I use default option of qBittorrent - which is hybrid. This is V1+V2 of torrent protocol, which I did use for my 100 torrents on this site
Some ChatGPT explanation
V1 (classic BitTorrent)
This is the format used since the early 2000s.
How it works
Uses SHA‑1 hashing.
Files are split into large pieces (e.g., 1–4 MB).
No alignment rules → no padding files.
V2 (modern BitTorrent, BEP‑52)
Introduced in 2020, designed to fix V1’s weaknesses.
How it works
Uses SHA‑256.
Files are split into 16 KiB blocks arranged in a Merkle tree.
To align file boundaries to 16 KiB, the client inserts padding files.
Pros
Stronger hashing (SHA‑256).
Better corruption detection.
Cross‑torrent deduplication (same file = same hash).
Hybrid (V1 + V2 in one torrent)
This is the default in many clients (including qBittorrent).
How it works
Contains both V1 and V2 metadata.
Allows old and new clients to download the same torrent.
Pros
Maximum compatibility.
Future‑proofing (V2) + present‑day support (V1).
Cons
Still requires padding files (because V2 is included).
Moreover
- You can avoid downloading padding files
Every modern BitTorrent client (qBittorrent, Transmission, Deluge, etc.) treats padding files as “do-not-download” by default.
They appear in the file list
They are automatically unchecked
They are not written to disk
They do not consume bandwidth
They do not affect seeding
So from the client perspective, padding files are basically invisible.
Moreover, your guide here does not mention this here
https://www.gaytor.rent/uploadguide.php