Install Tor Browser Portable Official

Important: Before You Begin

Tor Browser is legal in most countries, but how you use it determines your safety.

  • Tor is not a VPN: It only protects traffic sent through the browser. Other apps on your computer are not protected.
  • Safety First: Download Tor only from the official website. Third-party downloads can contain malware.

Installation Guides

Step-by-step installation

  1. Download
  • Go to the official Tor Browser download page in your regular browser.
  • Choose the correct OS: Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android.
  • For extra safety, verify the download using the Tor Project’s signature verification instructions (recommended for high-security use).
  1. Install on Windows
  • Run the downloaded .exe installer.
  • Select installation language and choose an install folder (default is fine).
  • After install completes, launch “Tor Browser”.
  • On first run, click “Connect” to start Tor; the browser will configure and open when ready.
  1. Install on macOS
  • Open the downloaded .dmg file.
  • Drag the “Tor Browser” app into your Applications folder.
  • Launch Tor Browser from Applications. On first run, click “Connect”.
  1. Install on Linux
  • Download the tar.xz file.
  • Extract it (e.g., tar -xvf tor-browser-linux64-*.tar.xz).
  • Enter the extracted folder and run ./start-tor-browser.desktop (you may need to mark it executable).
  • Click “Connect” on first run.
  1. Install on Android
  • Install from the Google Play Store or download the official APK from the Tor Project site.
  • Open the app and tap “Connect”.
  1. Initial connection options
  • Most users: click “Connect” — Tor will try to connect using default settings.
  • If Tor is blocked on your network (e.g., in restrictive countries), click “Configure” and set a bridge or proxy as instructed by the Tor Project.

Method B: Command Line via APT (Ubuntu/Debian - The Proper Way)

If you want automatic updates and system integration, add the official Tor Project repository:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apt-transport-https
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:micahflee/ppa  # (Community repository)
# Or for official repo:
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/tor-archive-keyring.gpg] https://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org $(lsb_release -cs) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tor.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install torbrowser-launcher

Then run torbrowser-launcher from your terminal. The launcher will download the latest Tor Browser, verify the GPG signature automatically, and install it. install tor browser

Verification is Mandatory, Not Optional

The .exe or .dmg file is not enough. You must perform cryptographic verification.

  1. Download the Tor Browser file.
  2. Download the corresponding .asc signature file.
  3. Download the Tor Project's signing key (usually tor-browser-developers-signing-key.asc).

Then, using GnuPG (or GPG Suite on macOS, or Kleopatra on Windows): Important: Before You Begin Tor Browser is legal

gpg --import tor-browser-developers-signing-key.asc
gpg --verify tor-browser-linux64-13.5.6_en-US.tar.xz.asc tor-browser-linux64-13.5.6_en-US.tar.xz

Look for: Good signature from "Tor Browser Developers (signing key) <torbrowser@torproject.org>"

If you see any warning about untrusted signature or key mismatch—delete the file and start over. Tor is not a VPN: It only protects

✅ The "Security Check" (90% of users skip this)

After installing, do not just search "weather" or "Facebook."

Do this instead:

  1. Open Tor Browser.
  2. Click the onion icon to the left of the address bar.
  3. Click "Connection Settings" → "Tor Network Settings".
  4. Check the box: "Always use this bridge" (select "obfs4").
    • Why? Your ISP can see you're using Tor without a bridge. A bridge hides that fact.
  5. Click "Test Tor Network".

If you see a green onion, you're good.