Set up Tor Browser: a step-by-step guide

Before you start: what does this guide set up?

You are setting up a separate browsing application. It does not automatically change the whole computer or publish an onion website. A regular internet connection and a public information page without a login are enough for a first experiment.

Example: Lena wants to read news without showing the news website her connection IP. She needs Tor Browser, not a server environment. She can keep her ordinary browser alongside it.

1. Choose the official download source

Use the link below to reach the Tor Project. Tor Browser is free. Choose your operating system there. Avoid advertisements, imitation download sites and supposed Tor extensions for other browsers.

Tor Browser is available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. There is no official Tor Browser for iPhone or iPad; Tor documentation explains alternatives and their limitations. Follow the current platform instructions from the Tor Project.

Signature verification is an additional source check: it checks whether a file is signed with the expected publisher key. It does not prove all software is free of flaws. The official verification instructions are linked in the sources.

2. Install Tor Browser

Windows: open the downloaded .exe file and follow the installer. Remember the chosen folder. macOS: open the .dmg file and move Tor Browser to Applications as shown in its instructions.

Linux: extract the .tar.xz archive and start start-tor-browser.desktop from the extracted folder. If the graphical method fails, follow the official platform instructions instead of repair commands from strangers.

Android: use the store entry linked by the Tor Project or its official installation guide. If you see an unexpected security warning, check the source and instructions; do not disable protections wholesale.

3. Connect and read your first page

Start Tor Browser and select Connect. Wait for the connection. Labels may vary with language and version. Then open, for example, the official Tor help site over HTTPS and read without logging in.

If connection fails, first check that your internet works and that the device date and time are correct. If access is blocked, the built-in connection helper may suggest a bridge. A bridge is an additional entry to Tor; it does not guarantee hiding Tor use in every situation.

A successful connection check confirms only the route used. It does not check your device, behaviour or personal information in an account.

4. Choose security levels deliberately

The security settings offer Standard, Safer and Safest. Higher levels disable certain web features; at the highest level JavaScript is disabled by default. JavaScript is program code a website can run in the browser.

Example: text remains readable but an interactive graphic stops working. The security level may explain this. Our guide remains readable; its learning experiments require JavaScript. Do not lower protection just because an unfamiliar service urges you to.

Extra extensions and custom browser modifications can interfere with Tor Browser’s protections. Use its supported settings and keep your browser and operating system updated.

5. New circuit or new identity?

New Tor Circuit for this Site reloads the relevant website over another Tor route. It does not clear cookies or automatically log you out. It may help with a connection problem.

New Identity closes open Tor Browser windows and tabs, clears session data such as cookies and starts with new routes. Save unfinished work first. Messages and account data already sent to a provider are not deleted.

Example: Lena has logged into a newspaper. A new circuit does not make that account unknown. If she logs into the same account after New Identity, the newspaper recognises the account again.

6. End your session and stay updated

Quit Tor Browser completely when you finish. Downloaded files can remain on the device; the browser does not erase traces across your computer. Documents opened in other applications can make their own internet connections.

Install offered browser updates through the built-in update feature and restart afterwards. On Android, updates may come through the official store you used. Menu paths change; the linked Tor help describes the current version.

Common questions before moving on

Do I need a Tor account? Not to connect to Tor. A website you visit may separately require an account. Do I need a VPN first? Not for this guide; a VPN is not a prerequisite for Tor.

Can I now open onion sites? Yes, with a valid address and a reachable service. The next article explains address provenance, connections and errors. Can I post completely unrecognised? That does not follow: text, accounts, files and the device still matter.