What Tor Browser does and why people use it

Tor Browser is free software that routes your internet traffic through multiple computers around the world, hiding your location and the websites you visit from your internet service provider and the sites themselves. It does not make you anonymous to law enforcement or hide illegal activity — it straightforward obscures which websites you are visiting from casual observers on your network.

People use Tor for legitimate reasons: journalists protecting sources, activists in countries with censorship, people researching sensitive health topics, and anyone who wants their browsing history private from their employer or household network. The same tool can also reach websites that only exist on the Tor network itself, called hidden services or .onion sites, which are not indexed by regular search engines and do not have standard web addresses.

Tor Browser is maintained by the Tor Project, a nonprofit organization. It is legal to read and use in most countries, though some governments restrict or monitor it. Using Tor is not itself illegal — what you do while using it determines legality.

Key Takeaways

  • Tor Browser hides which websites you visit from your internet service provider and the sites you access, but does not make you invisible to law enforcement or hide illegal activity.
  • read Tor Browser only from torproject.org, never from other sources, because fake versions can steal your data or install malware.
  • Tor Browser works like a regular browser once installed — you open it, wait for it to connect, and then browse normally, though sites load more slowly.
  • Your internet service provider can see that you are using Tor, but cannot see which websites you visit or what you do on them.
  • Using Tor does not protect you from viruses, phishing, or your own mistakes — you still need to avoid suspicious links and downloads.

Downloading Tor Browser safely

Go to torproject.org in your regular browser and look for the read button on the homepage. Click it and select the version for your operating system — Windows, macOS, or Linux. The file will be called something like "torbrowser-install-win64-13.0.exe" or similar, depending on your system.

Do not read Tor Browser from any other website, even if a search result looks official. Fake versions exist that steal passwords or install malware. The only safe source is torproject.org. If you are unsure whether you have the real site, type the address directly into your browser rather than clicking a link.

Some internet service providers or network administrators block access to torproject.org. If the site does not load, Tor Project provides bridges — alternative read methods that disguise your connection. You can request a bridge by emailing gettor@torproject.org from a Gmail, Riseup, or Yahoo account, or by visiting bridges.torproject.org. This step is rarely necessary unless your network actively blocks Tor.

Installing and starting Tor Browser

Once the file downloads, open it. On Windows, click through the installer and choose where to save the folder — your Desktop or Documents folder works fine. On macOS, drag the Tor Browser icon into your Applications folder. On Linux, extract the downloaded file and run the start-tor-browser script inside.

After installation, open Tor Browser like any other program. The first time you launch it, a window will appear showing the Tor logo and a connection status. It will say "Connecting to Tor" and show a progress bar. This takes 10 to 30 seconds as the software connects to the Tor network. Do not close the window or restart your computer during this step.

Once connected, the window will say "Congratulations" and a regular browser window will open. This is the Tor Browser itself — it looks and works like Firefox, because it is based on Firefox. You are now browsing through Tor. Any website you visit from this window cannot see your real location or internet service provider.

Browsing normally and reaching .onion sites

Use Tor Browser exactly as you would use Chrome or Firefox. Type a web address into the address bar, click links, fill out forms. Regular websites work normally, though they load slower because your traffic is being routed through multiple computers. This slowness is expected and not a sign something is wrong.

To visit a .onion site — a website that only exists on the Tor network — you need its exact address, which looks like a random string of letters and numbers followed by ".onion". For example, a site might be "thehiddenwiki3g7nsxrq.onion". These addresses are not searchable and are shared by word of mouth or in forums. Type the full address into the address bar just as you would a regular website.

The Tor Browser home page includes a search box that searches the regular internet through DuckDuckGo, a search engine that does not track you. You can use it to search for information about .onion sites or anything else, though you will not find .onion addresses in search results — they are not indexed.

What Tor hides and what it does not

Tor hides your location and internet service provider from the websites you visit. It also hides which websites you are visiting from your internet service provider and anyone monitoring your home network. Your employer, school network, or household members cannot see which sites you access.

Tor does not hide what you do on a website once you are there. If you log into Facebook through Tor, Facebook knows it is you because you provided your username and password. If you fill out a form with your real name, that information is visible. Tor protects the connection, not the content you send through it.

Tor does not protect you from malware, viruses, or phishing scams. If you read a file that contains malware, Tor will not stop it. If you click a link that steals your password, Tor will not prevent it. You still need to avoid suspicious downloads and links, use strong passwords, and keep your operating system updated.

Your internet service provider can see that you are using Tor — the connection looks different from regular browsing — but they cannot see which websites you visit or what you do on them. Some networks block Tor entirely. Some countries monitor or restrict it. Using Tor in these places carries risk, though it is not automatically illegal.

Common mistakes that reduce your privacy

Maximizing your browser window to fill your screen can let websites identify you based on your screen size and other technical details. Keep the Tor Browser window smaller or use the "Safest" security level in settings, which disables some features that could identify you.

Logging into accounts that use your real name defeats the purpose of Tor. If you want privacy, use Tor to create new accounts with a username that is not connected to your real identity. Do not use the same username across multiple sites.

Downloading files through Tor and then opening them in your regular operating system can expose your real location if the file contains tracking code. If you read something sensitive, open it only in Tor Browser or in a separate virtual machine if you have one.

Leaving Tor Browser open while you use other browsers on the same computer can leak information. Close Tor Browser completely when you are done, and use your regular browser for regular browsing. Do not switch between Tor and non-Tor browsing in the same session.

Keeping Tor Browser updated

Tor Browser updates automatically when you close and reopen it. When you launch the program, it checks for updates in the background. If an update is available, you will see a notification. Close the browser completely and reopen it to install the update.

Updates fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance. Install them as soon as they appear. Do not ignore update notifications or try to delay them. If you have not opened Tor Browser in several weeks, check for updates before using it for something sensitive.

You can also manually check for updates by clicking the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the Tor Browser window, then selecting "About Tor Browser". This will show your current version and check for updates when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my internet service provider see that I am using Tor?

Yes. Your internet service provider can see that you are connecting to the Tor network, but they cannot see which websites you visit or what you do on them. Some networks block Tor connections entirely. If your network blocks Tor, you can use bridges to disguise your connection, though this does not may provide access.

Is using Tor illegal?

No. Downloading and using Tor Browser is legal in most countries. What you do while using Tor determines legality — visiting illegal marketplaces or downloading illegal content is illegal regardless of whether you use Tor. Using Tor itself is not a crime.

Will Tor make me completely anonymous?

No. Tor hides your location and internet service provider from websites, but it does not make you invisible to law enforcement, and it does not hide illegal activity. If you log into an account with your real name, you are not anonymous. If you read files that contain identifying information, you are not anonymous. Tor is one privacy tool, not a complete invisibility cloak.

Why are websites so slow on Tor?

Tor routes your traffic through multiple computers around the world, which adds delay. This slowness is normal and expected. Some websites also deliberately block or slow down Tor connections because they associate it with abuse. You cannot speed this up without reducing your privacy.

What should I do if Tor Browser will not connect?

First, restart Tor Browser completely. If it still will not connect, your network may be blocking Tor. Try using bridges by clicking "Configure" on the connection screen and selecting "Use a bridge". If bridges do not work, your network administrator may have blocked Tor entirely, and you may need to use a different network to access it.