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Guide · Open source

How to use AriaNg: setup, features and tips

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

AriaNg is a free, open-source web frontend for aria2, a download manager that runs without a visible window. It gives you a browser page with task lists, progress, and controls. This guide explains what you need before you start, how to get AriaNg running, and what its main features do.

AriaNgmayswind/AriaNg · ★ 13.3k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Confirm aria2 is running. AriaNg needs an aria2 RPC server behind it. Set up aria2 first, using aria2's own documentation.
  2. 2Get the release. Download the all-in-one release from the releases page or clone the repository.
  3. 3Unzip the files. Unzip the downloaded release to a folder you can find.
  4. 4Open the HTML file. Open the single HTML file in your browser.
  5. 5Connect to aria2. Enter your aria2 RPC host details in AriaNg so it can manage your tasks.
  6. 6Manage downloads. Use the task lists to sort, search, retry, and reorder downloads.

What you need before you start

AriaNg is a front end, so it needs an aria2 RPC server behind it. The source does not describe how to set up aria2 itself, so check aria2's own documentation for that.

The README lists no separate prerequisites for using a prebuilt release. AriaNg is written in plain HTML and JavaScript, so it does not need a compiler or runtime environment.

  • An aria2 installation that you can run as an RPC server
  • A web browser on your desktop or mobile device

Get the all-in-one version of AriaNg

The README describes three versions: the standard version, the all-in-one version, and AriaNg Native. The all-in-one version is intended for local use: you download it and open the single HTML file in your browser. The standard version is meant for deployment on a web server and loads on demand.

Download the all-in-one release from the releases page, unzip it, and open the single HTML file in your browser. The README also shows a git clone command for the repository.

  • Releases page: https://github.com/mayswind/AriaNg/releases
  • AriaNg Native does not require a browser to run (see the project's AriaNg-Native repository)
git clone https://github.com/mayswind/AriaNg

Avoid the local file error with the standard version

The README warns that the standard version loads language resources asynchronously. Opening index.html directly from the local file system may not work.

The README recommends one of three options: use the all-in-one version, deploy AriaNg in a web container, or use AriaNg Native.

  • Use the all-in-one version for opening the file directly
  • Serve the standard version from a web server or web container

Build AriaNg from source (optional)

If you want to build it yourself, the README says you need Node.js, NPM and Gulp installed. Download the source code, then run the commands for the version you want. Builds are placed in the dist directory.

  • Standard version: run npm install, then gulp clean build
  • All-in-one version: run npm install, then gulp clean build-bundle
$ npm install $ gulp clean build-bundle

Use the main features

AriaNg lets you sort and search tasks, retry them, and reorder them by dragging. You can view more detail for each task, including health percentage and BitTorrent peer client information. Speed charts show aria2 or a single task.

You can filter files by type or extension, and view multi-directory tasks in a tree. AriaNg also supports a dark theme, multiple languages, multiple aria2 RPC hosts, and exporting and importing settings. It can notify you when a download finishes, and it only requests incremental data to reduce bandwidth.

  • Sort by name, size, progress, remaining time, or download speed
  • Search and retry tasks
  • Filter files by type such as videos, audios, pictures, documents, applications, or archives
  • Connect to multiple aria2 RPC hosts
  • Export and import settings
  • Dark theme and multi-language interface

Use it from a phone or another computer

The README says AriaNg uses a responsive layout and supports desktop and mobile devices. The source also mentions a URL command line API, but it does not document its syntax, so consult the project's documentation for details.

The README points to a third-party extensions page for apps built on AriaNg, which may help in other scenarios or on other devices.

  • Desktop and mobile layouts are both supported
  • Third-party extensions are listed at http://ariang.mayswind.net/3rd-extensions.html

What people use it for

  • Managing aria2 downloads from a browser on your desktop
  • Checking and controlling downloads from a phone on your network
  • Opening a local, all-in-one HTML file without setting up a web server
  • Switching between several aria2 RPC hosts from one interface

Frequently asked questions

Is AriaNg free?

AriaNg is released under the MIT licence, according to the README and the repository. The source does not list any pricing.

Do I need to install anything to run AriaNg?

The README says AriaNg is pure HTML and JavaScript and needs no compiler or runtime environment. You still need an aria2 RPC server behind it.

Why does AriaNg not load when I open index.html?

The standard version loads language resources asynchronously, so opening index.html directly from the file system may fail. Use the all-in-one version, serve it from a web server, or use AriaNg Native.

What is the difference between the standard and all-in-one versions?

The standard version is for deployment on a web server and loads on demand. The all-in-one version is for local use: you open the single HTML file in your browser.

Does AriaNg work on a phone?

The README says AriaNg uses a responsive layout and supports desktop and mobile devices.

What are alternatives to AriaNg?

The comparable projects listed for this item are Aria2 WebUI, YAAW, and Motrix. Compare them against your needs before choosing.

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Our verdict

AriaNg suits people who already run aria2 and want a browser control panel, especially if they want to manage downloads from another device. It is a poor fit for anyone who has never used aria2 or who wants a simple downloader with no server setup.

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