Guide · Open source
How to use Rayburst: install, download torrents and save HLS streams
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Rayburst is a free, open-source desktop app for downloading files from the web, including BitTorrent, magnet links and streaming media such as HLS and DASH. It is a rebrand of Motrix Next and is licensed under MIT. This guide shows you how to install it on Windows, macOS and Linux, and how to use its main features.
RayburstAnInsomniacy/rayburst · ★ 11.3k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Download the release. Get the installer or package for your system from GitHub Releases.
- 2Install the app. Run the Windows installer, open the macOS .dmg, or install the Linux package with dpkg or rpm.
- 3Open Rayburst. Launch the app. If macOS blocks it, remove the quarantine attribute as described in the FAQ.
- 4Add a download. Paste a URL, magnet link or .torrent file to create a task.
- 5Set limits or schedules. Adjust global or per-task speed limits and day or time schedules if needed.
- 6Install the browser extension. Add Rayburst Connect to send downloads from your browser to the app.
What Rayburst is and who it suits
Rayburst is a graphical download manager. Its download engine is Aria2 Next, a maintained fork of aria2, and the app itself is built with Tauri 2 and a Rust backend.
It suits people who want a free alternative to a paid download manager, people who download torrents and want a graphical interface, and anyone who wants to save HLS or DASH video to MP4 or MKV.
Install Rayburst on Windows, macOS or Linux
Download the latest release from GitHub Releases. Choose the file for your system and architecture.
On Windows, use the x64 or ARM64 setup installer. On macOS, use the .dmg for Apple Silicon or Intel. On Linux, use the .deb, .rpm or .AppImage package.
If you upgrade from Motrix Next, the project recommends uninstalling the previous desktop app first. Settings, tasks and history are not imported, but your downloaded files are kept.
- Windows: run the installer; the project says it takes about 10 seconds and needs no reboot.
- macOS: the app is not code-signed, so you may need to remove the quarantine attribute (see the FAQ).
- Debian / Ubuntu and Fedora / RHEL users can install with the commands below.
sudo dpkg -i Rayburst_x.x.x_amd64.deb
sudo rpm -i Rayburst-x.x.x-1.x86_64.rpmDownload torrents, magnet links and files
Rayburst supports HTTP, HTTPS, SFTP, ED2K, BitTorrent, Magnet and .torrent tasks. For torrents, you can select which files to download rather than taking the whole set.
The app also registers protocol handlers for magnet://, ed2k:// and thunder://, and handles .torrent file associations on installed builds.
- Paste a magnet link or open a .torrent file to create a task.
- Use selective file download to pick only the files you need.
- BitTorrent options include DHT, peer exchange and encryption controls.
Save HLS and DASH streams to MP4 or MKV
Rayburst can download HLS and DASH streams, with track selection, subtitles, live recording and resumable media downloads. Output is MP4 or MKV. The project has a separate media guide in docs/MEDIA.md.
Control speed, schedules and concurrency
You can set global and per-task upload and download limits, and schedule them by day of the week and time of day. Concurrent limits apply separately to active tasks, stream connections and BitTorrent peers.
Add the browser extension
Rayburst Connect is a browser extension that sends downloads to the app. It offers download confirmation, smart auto-submit, filename hints, and referer and cookie forwarding. The Linux Flatpak build does not register the browser's native-messaging host, so start Rayburst manually before connecting Rayburst Connect in that case.
What people use it for
- Downloading torrents and magnet links with a graphical interface
- Saving HLS or DASH video streams to MP4 or MKV
- Downloading only selected files from a torrent
- Throttling downloads during set hours with schedules
- Sending downloads from the browser using Rayburst Connect
Frequently asked questions
Is Rayburst free?
Rayburst is open-source software released under the MIT licence, and its source is on GitHub. The project describes it as a free alternative to paid download managers.
How do I install Rayburst on Ubuntu or Debian?
Download the .deb file from GitHub Releases and run sudo dpkg -i Rayburst_x.x.x_amd64.deb, replacing x.x.x with the version you downloaded. Fedora and RHEL users can use sudo rpm -i with the .rpm file instead.
Why does macOS say Rayburst is damaged and can't be opened?
The app is not code-signed. The project suggests running xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Rayburst.app in Terminal, which removes only the quarantine attribute. Run it again after each upgrade.
Is there a portable Rayburst .exe?
No. The Aria2 Next sidecar must sit beside the main executable, and deep links and file associations need installer-written registry entries. The project provides NSIS installers for Windows instead.
How does Rayburst compare to Motrix or qBittorrent?
Rayburst is a rebrand of Motrix Next and uses the Aria2 Next engine, so it is closely related to Motrix. qBittorrent focuses on BitTorrent. Choose based on which protocols and features you need; this guide does not benchmark them.
Why is my Linux window blank?
The project links a separate Linux display troubleshooting page (docs/LINUX.md) for blank, partly drawn or missing windows. It also includes a Linux GPU rendering fallback.
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Our verdict
Rayburst suits people who want a free, open-source graphical download manager for torrents, magnet links, and HLS or DASH streams. It is less suitable if you need a portable single-file .exe, or an officially signed and notarized macOS build, since macOS builds are ad-hoc signed and Windows signing is optional.
Install options & downloads