How to Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu (26.04, 24.04, 22.04)

Tor Browser routes your internet traffic through multiple encrypted relays, making it much harder for websites, advertisers, and local network observers to track your activity. Tor Browser is available on Ubuntu through the official torbrowser-launcher package, Flatpak, or a direct archive download from the Tor Project. After following this guide, you will have a working Tor Browser on Ubuntu with a verified connection to the Tor network.

Three installation methods are available, each with different trade-offs for convenience, sandboxing, and update handling. Use the comparison table below to choose the best method, then follow the verification and first-connection steps.

Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu

Use this comparison table to pick the method that matches how you manage desktop applications on your system.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (torbrowser-launcher)	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution default launcher	Launcher via apt; browser self-updates	Most users who want simple installation and maintenance
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable launcher	Launcher via Flatpak updates; browser self-updates	Users who prefer sandboxing or already use Flatpak
Archive Download	Tor Project	Latest stable bundle	Browser self-updates; manual reinstall if a full redownload is required	Users who want direct control over the install location

For most users, the APT method is recommended because torbrowser-launcher integrates with your system’s package manager and handles downloading, signature verification, and updates automatically.

This guide covers Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. All installation methods work identically across these releases. Tor Browser includes a built-in update mechanism that checks for new versions automatically, so you will receive security updates regardless of which method you choose.

Method 1: Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu via APT (Recommended)

The torbrowser-launcher package from Ubuntu’s official repositories is the simplest way to get Tor Browser running. This launcher tool downloads the official Tor Browser bundle from the Tor Project, verifies its cryptographic signature, and manages updates through the browser’s built-in updater.

Tor Browser vs tor Package on Ubuntu

Many Ubuntu searches use phrases like install tor ubuntu, but sudo apt install tor installs the Tor network service and command-line tools, not the Tor Browser desktop application. Use torbrowser-launcher when your goal is the Tor Browser GUI.

• tor: Tor daemon, relay/proxy service, and related CLI tools for system-level use.
• torbrowser-launcher: Desktop launcher that downloads, verifies, and starts Tor Browser.

Update Ubuntu Package Index

First, refresh your package lists to ensure you get the latest available version:

sudo apt update

This guide uses sudo for commands that need root privileges. If your Ubuntu user is not in the sudoers file yet, run the commands as root or follow our guide on how to add a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu.

Install torbrowser-launcher on Ubuntu

With the package index updated, install the launcher package:

sudo apt install torbrowser-launcher

APT installs the launcher and its dependencies. The actual Tor Browser bundle downloads the first time you run the launcher.

Verify torbrowser-launcher Installation on Ubuntu

Confirm the launcher is installed:

apt-cache policy torbrowser-launcher

Expected output (package version varies by Ubuntu release):

torbrowser-launcher:
  Installed: 0.3.9-1build1
  Candidate: 0.3.9-1build1
  Version table:
 *** 0.3.9-1build1 500

The version string differs by release: Ubuntu 24.04 ships 0.3.7-1ubuntu1 and Ubuntu 22.04 ships 0.3.3-6ubuntu1.22.04.1. Any output showing an Installed value confirms the launcher is ready.

Method 2: Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu via Flatpak

Flatpak runs Tor Browser in a sandboxed environment, isolating it from your system for additional security. The Flathub package wraps the same torbrowser-launcher tool used by the APT method.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For detailed setup including the Flathub repository, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu.

Enable Flathub on Ubuntu

Ensure the Flathub repository is configured at system scope:

sudo flatpak --system remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install Tor Browser Launcher from Flathub on Ubuntu

Install the Tor Browser launcher from Flathub:

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

The -y flag auto-confirms the installation. The first Flatpak install may take several minutes because it also downloads the required runtime.

Verify the Flatpak Tor Browser Launcher Installation on Ubuntu

Confirm the Flathub package is installed and available to run:

flatpak --system info org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher

Expected output (version may differ):

Tor Browser Launcher - A program to help you download, keep updated, and run Tor Browser

          ID: org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher
         Ref: app/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 0.3.9
      Origin: flathub

Method 3: Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu via Archive Download

Downloading the official archive from the Tor Project gives you direct control over the install location and version. The browser includes a built-in updater for minor releases, though major version upgrades may require a fresh archive download.

Install curl for Automatic Version Detection (if Missing)

The archive method uses the curl command to detect the latest Tor Browser release automatically. Ubuntu desktops and minimal systems may not include curl by default, so install it first if needed:

sudo apt install curl

Download the Latest Tor Browser Release on Ubuntu

Detect the latest stable version and download the archive with the wget download utility:

VERSION=$(curl -fsSL https://dist.torproject.org/torbrowser/ | grep -oE 'href="[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+/' | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+' | sort -V | tail -1)
wget -q --show-progress "https://dist.torproject.org/torbrowser/${VERSION}/tor-browser-linux-x86_64-${VERSION}.tar.xz"

This command detects the latest stable version from the Tor Project directory index, stores it in a VERSION variable, and downloads the matching Linux archive. The -fsSL flags make curl fail silently on HTTP errors and follow redirects.

The command above downloads the x86_64 Linux build. If you prefer a manual download or need a different architecture, use the Tor Project download page and grab the matching archive plus the .asc signature file for verification.

Extract the Tor Browser Archive on Ubuntu

Extract the archive contents:

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

This creates a tor-browser directory containing the browser and all necessary files.

