Installing Tor Browser takes about five minutes. You don’t need to be technical. You don’t need to configure anything complicated. Download, install, connect — that’s it.
This guide covers every platform step by step. Jump to your operating system:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- First-Run Configuration
- Understanding the Security Slider
- Setting Up Bridges
- Troubleshooting
- Download from the official site:
torproject.org(only from here — do not use third-party mirrors) - Tor Browser 15.0.14 is the latest stable version (May 2026)
- Installation is straightforward on all platforms — the browser is pre-configured for privacy by default
- First launch asks Connect or Configure. Start with Connect. Only configure if Tor is blocked in your country
- Security levels: Standard (default), Safer (disables JS on HTTP), Safest (disables JS everywhere + more)
Before You Start
Tor Browser is a modified version of Firefox ESR 140 with privacy and anonymity enhancements baked in. It is not Chrome with a proxy setting. Use Tor Browser for your anonymous browsing and a regular browser for everyday tasks. Do not mix them.
System requirements:
- Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
- macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
- Linux with GTK3+ and glibc 2.28+
- Android 8.0 or later (Tor Browser 16.0 will drop support for older Android versions)
Windows Installation
Step 1: Download Tor Browser
Go to torproject.org and click the download button. The site detects your OS automatically. If it doesn’t, select Windows from the platform dropdown.
You’ll get a file named tor-browser-windows-x86_64-portable-15.0.14.exe (approximately 90 MB).
Step 2: Verify the Signature (Optional but Recommended)
Before running the installer, verify that the file hasn’t been tampered with:
- Download the signature file (
.asc) from the Tor Project’s download page - Download the Tor Project’s signing key from their website
- Run:
gpg --verify tor-browser-windows-x86_64-portable-15.0.14.exe.asc tor-browser-windows-x86_64-portable-15.0.14.exe
Step 3: Run the Installer
Double-click the downloaded file. The installer asks for a language — choose English (or your language). Then select an installation location. The default (Desktop/Tor Browser) is fine.
The installer extracts Tor Browser to your chosen folder. No system-level installation occurs — Tor Browser runs completely from its own folder.
Step 4: Launch Tor Browser
Open the Tor Browser folder and double-click Start Tor Browser.exe. The Tor Connection window appears. Click Connect to start immediately.
You should see a progress bar showing the connection process. After a few seconds to a minute, Tor Browser opens with a “Connected to Tor” confirmation page.
macOS Installation
Step 1: Download
Visit torproject.org. The macOS download gives you a .dmg file named tor-browser-macos-15.0.14.dmg.
Step 2: Install
Open the .dmg file. Drag the Tor Browser icon into your Applications folder.
Step 3: First Launch
Go to your Applications folder and open Tor Browser. macOS may show a warning that the app was downloaded from the internet — click Open to bypass it.
The Tor Connection window appears. Click Connect.
Step 4: Pin to Dock (Optional)
Right-click the Tor Browser icon in your dock while it’s running and select Options → Keep in Dock for easy access later.
Linux Installation
You have three options on Linux. Choose based on your distribution and preference.
Option 1: Direct Download (Recommended for Most Users)
Download from torproject.org:
wget https://www.torproject.org/dist/torbrowser/15.0.14/tor-browser-linux-x86_64-15.0.14.tar.xzExtract:
tar -xf tor-browser-linux-x86_64-15.0.14.tar.xzRun the setup:
cd tor-browser
./start-tor-browser.desktopThe first run finishes the setup and adds an application entry to your system menu.
Option 2: Via APT (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt install torbrowser-launcher
torbrowser-launcherThe launcher downloads and configures the latest Tor Browser for you. This method also handles updates automatically.
Option 3: Via Flatpak
flatpak install flathub com.github.micahflee.torbrowser-launcher
flatpak run com.github.micahflee.torbrowser-launcherAndroid Installation
Tor Browser for Android is available on Google Play and the F-Droid store.
Via Google Play
Search for “Tor Browser” on Google Play. The official publisher is “The Tor Project.” Install and open.
Via F-Droid
If you use F-Droid for privacy-focused apps, search for “Tor Browser” and install from there.
