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To change the route Tor Browser uses for a site, open the main menu (≡) and select New Tor Circuit for this Site. It reloads that site over a different circuit, which can help when a connection fails or a site will not load. It is not a dependable way to make Tor faster, and it does not clear cookies, browsing history, or otherwise separate your activity from the existing session.
Change the circuit for the current site
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In Tor Browser, open the main menu (≡).
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Select New Tor Circuit for this Site. Tor reloads the active tab or window over a new circuit.
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Alternatively, open the site information menu from the URL bar and use its circuit display to select the same option.
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The label and its placement may vary by platform or browser release. The Tor Project documents this feature as a way to try a different route when a site is not connecting or loading properly. Tor Project support
What changes—and what does not
A Tor circuit is the route through relays used to connect to a destination. Changing the circuit for a site may give it a different exit relay and exit IP address. That can help if a site is rejecting or challenging an IP address shared by many Tor users. Other open tabs or windows using the same site adopt the new circuit when reloaded; connections to other sites are not changed.
This action does not clear cookies or browsing history, close the rest of your tabs, or unlink activity from the session. It changes the route, not your browser identity or stored site data.
New Tor Circuit vs. New Identity
| Control | Scope | Clears private information? | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Tor Circuit for this Site | Current site; same-site tabs and windows use the route after reloading. | No. | A site will not connect or load, or you want to try a different exit relay. |
| New Identity | All open tabs, windows, and connections. | Yes. It closes tabs and clears private information such as cookies and browsing history. | You want to start a more separate browser session so subsequent activity is less readily linked to the previous session. |
New Identity also starts new circuits for all connections. Tor warns that current activity and downloads will stop, so save work before choosing it. These controls are described in the Tor Project’s identity-management guidance.
Will changing a circuit make Tor faster?
It might change how a particular site performs, but there is no reliable speed increase to expect. The Tor Project says performance depends on network load, latency, and ongoing defenses against attacks. A different route may behave differently; it cannot remove congestion or guarantee lower latency. Tor presents the site-circuit option for connection and loading problems, not as a speed optimization. Tor’s speed guidance
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If the site still will not load
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Wait briefly and retry; some site warnings or connection problems are temporary.
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Try New Tor Circuit for this Site once and reload. Repeated circuit changes are not a guaranteed fix.
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If the site displays a CAPTCHA or warning, remember that Tor exit IP addresses are shared. This can trigger challenges and does not by itself indicate that your device is infected. Tor Project guidance on CAPTCHAs and warnings
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Why does the first IP address in my circuit stay the same?
Tor intentionally keeps the entry guard more stable than the other relays. The Tor Project’s current support guidance says a guard generally changes only after roughly two to three months, while the rest of a circuit changes with each new website. Seeing the same first relay does not mean a site-circuit change failed; the stable guard is part of Tor’s protections against some attacks on anonymity. Tor Project guidance on entry guards
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Protect privacy without overriding Tor’s route choices
Do not manually pick relay countries to chase speed
Tor selects relays automatically. The Tor Project says, “Modifying the way that Tor creates its circuits is strongly discouraged.” Forcing entry or exit relays, or choosing a country, can compromise anonymity; it is not a safe speed tweak. If your specific problem is reaching a resource restricted to a particular country, Tor suggests considering a VPN for that geolocation need, while noting that VPNs do not provide the same privacy properties as Tor. Tor Project identity-management guidance
Use HTTPS when signing in or sending sensitive information
Tor routing and HTTPS protect different parts of a connection. HTTPS protects data against eavesdropping and tampering between your browser and the destination website; using Tor does not replace it. Check that the site uses HTTPS before signing in. Tor Project secure-connections guidance
Keep security-level settings separate
Changing a circuit does not alter Tor Browser’s security level. Raising that level restricts or disables some website features and may reduce functionality; adjust it separately if that is your goal. Tor Project guidance on security levels
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Avoid unverified torrc changes
Do not follow random advice to edit Tor’s configuration to force a route. The Tor Project warns that unsafe configuration changes can weaken privacy and security; its defaults are intended to work for most users. Tor Project configuration guidance
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