How to Install Tor Browser on Linux Mint

Tor Browser routes your internet traffic through the Tor network, encrypting data multiple times and bouncing it through volunteer-run relays worldwide. This process hides your IP address from websites you visit and prevents your internet provider from monitoring your browsing activity. By the end of this guide, you will have Tor Browser installed on Linux Mint, configured for your network environment, and ready for private browsing.

In particular, common use cases include accessing region-restricted content, bypassing network censorship, protecting research activities from tracking, and maintaining anonymity when using public networks. Journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users rely on Tor Browser as a core tool for secure communication.

Choose Your Tor Browser Installation Method

Linux Mint supports two primary installation methods for Tor Browser. Each approach has distinct characteristics that affect how you receive updates and manage the application.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Automatic via Flatpak	Most users who want simple maintenance
Official Tarball	Tor Project	Latest stable	Built-in auto-update	Users who prefer direct installation without package managers

For most users, the Flatpak method is recommended because it handles updates automatically through the standard Flatpak update process and integrates cleanly with Linux Mint’s software management. In contrast, the official tarball method provides the same browser with built-in self-updating capabilities, making it suitable for users who prefer managing applications outside package managers.

Method 1: Install Tor Browser via Flatpak

Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation of Tor Browser Launcher, which downloads and manages the official Tor Browser from the Tor Project. Since Linux Mint includes Flatpak with Flathub enabled by default, no additional setup is required.

Install Tor Browser Launcher from Flathub

Run the following command to install Tor Browser Launcher from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher -y

The -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompt. As a result, Flatpak downloads the launcher application and its runtime dependencies, which may take a few minutes on the first installation.

First Launch and Browser Download

After installation, launch Tor Browser Launcher from your applications menu or run:

flatpak run org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher

During the first launch, the launcher downloads the actual Tor Browser from the Tor Project servers. This separate download ensures you receive a genuine, unmodified copy of Tor Browser with verified GPG signatures. Meanwhile, the download progress appears in the launcher window.

Verify Flatpak Installation

To confirm that Tor Browser Launcher is installed correctly, list your Flatpak applications:

flatpak list | grep torbrowser

Expected output:

Tor Browser Launcher    org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher    stable    system

Method 2: Install Tor Browser from Official Tarball

The official tarball method downloads Tor Browser directly from the Tor Project website. This approach provides a standalone installation that includes built-in automatic update capabilities, so you do not need to repeat the installation process for routine updates.

Download the Latest Tor Browser

The following commands automatically detect the latest stable version and download the corresponding archive. First, curl queries the Tor Project distribution server to extract the current version number, then wget downloads the 64-bit Linux package:

VERSION=$(curl -s "https://dist.torproject.org/torbrowser/" | grep -oP 'href="\K\d+\.\d+\.\d+(?=/")' | tail -1)
wget "https://www.torproject.org/dist/torbrowser/${VERSION}/tor-browser-linux-x86_64-${VERSION}.tar.xz"

The first line stores the version number in a shell variable. The second line uses that variable to construct the download URL and fetch the archive, which is approximately 130 MB.

If you prefer to download manually, visit the Tor Project download page and select the Linux version. You can also verify the download using the accompanying .asc signature file and the Tor Project’s signing key.

Extract and Install

First, extract the downloaded archive to reveal the tor-browser directory:

tar -xf tor-browser-linux-x86_64-*.tar.xz

Next, move the extracted directory to a system-wide location. The /usr/local/share directory is the standard location for locally installed application data:

sudo mv tor-browser /usr/local/share/

Register as Desktop Application

Then, navigate to the installation directory and register Tor Browser with your desktop environment:

cd /usr/local/share/tor-browser
./start-tor-browser.desktop --register-app

Expected output:

Tor Browser has been registered as a desktop app for this user in ~/.local/share/applications/

This step creates a menu entry so you can launch Tor Browser from your applications menu like any other program. Note that the registration applies to your user account only.

Launch and Configure Tor Browser

Once installed, you can launch Tor Browser from your desktop environment or terminal.

Launch from Applications Menu

To use the graphical launcher, open your applications menu and navigate to:

Menu > Internet > Tor Browser

Launch from Terminal

For Flatpak installations, use the following command:

flatpak run org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher

For tarball installations, run the start script directly:

/usr/local/share/tor-browser/start-tor-browser.desktop

Alternatively, if you registered the desktop application, you can create a shell alias for convenience. Add this line to your ~/.bashrc file:

alias torbrowser='/usr/local/share/tor-browser/start-tor-browser.desktop'

After adding the alias, reload your shell configuration with source ~/.bashrc or open a new terminal window.

