Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu and other Linux distributions from the Tor Project’s official Linux .tar.xz archive—not with sudo apt install tor. Download the archive and matching OpenPGP signature, verify the signature, extract the files, and launch start-tor-browser.desktop. The same launcher can register Tor Browser in your desktop application menu.
What you need before installing
- A modern Linux distribution and a user account that can write to the directory where you will store the browser.
- A 64-bit system is strongly recommended by the Tor Project for the latest updates and security features. Tor says 32-bit Linux support is scheduled to end with Tor Browser 16.0; check the current release notes before relying on 32-bit support.
- Enough writable storage for the downloaded archive and the extracted browser directory.
Tor Browser is a complete browser that connects through the Tor network. It is different from the Linux tor package, which installs the Tor network daemon for applications that are configured to use it. Installing that daemon does not install Tor Browser.
Download the official Linux archive
- Open the Tor Project’s official Tor Browser download page.
- Choose the Linux download. Tor distributes the browser for Linux as a
.tar.xzarchive. - Download the matching OpenPGP signature file, which ends in
.asc, from the same official download listing.
The Tor Project identifies its own website as the safest and simplest download method. If it is blocked, use only the official mirrors or GetTor alternatives documented by the project. Avoid unofficial repackaged archives and third-party “installers.”
Verify the download before extracting it
HTTPS protects the connection to a download site, but a signature check also verifies that the archive was produced by the Tor Browser Developers signing key and was not altered after signing. Perform the check in the directory containing both downloaded files.
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1. Obtain the Tor Browser Developers key
Use the current key-discovery command shown in Tor Project’s Linux installation instructions to locate the Tor Browser Developers key, then export that key to a local keyring. Key identifiers and fingerprints can change, so copy the current values from Tor rather than relying on an old article or a fingerprint pasted elsewhere.
2. Check the archive with gpgv
Run the official verification command with your actual filenames. A generic form is:
gpgv --keyring ./tor-browser-developers.gpg
tor-browser-linux-x86_64-[version].tar.xz.asc
tor-browser-linux-x86_64-[version].tar.xzReplace both filename examples with the names you downloaded. A successful result identifies a good signature from the Tor Browser Developers key. If gpgv reports a missing key, a bad signature, or a filename mismatch, stop: do not extract or run the archive until you have obtained the correct key and matching files from an official Tor source.
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Install and start Tor Browser graphically
- Open your file manager and locate the downloaded
.tar.xzarchive. - Use the archive manager’s extract option. Extract it somewhere you can write to, such as your home directory.
- Open the extracted Tor Browser directory.
- Double-click
start-tor-browser.desktop. If your desktop asks whether to run or display the file, choose the run option.
The browser opens its Tor connection screen. Follow the on-screen connection choices for your network; a normal, unrestricted connection generally uses the default connection option.
Install and start it from a terminal
The terminal route is useful when the file manager does not launch the desktop file or when you want to see an error message.
- Change to the directory that contains the downloaded archive:
cd ~/Downloads- Extract the archive (substitute the exact downloaded filename):
tar -xf tor-browser-linux-x86_64-[version].tar.xz- Enter the extracted Tor Browser directory. Its name follows the archive name; use
lsif necessary:
cd tor-browser- Start the browser:
./start-tor-browser.desktop- If the shell says the launcher is not executable, add execute permission and run it again:
chmod +x start-tor-browser.desktop
./start-tor-browser.desktopDo not prepend sudo. Tor Browser is intended to run as your ordinary user, and installing it system-wide is not required for normal use.
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Add Tor Browser to the application menu
From inside the extracted Tor Browser directory, run:
./start-tor-browser.desktop --register-appThis registers the launcher with your desktop environment so you can start Tor Browser from the normal application menu. Registration does not move the browser or convert it into an APT package; keep the extracted directory in place.
Update Tor Browser safely
When Tor Browser offers an update, allow it to download and install through the browser. Tor Browser restarts itself after updating. Do not replace the installation with a random archive or an unrelated distribution package, and do not assume a version number or update-screen label remains the same over time.
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If an update fails
- Make sure the directory is writable by your user account.
- If the browser is on removable media, confirm that the media is mounted read-write.
- Download a fresh archive and its matching signature from an official Tor source, verify it, and extract it to a new writable directory rather than weakening file permissions broadly.
Use Tor Browser from a USB drive
Tor documents extracting the Linux archive directly to removable media such as a USB flash drive or SD card. This is optional: it lets you carry the same installation between compatible Linux computers, but the media must remain writable if Tor Browser is to update itself. Eject the device cleanly after closing the browser, and protect the drive like any other device that may contain browsing data.
Graphical or terminal installation?
| Choice | Best for | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Graphical extraction and launch | Readers comfortable with a file manager | Few commands; executable-permission errors can be less visible. |
| Terminal extraction and launch | Readers who want explicit paths and error output | Shows extraction and permission problems directly and makes application registration straightforward. |
| Writable removable media | Optional portable use | Adds portability; it does not establish a performance or security advantage and must remain writable for updates. |
Tor Browser versus the tor package
| Item | Purpose | How it is installed |
|---|---|---|
| Tor Browser | A privacy-focused web browser that includes the browser interface and Tor connection workflow. | Tor Project Linux .tar.xz archive, signature verification, extraction, and the start-tor-browser.desktop launcher. |
tor daemon |
A background Tor network service for software configured to use a local Tor daemon. | A distribution package or the Tor Project’s daemon instructions; it is not the Tor Browser installer. |
Common problems and fixes
“I installed tor, but there is no browser”
The daemon and browser are separate products. Download and install the Tor Browser Linux archive as described above.
The archive will not open
Confirm that you downloaded the Linux .tar.xz file completely and that its signature file matches the archive. Re-download both from an official Tor source if necessary.
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Double-clicking does nothing
Launch from a terminal with ./start-tor-browser.desktop. If it is not executable, run chmod +x start-tor-browser.desktop first.
The browser cannot update
Check that the extracted directory or removable drive is writable. A read-only mount prevents the updater from replacing files.
The Tor connection screen cannot connect
Use the built-in connection settings for networks that block or restrict Tor. If your network requires a bridge or proxy, configure it through Tor Browser’s connection setup instead of downloading an unofficial modified build.
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