Move Tor Browser to a System Location on Ubuntu

Move the extracted directory to /usr/local/share for a system-wide installation:

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

This location is the standard directory for locally installed applications that are not managed by the package manager.

Register the Tor Browser Desktop Application on Ubuntu

Navigate to the installation directory and register Tor Browser as a desktop application:

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

Expected output:

Launching './Browser/start-tor-browser --detach --register-app'...
Tor Browser has been registered as a desktop app for this user in ~/.local/share/applications/

After registration, Tor Browser will appear in your applications menu alongside other installed programs.

Launch Tor Browser on Ubuntu

Launch Tor Browser from the terminal or your desktop environment’s application menu. The terminal command depends on your installation method:

Launch Tor Browser from Terminal

Method	Terminal Command
APT	torbrowser-launcher
Flatpak	flatpak run org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher
Archive	/usr/local/share/tor-browser/start-tor-browser.desktop

Launch Tor Browser from the Applications Menu on Ubuntu

All installation methods register Tor Browser in your desktop environment. Open your application menu and search for “Tor Browser.”

Set Up the First Tor Browser Connection on Ubuntu

When you launch Tor Browser for the first time using the APT or Flatpak method, the launcher downloads the actual browser bundle before continuing. Archive installs already include the full bundle, so this step is skipped. After the launcher finishes (or immediately for archive installs), you will see the connection configuration screen.

From the connection screen, choose the option that matches your network:

• Click Connect for a standard direct connection to the Tor network.
• Click Configure Connection if Tor is blocked on your network or you need bridges or a proxy.

Configure Tor Browser Bridges on Ubuntu (Optional)

Bridges are unlisted Tor relays that help you connect when direct access is blocked. If you select the bridge option, Tor Browser offers several built-in bridge types:

Complete the Tor Browser Connection on Ubuntu

After you click Connect, Tor Browser builds a route through the Tor network. This usually takes 15 to 60 seconds depending on your network conditions and location.

Once connected, you will see the Tor Browser home page with DuckDuckGo as the default search engine. At this point, your traffic is routed through multiple Tor relays, and websites see the exit relay’s IP address instead of yours.

Update Tor Browser on Ubuntu

Tor Browser includes a built-in automatic update mechanism that checks for new versions each time you launch. When an update is available, the browser downloads and applies it automatically. This means you receive security patches and new features without manual intervention, regardless of which installation method you used.

To update the torbrowser-launcher package itself, use the command matching your installation method:

Method	Launcher Update Command
APT	sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade torbrowser-launcher
Flatpak	sudo flatpak --system update org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher
Archive	Built-in updater handles updates automatically

Troubleshoot Tor Browser on Ubuntu

Fix Tor Browser Connection Failures or Timeouts on Ubuntu

If Tor Browser cannot connect, check your system clock first. Tor relay connections require accurate time synchronization, and a clock that is more than a few minutes off can prevent connections. Verify your system time with:

timedatectl

System clock synchronized: yes
NTP service: active

If the time is incorrect, enable automatic synchronization:

sudo timedatectl set-ntp true

Run timedatectl again after enabling NTP and confirm the synchronization lines report yes and active.

Fix Tor Browser Launcher Download Failures on Ubuntu

If the torbrowser-launcher tool cannot download the Tor Browser bundle, your network may be blocking connections to the Tor Project servers. Try using a different network, or manually download the bundle from the Tor Project website and place it in the launcher’s expected directory:

~/.local/share/torbrowser/tbb/x86_64/

Fix Flatpak Tor Browser Permission Issues on Ubuntu

Flatpak applications run in a sandbox with limited access to your system. If Tor Browser installed via Flatpak has issues accessing downloads or other directories, you can grant additional permissions using Flatseal or the command line:

flatpak override --user --filesystem=~/Downloads org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher

This command uses a user-level Flatpak override on purpose. Even when the app is installed system-wide, permission overrides are typically stored per user account.

Remove Tor Browser from Ubuntu

If you no longer need Tor Browser, remove the installation method you used and keep any data-cleanup steps that apply to your setup.

Remove the APT Tor Browser Launcher on Ubuntu

sudo apt remove torbrowser-launcher
sudo apt autoremove

The autoremove step cleans up dependencies that were installed only for torbrowser-launcher. Review the package list before confirming if you intentionally use tor or torsocks for other tasks.

Verify the package is fully removed:

apt-cache policy torbrowser-launcher

Empty output confirms the package is no longer installed or available from any configured repository.

If you want to remove the launcher-downloaded browser files too, check ~/.local/share/torbrowser/ and delete it manually after reviewing its contents.

Remove the Flatpak Tor Browser Launcher on Ubuntu

sudo flatpak --system uninstall org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher --delete-data

The --delete-data flag removes the Flatpak application’s local data directory along with the launcher package.

Remove the Manual Tor Browser Archive Installation on Ubuntu

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

The archive removal commands permanently delete the Tor Browser installation directory and desktop shortcut. Review the paths before pressing Enter, especially the rm -rf command. Any bookmarks or data stored inside that manual installation will be removed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tor Browser on Ubuntu

Conclusion: Tor Browser on Ubuntu

Tor Browser is running on Ubuntu with a verified launcher and working Tor circuit. APT keeps maintenance simple, Flatpak adds sandboxing, and the archive method gives direct version control. For a broader privacy setup, consider how to install Mozilla VPN on Ubuntu or install LibreWolf on Ubuntu.