The main queue
Ladle runs a few downloads at the same time and lines up the rest, so each file gets a fair share of your connection.
- 1 min read
- Updated October 2026
How it works
Section titled “How it works”Everything you start goes into the main queue. Ladle runs 3 downloads at the same time out of the box; the rest wait in line and start one by one as slots free up. Waiting downloads show Next in line with their size.
To see only what’s waiting, click Main queue under Queues in Ladle’s sidebar.
Change how many run at once
Section titled “Change how many run at once”Open Ladle › Settings › Speed and set Downloads at the same time, anywhere from 1 to 8.
- Fewer gives each file more of your bandwidth, so the first ones finish sooner.
- More helps when you’re fetching lots of small files, or the servers are slow on their own.
Each download also splits into several connections. See Connections and speed limits.
Start, pause and resume
Section titled “Start, pause and resume”| Do this | How |
|---|---|
| Start a waiting download right away | Select it, then click Start now |
| Pause or resume the selected download | Space |
| Pause or resume everything | ⌥⌘P |
| Retry a failed download | ⌘R |
A paused download keeps its place. When you resume it, every connection picks up where it stopped.
On battery or a Low Data network
Section titled “On battery or a Low Data network”Downloads you start yourself always run, even on battery or on a Low Data network. The battery and Low Data settings only hold the Tonight queue; see On battery and Low Data networks.