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To access the dark web with Tor Browser, download the browser from the Tor Project, open it and select Connect, then enter a valid address for the onion service you want to visit. Tor Browser does not provide a central directory of dark-web sites, and knowing a trustworthy service address is essential.
1. Download Tor Browser from the Tor Project
Use the Tor Project’s official download guidance to get the browser. The project calls its website the safest and simplest download route. If it is blocked where you are, its guidance lists official mirrors and GetTor as alternatives. Avoid third-party installers, and follow the installation instructions for your operating system. Verify the download signature when the instructions recommend it.
The installation guide lists Tor Browser for Windows 10 and 11, macOS 10.15 and later, modern Linux, and Android 5.0 or newer. Tor Browser is not available for iOS. Tor Project recommends Onion Browser for iOS, but notes that Apple’s WebKit requirement means it does not offer the same privacy protections as Tor Browser. Check the current installation guide for platform details.
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2. Connect to the Tor network
- Install and open Tor Browser.
- On its first launch, select Connect. Most users do not need to change any settings first.
- Wait for the browser to establish a connection, then use its address bar to enter the onion address you have.
These are the normal first-launch steps in the Tor Project’s first-launch instructions.
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3. Find and enter a valid onion address
An onion service is accessed by its specific address, not by switching on a “dark web” mode or searching a complete directory. Get the address from the service operator or another source you trust, then copy it carefully into Tor Browser. Current onion addresses consist of 56 letters and numbers followed by .onion; older 16-character v2 addresses no longer work. A mistyped address may fail to load, and a service that is offline may be unavailable.
Tor Project explains how to recognize and use onion services. An onion address alone does not establish that the operator is who you expect. Check that the address came from a trustworthy source and pay attention to the browser’s onion and certificate indicators.
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- Dual USB-A & USB-C Bootable Drive – works with almost any laptop or desktop (UEFI & Legacy BIOS). Boot Tails directly from the USB for secure, private sessions on any computer.
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What Tor Browser does—and does not—hide
Tor routes traffic through relays so that a website sees a connection from the Tor network rather than your ordinary IP address. That does not stop you from identifying yourself: signing into a personal account or sharing identifying details can reveal who you are to the service. Use Tor Browser for this task; Tor Project discourages routing other browsers through Tor. Its overview of Tor Browser explains these privacy limits.
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For onion services, the onion-service protocol encrypts traffic end to end between the Tor user and the service. HTTPS-Only Mode upgrades connections to HTTPS where possible, but cannot do so for a site that supports only HTTP. Encryption protects a connection; it does not verify that a service operator is legitimate. See Tor Project’s guidance on secure connections.
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Choose a Tor Browser security level
Tor Browser offers three security levels. Find them in the browser’s security settings; raising the level limits features, which can reduce some risks but may prevent sites from working properly. The Tor Project security-level guide describes the settings:
| Level | What it changes | Practical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Enables all browser and site features. | Broadest site compatibility. |
| Safer | Restricts certain features, including JavaScript on non-HTTPS sites. | Some sites or features may not work as expected. |
| Safest | Disables JavaScript by default and limits other features. | Strongest restrictions of the three, with the greatest chance of broken site functionality. |
Choose a level that fits your security needs and the site you are using. Tor Project also strongly discourages installing untested browser add-ons: extensions can affect privacy and security. See its add-on guidance.
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If Tor Browser will not connect
Start with the connection options built into Tor Browser. If direct access to Tor is blocked on your network, Connection Assist may help; if it does not, a bridge can provide an alternative entry route. A bridge is not a replacement for the onion address—you still need the service’s valid address after Tor connects.
- Direct connection: Select Connect first. Most connections require no extra configuration.
- Connection Assist: If connection stalls or direct access is blocked, try the browser’s assistant, which may help find a route that works.
- Bridges: If needed, request bridge configuration in Tor Browser or obtain bridge addresses through the channels listed by Tor Project. Follow its bridge instructions.
The first-launch guide covers Connection Assist, and the bridge guide explains the available setup routes.
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