How to bypass the MEGA download limit with a VPN

Knowing how to bypass the MEGA download limit helps when you hit your transfer quota mid-download or need to grab large files without waiting for hours. MEGA restricts IPs to about 5 GB of transfers every six hours, so the main trick is to change your IP.

The easiest way to do this without also destroying your download speeds is to use a VPN. Connecting to a VPN server assigns your device a different IP, so your limits reset when you log back into MEGA. Another way is to use a downloader app and a few proxies, though it’s unreliable—especially the part about finding working proxies.

We’ll cover both VPNs and two downloader apps (JDownloader/MegaBasterd) below. Then, we’ll go over why people want to bypass the MEGA download limit, the risks involved, and how a Pro plan can increase MEGA transfer limits for free users.

How to bypass the MEGA download limit with a VPN

Bypassing the MEGA download limit is as easy as changing your IP address with a VPN. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Choose one of the best VPNs that works on MEGA. Our top pick is NordVPN thanks to its solid speeds and extensive worldwide server network.
2. After subscribing, download and install the provider’s app on your device(s).
3. Connect to a server nearby for the best download speeds.
4. Log in to your MEGA account and enjoy another few free GBs of downloads.
5. Use a different server, open a new browser window, and log in to your MEGA account to reset the limit whenever you run out.

How to bypass the MEGA download limit with a downloader

Is a VPN not in the budget? Then you can try using a Java-based downloader app like JDownloader or MegaBasterd with a proxy to bypass MEGA download limits.

Here’s the difference between a proxy and a VPN if you’re curious, but the short version is that a VPN routes all your traffic through a new IP and encrypts it to keep your downloads hidden from your ISP, hackers, and other snoopers.

Meanwhile, a proxy only reroutes the downloader itself, is much less reliable, and doesn’t offer any real privacy. If you use an HTTP proxy, anyone monitoring your connection (like your ISP) can see your traffic.

JDownloader

One thing to mention before you set anything up is that JDownloader can’t download individual files larger than 5 GB, so large videos, ISOs, ZIPs, and similar files (or folders) need to be split into smaller chunks first. Otherwise, JDownloader won’t parse them.

In any case, here’s how to use it:

1. Download and install Java on your PC.
2. Next, download JDownloader, set it up, and open the app.
3. Click on Settings > Connection Manager > Add.
4. Look up “proxy list” on your preferred search engine. Take note of the proxy’s IP address, port number, and type (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS).
5. In JDownloader, choose the Proxy Type from the drop-down list. Add the IP and port to the Host/Port text boxes and click OK.
6. You can add multiple proxies if you want, just make sure you uncheck the No Proxy option as well. A JDownloader community manager recommended testing proxies manually first instead of importing huge public lists, since most free proxies are already dead, blocked, or heavily restricted.
7. Go to your MEGA account, then right-click the file(s) you want to download and click Copy link(s). If someone messaged you a MEGA link, simply copy it as usual.
8. JDownloader should automatically grab the link(s) from your clipboard. If not, click on LinkGrabber, right-click the empty space, and press Add New Links.
9. Your link should appear at the top. Ensure it has the decryption key (the bit after #) as well, or JDownloader won’t be able to download it. Click Continue to add it.
10. Once added, right-click the link and click Start Downloads (or Start all Downloads if you’re downloading multiple files).
11. It may take a lot of trial-and-error until you find a proxy that works. Whenever you add a new one, right-click your file(s) and select Force Download Start.

MegaBasterd

Name and interesting design choices aside, MegaBasterd is an open-source downloader that can handle large files and folders, so you don’t need to split anything. Follow the steps below to start downloading:

1. Download and install Java on your system.
2. Get MegaBasterd from its GitHub page. First, click on the latest release on the right.
3. Under Assets, click to download the MegaBasterd.jar file.
4. Navigate to the download location, and double-click the .jar file to run the app. It’ll open automatically, no installation required.
5. Copy any MEGA links you want to download.
6. Click File > New download.
7. Your link(s) should get added automatically. Click Change it to select your downloads folder, then Let’s dance, baby to proceed.
8. If you added a folder, you have the option to remove files using Remove all except this or Remove this. Otherwise, click Let’s dance, baby again to begin.
9. Your files should begin downloading.
10. Occasionally, MegaBasterd downloads may stop completely. They won’t break, since the app downloads files in chunks and reassembles them at the end.
11. If this happens, you’ll have to wait it out or add a proxy. Find one from an online proxy list, then click Edit > Settings.
12. Click Advanced, then scroll down and enable the Use HTTP(S) PROXY option.
13. Add the proxy’s IP and port number to the Host and Port boxes, then click Save.
14. The app will need to stop your transfers safely, then restart. This may take a good while, so grab a coffee while you wait. Do not click “Exit Now”, or it may break the download.
15. If the proxy doesn’t work, you may get an “I/O ERROR argument “content” is null” error. Repeat steps 11-13 to add another proxy and try again.
16. It may take a lot of trial-and-error, but eventually your download should resume.

