LimeWire Pirate Edition is free, open source software based on the final beta version of the popular LimeWire filesharing application. After Lime Wire LLC stopped distributing its software in October 2010, a horde of piratical monkeys climbed aboard the abandoned ship, mended its sails, polished its cannons and released it FREE to the community to help keep the Gnutella network alive.

LimeWire Pirate Edition is pure P2P software; it does not depend on any servers operated by Lime Wire LLC or other companies. It does not include any adware or spyware, and it cannot be remotely monitored or shut down.

Announcing the first release of LimeWire Pirate Edition:

• Based on LimeWire 5.6 beta
  • Turbo-charged downloads
  • Optimized search results
  • AVG Anti-Virus
• Built-in torrent search
• No toolbars, adware or spyware
• No connection problems

On Dec 11, 2010, the project was registered at SourceForge under the new name WireShare.


Windows version: (Windows 8 users will need to install Java and set the installer to Run as Administrator to use LW. Win 7+Vista users do the same.)

File_Girl71's version LW Pirate Edition improved (File_Girl) (Recommended) / Mirror download sites: FileCloud, . 4Shared.

Original LPE:

Download from FileCloud (see download instructions bottom of post.)

Download from hotfile

Download from 4Shared

MD5 of installer: 7a96f2da87a7cfc6f10ab6a325ec0e48

* LimeWire 5/LPE running with Java 7? Important to see this . ou Francais ici. . (b) 64-Bit Java 7 update problem: re-install the 32-Bit Java last and all will be ok. Symptoms: (a) java error when opening LW, (b) LW changing it's download location and location of settings.


Mac version: - OSX 10.5 or higher (MacOSX 10.8 Mountain Lion users will need to install Java to use LW.)

Download from FileCloud (see download instructions bottom of post.)

Download from hotfile

Download from 4Shared

Portable MacOSX LPE version (run from external drive such as flash, etc.) Download here or here. If using an older mac with 10.5 or later, you may need to set LW to 'Open in 32-bit mode', instructions lower down in this post. (Thanks to arne_bab for his mini-LW-Wiki to help produce the portable.) All settings and shared files are stored within the portable folder. The portable can be run independently of any LW installed on your system, but cannot run both at same time.

MD5 of installer: d827a7ce4e64d4d4546f6b59f5b60ca1


Linux version (Debian/Ubuntu):

Download from FileCloud (see download instructions bottom of post.)

Download from hotfile

Download from 4Shared

Optional Security packages for Linux LimeWire

MD5 of installer: e7de0b7ee7fa5305407886d965b38661


Source code:

Download from SourceForge

Download from FileCloud (see download instructions below.)

Download from 4Shared


* To choose from FileCloud (previously called iFileIt) Mirror Download site's download folder, find all LimeWire Pirate Edition releases "here" (disable your browser's AdBlock to use the FileCloud site. Sample image download instructions using FW4 as an example.)

To download from 4Shared, you need to be a member of their site. You can register there for free.

All Windows and MacOSX versions are now packaged with an optional security installer to help block out the very worst spam companies. Choice between 'Light' or 'Strong' security. And alternative choices for a total Japanese ban if you prefer to keep your search results to similar cultural results and reduce spam results. The MacOSX package includes LimeStart by LOTR to prevent LW deleting the connection file if not used in 30 or more days. Instructions are included and order of installation for each. Linux users for manual installation of the Security packages, see Security packages for LimeWire (help block out the spam and evil hosts).
Windows LPE install packages also include a LimeStart installer, as described here. This has two functions: (1) prevents LW deleting the connection file if not used in 30 or more days. (2) Overrides the LW launch problem with Java 7. (Note for Windows users: if you ever wished to uninstall LW, uninstall the shortcuts first using the Add/Remove Control panel.)


MacOSX versions, if problems opening LW, select the program from Applications folder and 'Get Info' (command-i), check the 'Open in 32-bit mode' and this might fix your problem but only if you are booting OSX into 32-bit mode (sample image below.) OSX compatibility for LPE or any LW 5 version is OSX 10.5 or later. LW 4 found here.



* See below in post #3 for File_Girl71's adapted Pirate version for Windows only. Read the changes to be aware of the improvements.
. (Note: the in-built AVG no longer works in any version of LW. The AVG may cause problem errors for some Windows users.)



Do not disable file-sharing, do not 'freeload', if nobody were sharing files, you know of course there would be no files to download. If you are a part of the file-sharing community, then share your part and be a respected member of the file-sharing community. Do you never return what you borrow from your friends? Do you never return your partner's kisses and attention? File-sharing can even be a passion!

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