Download Tor Browser from the official website
The safest way to get Tor is directly from the Tor Project's website at torproject.org. Go to the download page, select your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux), and click the download button. The file you receive is the complete Tor Browser — it includes the Tor network software and Firefox combined into one package, so you do not need to install anything else first.
Do not download Tor from any other website, even if search results point elsewhere. Fake versions exist that look identical but contain malware or tracking software. The official Tor Project site is the only source you should trust.
The download is free and takes a few minutes on most connections. The file size is roughly 80 to 100 megabytes depending on your operating system.
Key Takeaways
- Download Tor Browser only from torproject.org — fake versions on other sites can contain malware.
- Tor Browser works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and includes everything you need in one download.
- On Windows and Mac, you extract the downloaded folder and run the application directly without a traditional installation step.
- On Linux, you extract the folder, open a terminal in that location, and run the start-tor-browser script.
- The first time you open Tor Browser, it connects to the Tor network automatically — this can take 10 to 30 seconds.
Installation steps for Windows
After downloading the .exe file, double-click it to open the installer. A window will appear asking where you want to extract the Tor Browser folder. The default location (usually your Downloads folder) works fine. Click Extract and wait for the process to finish — this takes less than a minute.
Once extraction is complete, open the folder that was created. Inside, you will see an application icon labeled "Start Tor Browser" or "Tor Browser". Double-click this icon to launch the application. The first time you run it, Tor will connect to the network — you will see a status window showing the connection progress. This can take 10 to 30 seconds.
You do not need to restart your computer or install additional software. Tor Browser is portable, meaning it runs from the folder without modifying your system settings.
Installation steps for Mac
After downloading the .dmg file, double-click it to open the disk image. A window will appear showing the Tor Browser icon and an Applications folder. Drag the Tor Browser icon into the Applications folder. This copies Tor Browser to your Applications directory so you can launch it like any other Mac application.
Once the copy is complete, open your Applications folder and double-click Tor Browser. The first time you run it, macOS may ask for permission to open an application from an unknown developer — click Open to proceed. Tor will then connect to the network, which takes 10 to 30 seconds.
You can also create a shortcut to Tor Browser on your desktop or dock for faster access in the future.
Installation steps for Linux
After downloading the .tar.xz file, open your file manager and navigate to the folder where it downloaded (usually Downloads). Right-click the file and select Extract Here, or use the command line: open a terminal, navigate to the Downloads folder, and run tar -xf [filename], replacing [filename] with the actual name of the file you downloaded.
Once extracted, you will see a folder named something like "tor-browser". Open that folder. Inside, you will find a script called "start-tor-browser". Double-click it, or open a terminal in that folder and run ./start-tor-browser. Tor Browser will then launch and connect to the network.
If you get a permission error, the script may not have execute permission. Right-click the start-tor-browser file, select Properties, go to the Permissions tab, and check "Allow executing file as program". Then try launching it again.
What happens after Tor Browser opens
When Tor Browser first connects, you will see a window showing the connection status. Once it says "Connected", the browser window opens and you are ready to use it. Your traffic is now routed through the Tor network, which means websites cannot see your real IP address.
Tor Browser looks and works like regular Firefox, but with privacy protections built in. You can browse normally, but keep in mind that Tor is slower than regular internet because your data travels through multiple servers. This is intentional — the extra steps are what protect your privacy.
If you close Tor Browser and reopen it later, it will connect to the network again automatically. You do not need to reinstall or reconfigure anything.
Keeping Tor Browser up to date
Tor Browser checks for updates automatically and will notify you when a new version is available. When you see an update notification, click the button to download and install the latest version. Updates usually take a few minutes and happen in the background.
Staying up to date is important because updates often include security fixes. If you ignore update notifications for weeks or months, you may be using a version with known vulnerabilities.
Removing Tor Browser
Because Tor Browser is portable, removing it is simple. On Windows and Mac, just delete the Tor Browser folder from your computer. On Linux, delete the extracted tor-browser folder. There are no registry entries, system files, or leftover settings to clean up — deleting the folder removes everything.
If you want to reinstall Tor Browser later, download it again from torproject.org and follow the same installation steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tor Browser safe to download?
Yes, Tor Browser from torproject.org is safe. It is open-source software, meaning the code is publicly available for security experts to review. The Tor Project is a nonprofit organization that has been developing privacy software for over 20 years. The only risk is downloading from a fake website, so always verify you are on torproject.org before downloading.
Do I need to uninstall my regular browser to use Tor?
No. Tor Browser is separate from Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or whatever browser you normally use. You can have both installed at the same time. Tor Browser does not change your default browser or interfere with other applications.
Why does Tor Browser take so long to connect?
Tor connects to multiple servers around the world to hide your location and identity. This process takes 10 to 30 seconds the first time you open it. Subsequent launches may be faster if Tor can reuse existing connections. The delay is normal and part of how Tor protects your privacy.
Can I use Tor Browser on a phone or tablet?
Tor Browser for desktop works on Windows, Mac, and Linux only. For Android phones, the Tor Project recommends Onion Browser or Orbot, which are separate applications built for mobile. iPhone users have fewer options because Apple restricts how apps can route traffic, but some privacy-focused browsers on iOS support Tor.
What should I do if the download fails or seems corrupted?
Try downloading again from torproject.org. If the problem persists, clear your browser cache and try a different browser. If you are on a slow or unstable connection, the download may have been interrupted. You can also try downloading at a different time of day when your connection is more stable.