diff --git a/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/fs.rs b/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/fs.rs
index 38a38929c..912201937 100644
--- a/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/fs.rs
+++ b/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/fs.rs
@@ -109,6 +109,14 @@ impl TorrentStorage for FilesystemStorage {
         }))
     }
 
+    fn release_files(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        for file in &self.opened_files {
+            file.close();
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn remove_directory_if_empty(&self, path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let path = self.output_folder.join(path);
         if !path.is_dir() {
diff --git a/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/opened_file.rs b/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/opened_file.rs
index a0aed8dc9..4aae8763e 100644
--- a/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/opened_file.rs
+++ b/crates/librqbit/src/storage/filesystem/opened_file.rs
@@ -152,6 +152,15 @@ impl OpenedFile {
         })
     }
 
+    pub fn close(&self) {
+        let mut g = self.file.write();
+        g.fd = None;
+        #[cfg(windows)]
+        {
+            g.tried_marking_sparse = false;
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn lock_read(&self) -> crate::Result<impl Deref<Target = File>> {
         RwLockReadGuard::try_map(self.file.read(), |f| f.as_ref())
             .ok()
diff --git a/crates/librqbit/src/storage/mod.rs b/crates/librqbit/src/storage/mod.rs
index 8a51e928a..f6b249757 100644
--- a/crates/librqbit/src/storage/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/librqbit/src/storage/mod.rs
@@ -163,6 +163,11 @@ pub trait TorrentStorage: Send + Sync {
     /// This is used to make the underlying object useless when e.g. pausing the torrent.
     fn take(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Box<dyn TorrentStorage>>;
 
+    /// Release opened file handles while keeping storage paths and torrent state available.
+    fn release_files(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     /// Callback called every time a piece has completed and has been validated.
     /// Default implementation does nothing, but can be override in trait implementations.
     fn on_piece_completed(&self, _piece_index: ValidPieceIndex) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -191,6 +196,10 @@ impl<U: TorrentStorage + ?Sized> TorrentStorage for Box<U> {
         (**self).take()
     }
 
+    fn release_files(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        (**self).release_files()
+    }
+
     fn remove_directory_if_empty(&self, path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         (**self).remove_directory_if_empty(path)
     }
diff --git a/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/mod.rs b/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/mod.rs
index cfe483cdd..8198d78dc 100644
--- a/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/mod.rs
@@ -391,11 +391,30 @@ impl ManagedTorrent {
                                     }
 
                                     g.state = ManagedTorrentState::Paused(paused);
+                                    if start_paused
+                                        && let ManagedTorrentState::Paused(paused) = &g.state
+                                        && let Err(error) = paused.files.release_files()
+                                    {
+                                        warn!(
+                                            id=?t.shared.id,
+                                            info_hash=?t.shared.info_hash,
+                                            error=?error,
+                                            "error releasing files after paused initial check"
+                                        );
+                                    }
                                     t.state_change_notify.notify_waiters();
                                     _start(&t, peer_rx, start_paused, session, Some(g), token)
                                 }
                                 Err(err) => {
                                     if init.is_pause_requested() {
+                                        if let Err(error) = init.files.release_files() {
+                                            warn!(
+                                                id=?init.shared.id,
+                                                info_hash=?init.shared.info_hash,
+                                                error=?error,
+                                                "error releasing files after paused initial check"
+                                            );
+                                        }
                                         debug!("initial check paused");
                                         t.state_change_notify.notify_waiters();
                                         return Ok(());
@@ -477,6 +496,7 @@ impl ManagedTorrent {
         match &g.state {
             ManagedTorrentState::Live(live) => {
                 let paused = live.pause()?;
+                paused.files.release_files()?;
                 g.state = ManagedTorrentState::Paused(paused);
                 g.paused = true;
                 self.state_change_notify.notify_waiters();
@@ -490,7 +510,12 @@ impl ManagedTorrent {
                 Ok(())
             }
             ManagedTorrentState::Paused(_) => {
-                bail!("torrent is already paused");
+                let paused = g.state.take().assert_paused();
+                paused.files.release_files()?;
+                g.state = ManagedTorrentState::Paused(paused);
+                g.paused = true;
+                self.state_change_notify.notify_waiters();
+                Ok(())
             }
             ManagedTorrentState::Error(_) => {
                 bail!("can't pause torrent in error state")