Downloading from MEGA: transfer quota, the desktop app and Pro

MEGA (you will see it as Mega.nz or mega.io) is a cloud storage site. Some builds offer a MEGA link in the download box. It is simple to use, but free accounts have a transfer quota, and that catches a lot of people out on big builds. Here is how to make it painless.

Downloading a build from MEGA

1. Log in on Arcade Punks and scroll to the build’s download box.
2. Click the Mega.nz icon. The MEGA page opens in a new tab and shows the build’s files or folder.
3. For a single file, click Download. For a folder, you can download everything or tick just the parts you need.
4. Choose Standard download (in the browser) or Download with MEGA desktop app. For anything over a few GB, use the app (see below).
5. When it finishes, keep all the parts together in one folder and move on to extracting the files.

What is the transfer quota?

MEGA lets free users download a limited amount of data in a given period. The exact allowance is not fixed: MEGA varies it depending on things like your connection and how busy their servers are. When you hit it, the download pauses and MEGA shows a “transfer quota exceeded” message, often with a countdown until you can carry on.

Nothing is broken when this happens. You have three choices:

• Wait it out. When the timer runs down, resume. The desktop app picks up where it left off, so you do not lose progress.
• Upgrade to MEGA Pro. Paid plans come with a much larger transfer allowance, so big builds come down in one go. See MEGA’s plans here.
• Use a different option. Most builds offer more than one way to download. Usenet has no quota at all (more on that below).

Why the MEGA desktop app is worth it

Browser downloads from MEGA are decrypted inside the browser, which can be slow, can eat memory, and can fail on very large files or if you close the tab. The free desktop app is far more reliable:

• It handles huge files and whole folders without breaking a sweat.
• It pauses and resumes properly, including after a quota pause or a reboot.
• It shows exactly what is downloading and where it is saving.

1. Create a free account at MEGA (a free account also tends to behave better than downloading as a guest).
2. Download and install the MEGA desktop app from MEGA’s website, then sign in.
3. Back on the build’s MEGA page, choose Download with MEGA desktop app. The app takes over.
4. Set the download folder to a drive with plenty of space, ideally double the size of the build so you have room to extract it.

Common MEGA problems

• “File not found” or “the file has been removed”: the link has gone. Try another option in the download box, and report it using the Missing / Broken File option on our contact page.
• Download stuck in the browser: switch to the desktop app, or try a different browser.
• Some parts downloaded, some did not: you need every part to extract. Check the part numbers are complete before you start. See extraction errors if WinRAR complains.

The no quota alternative

If you download a lot of builds, Usenet is the smoother road: no quotas, no timers, full line speed. It is the first option in every download box for a reason. Newshosting’s Arcade Punks deal gives you 70% off plus 3 free months, with a 30 day money back guarantee. Read Usenet and NZB for beginners to see how it works.

Still stuck? Try my download is slow or which download option should I pick?, or ask in our Discord.