Initial Connection Setup

When Tor Browser launches for the first time, you see a connection dialog with two options:

Connect

• Connects directly to the Tor network using default settings
• Works on most networks without additional configuration
• Suitable for home networks and most public Wi-Fi

Configure Connection

• Required if your network blocks Tor or uses a proxy
• Allows configuration of bridges to bypass censorship
• Useful in countries with internet restrictions

For most users, clicking “Connect” establishes a connection to the Tor network within 15 to 60 seconds, depending on network conditions.

Configure Bridges for Restricted Networks

If direct Tor connections are blocked on your network, bridges provide an alternative entry point. Specifically, bridges are unlisted Tor relays that help users bypass network censorship.

To configure bridges, select “Configure Connection” and choose a built-in bridge type. The most common options are:

• obfs4: Recommended for most censored networks; disguises Tor traffic as random data
• Snowflake: Uses volunteer-run proxies; effective when obfs4 bridges are blocked
• meek-azure: Routes traffic through Microsoft Azure; useful as a last resort

Successful Connection

Once connected, Tor Browser displays its default start page with DuckDuckGo as the search engine. At this point, the browser is routing all traffic through the Tor network.

To verify your connection is active, visit check.torproject.org, which confirms whether your browser is routing traffic through Tor.

Update Tor Browser

Fortunately, both installation methods include automatic update mechanisms that keep Tor Browser current without manual intervention.

Flatpak Updates

Flatpak installations update through the standard Flatpak update process. To update all Flatpak applications including Tor Browser Launcher, run:

sudo flatpak update

Additionally, Linux Mint checks for Flatpak updates automatically through the Update Manager. For more details on managing Flatpak applications, see our guide on upgrading Flatpak on Linux Mint.

Tarball Installation Updates

For tarball installations, Tor Browser includes built-in automatic update functionality. When a new version becomes available, Tor Browser displays an update prompt in the browser window. Simply click “Update available – restart now” in the main menu to apply the update.

This self-update mechanism downloads only the changed files, making updates faster than a full reinstallation. As a result, your bookmarks, settings, and browsing data are preserved during updates.

Troubleshoot Common Issues

Connection Fails or Times Out

If Tor Browser fails to connect after several minutes, your network may be blocking Tor connections. Try the following steps in order:

1. Check your system clock: Tor requires accurate time synchronization. Verify your system time is correct with timedatectl status.
2. Try a different network: If possible, test on a mobile hotspot or different Wi-Fi network to isolate the issue.
3. Enable bridges: Open connection settings and select a bridge type like obfs4 or Snowflake.
4. Request new bridges: If built-in bridges fail, request custom bridge addresses from bridges.torproject.org.

Browser Launches but Pages Don’t Load

If Tor Browser opens but websites fail to load, the Tor circuit may be experiencing issues. In this case, try the following:

• Click the padlock icon in the address bar and select “New Circuit for this Site”
• Wait a few seconds and retry the page
• If problems persist, restart Tor Browser to establish a fresh connection

Website Blocks Tor Exit Nodes

Some websites block known Tor exit node IP addresses. This is a deliberate choice by the website operator, not a problem with your Tor installation. In such cases, your options include:

• Request a new circuit to try a different exit node
• Try the website at a different time when exit node rotation may help
• Accept that some sites choose not to serve Tor users

Remove Tor Browser

If you no longer need Tor Browser, remove it using the method matching your installation type.

Remove Flatpak Installation

To remove Tor Browser Launcher and its associated data, run:

sudo flatpak remove --delete-data org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher -y

The --delete-data flag removes application data including downloaded browser files and settings. Additionally, to remove unused Flatpak runtimes, run:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

Remove Tarball Installation

Before removing the installation, unregister Tor Browser from your desktop applications menu:

cd /usr/local/share/tor-browser
./start-tor-browser.desktop --unregister-app

The following command permanently deletes Tor Browser and all associated data. Unlike some applications that store profiles separately, Tor Browser keeps all user data including bookmarks, browsing history, and settings inside the installation directory. Export any important bookmarks before proceeding.

Finally, remove the installation directory and any remaining desktop entry:

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/share/tor-browser
rm -f ~/.local/share/applications/start-tor-browser.desktop

The first command removes the browser along with all profile data stored inside it. The second command removes the desktop menu entry if the unregister step was skipped.

Conclusion

You now have Tor Browser installed on Linux Mint with either Flatpak or the official tarball. Since both methods provide automatic updates, your browser stays current with security patches. For censored networks, the built-in bridge options bypass most blocking attempts. Finally, verify your connection at check.torproject.org after connecting, and request new circuits if specific websites fail to load.