First Launch on Android
Open Tor Browser. Tap Connect to start. The app requests a VPN connection — this is normal. Tor Browser on Android uses Orbot internally to route traffic through Tor.
Android Tor Browser 15.0.14 includes a screen lock feature — when you switch away from the browser, your tabs lock automatically. Unlock with your fingerprint, face, or PIN when you return.
First-Run Configuration
When you launch Tor Browser for the first time, you see the Tor Connection window. You have two options:
Connect (For Most Users)
Click Connect. Tor Browser auto-configures everything. After a few seconds, it connects to the Tor network and opens the browser. You’re done.
Configure (If Tor Is Blocked)
Click Configure Connection if:
- You’re in a country that blocks Tor (China, Iran, Russia, etc.)
- Your ISP blocks Tor
- You’re on a restricted network (school, workplace, library)
The configuration screen lets you:
- Select built-in bridges (obfs4, Snowflake, WebTunnel, meek)
- Request custom bridges
- Configure a proxy if your network requires one
For more detail, see the Bridges and Pluggable Transports guide.
Understanding the Security Slider
Tor Browser has three security levels. You can change this anytime by clicking the shield icon in the address bar.
| Level | JavaScript | Fonts | Math/GPU | WebGL | WASM | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled | Everyday browsing |
| Safer | Disabled on HTTP | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled on HTTP | Sensitive reading |
| Safest | Disabled everywhere | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled everywhere | High-risk browsing |
Recommendation: Use Standard for most sites. Switch to Safer when reading sensitive content. Use Safest only when you’re accessing content that requires maximum security — most websites will break or look degraded at this level.
In Tor Browser 15.0+, WebAssembly (WASM) is managed by NoScript instead of the global preference, allowing it to work on privileged browser pages (like the PDF viewer) while still being blocked at Safer and Safest levels on regular sites.
Setting Up Bridges
If your connection to Tor is blocked, you need bridges. Bridges are unlisted Tor relays that censors cannot easily identify and block.
To enable bridges:
-
Open Tor Browser → Click “Configure Connection”
-
Under Bridges, select “Choose from one of Tor Browser’s built-in bridges”
-
Try each option in order:
- obfs4 — Most effective for general censorship (makes traffic look random)
- WebTunnel — Hides Tor traffic inside regular HTTPS web traffic
- Snowflake — Routes through volunteer proxies, looks like a video call
- meek — Routes through a CDN (works but slower)
-
Click Connect
If none of the built-in bridges work, request a custom bridge:
- Go to
https://bridges.torproject.org - Complete the CAPTCHA
- Copy the bridge lines
- Paste them into Tor Browser’s bridge configuration
Troubleshooting
Connection Failed
- Check your system clock: Tor requires accurate time. If your clock is off by more than a few minutes, connections will fail.
- Try a bridge: Even if you don’t think Tor is blocked, try enabling obfs4. Some networks block Tor proactively.
- Restart Tor Browser: Close and reopen. This creates a new circuit.
- Check your firewall: Ensure Tor Browser is allowed through your firewall.
Slow Connection
Tor is naturally slower than a direct connection. But if it’s unusably slow:
- Try a different bridge type
- Close unnecessary tabs (each tab uses its own circuit)
- Avoid streaming, downloading large files, or loading media-heavy sites
”New Identity” vs “New Tor Circuit”
| Feature | What It Does | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| New Identity | Closes all tabs, clears cookies, creates a new circuit | You want a completely fresh session |
| New Tor Circuit | Creates a new circuit for the current tab only | The site you’re on is slow or unresponsive |
Bridge Stops Working
Bridges can go offline or get blocked. Get a fresh set of bridges from https://bridges.torproject.org and try again.
Verification
To confirm Tor is working correctly, visit https://check.torproject.org. A green message confirms your traffic is routed through Tor.
What to Read Next
- What Is Tor? A Beginner’s Guide — How Tor works, key terms, and the dark web explained
- Tor Bridges and Pluggable Transports — How to bypass censorship when Tor is blocked
- Tor vs VPN: Which One Do You Actually Need? — When to use Tor, when to use a VPN, and whether combining them makes sense
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