Unsurprisingly, your speeds will take a nosedive, or the download will fail to start at all. At some point, we switched to NordVPN to actually finish the download and got speeds comparable to using the app without a VPN.

Why do people try to bypass the MEGA download limit?

Here are the main situations where MEGA’s free download limit becomes a problem:

• Downloading large files on tight deadlines: Waiting hours for the transfer cap to reset isn’t practical for work, school, or other time-sensitive downloads.
• No budget for a paid plan: Not everyone wants to commit to a subscription for occasional or one-off heavy downloads.
• Slow or unstable connections: Interruptions can waste the limited free bandwidth and force people to start over.
• Shared links from others: People often receive files without warning about their size or MEGA’s limits.
• Privacy and throttling concerns: A VPN hides your real IP and traffic, while also preventing bandwidth throttling from your ISP.

Risks of bypassing MEGA’s download limit

While getting around MEGA’s limits may seem like a good idea on paper, it comes with a hefty list of risks you should know about:

• Account suspensions or bans: MEGA may detect repeated IP changes or unusual download patterns and restrict or permanently block your account.
• Malware from shady tools: Many “bypass” apps and proxy lists bundle trackers, adware, or outright malware.
• Slower speeds than waiting: Overcrowded free VPN servers or weak proxies may throttle your download speeds to the point where it’s faster to just wait.
• Temporary IP blocks: MEGA frequently blacklists shared VPN and proxy IPs, making the workaround unreliable.
• Potential data leaks: Proxies and sketchy free VPNs can log your activity or sell your browsing data to advertisers, data brokers, or other third parties.
• Complex setup: Beginners may struggle with configuration, and even experienced users may encounter interrupted transfers.
• Broken or partial files: Unreliable bypass tools can lead to downloads that don’t finish or are damaged.
• Potential legal consequences: Circumventing limits could break the law or MEGA’s rules when handling copyrighted material.
• Costly solutions: Paid VPNs intended to bypass limits can be expensive and still risk being flagged by MEGA.

Can you increase the MEGA transfer limit?

The main way to increase your MEGA transfer limit is to get a subscription. Here’s how much you get with each plan:

• Pro Lite: 1 TB of transfer
• Pro I: 3 TB of transfer
• Pro II: 10 TB of transfer
• Pro III: 20 TB of transfer
• Pro Flexi and Business: flexible (starts at 3 TB)

Paid users (besides Pro Flexi and Business) can also grant up to 25% transfer quota to people downloading their links, which can be set higher or lower at any time. This is useful for schools, teams, or anyone sharing large files without forcing each user to have a paid account.

Here’s how to increase the MEGA transfer limit via settings:

1. Log into your MEGA account in a browser.
2. Click your profile on the top right, then choose Settings.
3. Click on Transfers on the left-side menu.
4. If you have a Pro Lite or Pro I-III account, you can use the slider to increase or decrease the transfer quota. Set it to 0% when you want to stop sharing.

Can I use a free VPN to get rid of the MEGA download limit?

It’s possible to use a free VPN to get rid of MEGA’s limits, with a few caveats:

• Most free VPNs have their own data caps, which defeats the whole purpose.
• Free VPNs have fewer (and usually overcrowded) servers or may throttle your speeds. Some may drop your connection and break long downloads.
• MEGA often blocks or rate-limits shared VPN IPs, so the limit comes back almost immediately. You’ll also see a lot more CAPTCHAs while browsing in general.
• Some providers use annoying ads or sell your browsing data to cover operational costs.

There are a handful of exceptions, of course. Proton VPN is a trustworthy provider with a free plan and no limits or slowdowns. That said, free users no longer have the option to switch servers, making it less useful than in the past.

If you’re looking for a temporary solution, a free trial VPN may be a better option. You get all the benefits of a premium VPN without having to commit to a subscription.

Bypass MEGA download limits FAQs