent. For Jackett, select the Jackett plugin and qBittorrent queries your Jackett backend, which handles authentication and site API calls behind the scenes, returning aggregated results to the client.
Strengths
- ✓In-client torrent discovery across multiple sites without a browser — keeps your download workflow in one place
- ✓Jackett integration is officially documented in the wiki, covering the most reliable path to private tracker access
- ✓Python plugin system is auditable — you can read the source of every plugin before trusting it
- ✓Open source under GPL-2.0 — free to use, modify, and redistribute
- ✓Wiki provides a how-to for writing custom plugins, lowering the barrier to adding new sites
- ✓Repository accepts pull requests to fix existing plugins, so broken integrations can be patched by the community
Risks and limitations to know before using
- △Community-maintained with no formal support — plugin breakage when a tracker updates its site is common and fix timing is unpredictable
- △Private trackers that require login credentials often don't work well because plugins lack two-factor auth handling; Jackett is the recommended workaround but adds setup complexity
- △The core qBittorrent team does not directly manage this repository, so there's no guaranteed SLA or roadmap alignment
- △Python 2 is no longer supported — if you're using an old plugin written for Python 2, it simply won't load
- △Installing unofficial plugins requires trusting code downloaded from the internet, and the wiki notes you bear responsibility for copyright compliance
Alternatives: Jackett and other options
Frequently asked questions
Yes. qBittorrent Search Plugins are released under GPL-2.0, which means they are free to use, modify, and redistribute. You are responsible for ensuring your use of the underlying torrent sites complies with applicable laws in your country.
Python 3. Support for Python 2 was removed from qBittorrent Search Plugins in August 2020 — the README states this explicitly. Any plugin written for Python 2 will not load in current versions of qBittorrent.
The wiki on qBittorrent Search Plugins has a dedicated page for requesting new unofficial plugins. The repository maintainers note they lack capacity to build new official ones, but the wiki process gives the community a way to surface demand and potentially find contributors willing to build it.
The wiki on qBittorrent Search Plugins documents the plugin interface, expected return format, and error handling. A plugin is a Python file that qBittorrent loads at runtime, makes HTTP requests to a tracker, parses the HTML response, and returns structured results. The guide walks through the required functions and data shapes.
Official plugins ship with qBittorrent itself and are maintained by the core team. The plugins in qBittorrent Search Plugins are community-maintained additions installed separately — the README is explicit that the core team does not directly manage this repository and lacks capacity to build new official ones, only accepting fixes to existing plugins.
Activity depends on the plugin. The repository accepts pull requests to fix existing plugins, and the wiki lists unofficial plugins beyond what lives in the repository. The main repository saw Python 2 removal in 2020, and recent commits tend to be bug fixes rather than new plugin additions — the pace is driven by volunteer contributions and site changes.
The problem it solves
qBittorrent's built-in search tab has no sites configured out of the box — you get a blank interface and nothing to search. The client doesn't bundle any torrent site integrations, so users who want to find content without leaving the app have nowhere to start. The repository solves this by providing a Python plugin system that lets the community ship and share working site integrations that plug directly into qBittorrent's search UI.
Best use cases
- •Finding public domain torrents across multiple sites without leaving qBittorrent — the search tab aggregates results from configured plugins
- •Using Jackett as a backend to search private trackers that require authentication, since Jackett handles the auth layer and exposes a uniform API to qBittorrent
- •Contributing a bug fix when a plugin breaks due to a site changing its HTML structure or API — the repository welcomes PRs for existing plugins
- •Running a lightweight torrent workflow entirely within qBittorrent, avoiding browser tabs for discovery and using the client only for downloads
- •Adding a new torrent site by writing a Python plugin following the wiki's guide, then sharing it as an unofficial plugin via the wiki registry
Who should try it — and who should skip
Try qBittorrent Search Plugins if you want to keep torrent discovery inside qBittorrent and you're comfortable with a volunteer-maintained codebase that may break when sites change. It's a good fit for public tracker users and anyone willing to set up Jackett as a backend for private tracker access. Skip it if you need guaranteed uptime for private tracker searches or if you'd rather not touch Python files and wiki documentation to get search working — Jackett alone or a dedicated aggregator may suit you better.
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