How to Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 and 22.04

Tor Browser gives Ubuntu users a privacy-focused browser that routes traffic through the Tor network, making it harder for websites, advertisers, and local network observers to connect activity back to your normal IP address. To install Tor Browser on Ubuntu, use the torbrowser-launcher package for the easiest setup, Flathub if you prefer Flatpak-managed desktop apps, or the Tor Project archive when you want the direct upstream bundle.

Do not confuse Tor Browser with the separate tor service package. Tor Browser is the desktop application most readers want for private browsing, while tor installs the background daemon and command-line tools used by relays, proxies, and other system-level workflows.

Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu

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

Method	Source	Install Form	Updates	Best For
APT (torbrowser-launcher)	Ubuntu Universe	Native launcher package	Launcher via apt; browser bundle self-updates	Most Ubuntu desktop users who want package-manager integration
Flatpak	Flathub	Verified Flatpak launcher	Launcher and runtime via Flatpak; browser bundle self-updates	Users who already manage desktop apps with Flatpak or want a per-app sandbox
Archive Download	Tor Project	User-local .tar.xz bundle	Browser self-updates from a user-writable folder	Users who want the direct upstream archive and manual signature verification

For most users, the APT method is recommended because torbrowser-launcher integrates with Ubuntu’s package manager while still downloading and verifying the official Tor Browser bundle from the Tor Project.

The Tor Project does not publish a separate Ubuntu .deb package for the browser bundle. On Ubuntu, the package-manager workflow installs torbrowser-launcher, while the direct upstream workflow uses the Linux .tar.xz archive from the Tor Project download page.

The commands below cover Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. Package versions and dependency lists differ between releases, but the installation choices are the same across those supported LTS versions.

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

The torbrowser-launcher package from Ubuntu’s Universe repository is the simplest way to get Tor Browser running. This launcher downloads the official Tor Browser bundle from the Tor Project, verifies its cryptographic signature, and then starts the browser from your user profile.

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.

torbrowser-launcher is packaged in Ubuntu’s Universe component. If APT reports that the package cannot be found on a customized or minimal install, enable Universe first with the guide to enable Universe and Multiverse on Ubuntu, then rerun sudo apt update.

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 26.04 currently ships 0.3.9-1build1, 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

The Flathub package installs the same torbrowser-launcher tool inside a Flatpak sandbox. Flathub currently verifies the app against the Tor Project domain, and its metadata does not expose broad home-directory access by default. It is still a launcher: the first run downloads the actual Tor Browser bundle from torproject.org.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If the flatpak command is missing, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu, restart your session if needed, then return here.

Enable Flathub on Ubuntu

Ensure the Flathub repository is configured:

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

Install Tor Browser Launcher from Flathub on Ubuntu

Install the Tor Browser launcher from Flathub:

sudo flatpak 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 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 the direct upstream Tor Browser bundle. Keep this install in a user-writable directory so the browser’s built-in updater can replace its own files without needing root privileges.

Install Archive Download Tools

The archive method uses the curl command to detect and download the current Tor Browser release. Install curl, GnuPG, and the XZ extraction tools before continuing:

sudo apt install curl gnupg xz-utils

Download the Latest Tor Browser Release on Ubuntu

Detect the latest stable version, then download both the archive and its matching OpenPGP signature:

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

The command detects the latest stable version from the Tor Project directory index, stores it in a VERSION variable, and downloads the matching Linux x86_64 archive plus its .asc signature.

The command above targets 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.

Verify the Tor Browser Archive Signature on Ubuntu

Import the Tor Browser Developers signing key using the Tor Project’s Web Key Directory. The Tor Project documents the same fingerprint in its Tor Browser signature verification instructions.

gpg --auto-key-locate nodefault,wkd --locate-keys torbrowser@torproject.org

Check that the imported key fingerprint matches the Tor Project’s signing key:

gpg --fingerprint EF6E286DDA85EA2A4BA7DE684E2C6E8793298290

pub   rsa4096 2014-12-15 [C] [expires: 2027-07-15]
      EF6E 286D DA85 EA2A 4BA7  DE68 4E2C 6E87 9329 8290
uid           [ unknown] Tor Browser Developers (signing key) <torbrowser@torproject.org>

Verify the downloaded archive against the signature file:

gpg --verify "tor-browser-linux-x86_64-${VERSION}.tar.xz.asc" "tor-browser-linux-x86_64-${VERSION}.tar.xz"

A successful verification includes a good-signature line for the Tor Browser Developers signing key. GnuPG may also warn that the key is not certified with a trusted signature; that warning means you have not personally assigned trust to the key in your local keyring.

Extract the Tor Browser Archive on Ubuntu

Extract the archive contents:

mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/share"
tar -xJf "tor-browser-linux-x86_64-${VERSION}.tar.xz" -C "$HOME/.local/share/"

This creates $HOME/.local/share/tor-browser, keeping the archive install inside your user account so Tor Browser can update itself normally. If that directory already exists from an older manual install, back up any bookmarks or profile data before replacing it.

Register the Tor Browser Desktop Application on Ubuntu

Navigate to the extracted directory and register Tor Browser as a desktop application for your user account:

cd "$HOME/.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 your desktop environment’s application menu, or use the terminal command that matches your installation method.

Launch the APT Tor Browser Launcher

torbrowser-launcher

Launch the Flatpak Tor Browser Launcher

flatpak run org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher

Launch the Archive Tor Browser Install

cd "$HOME/.local/share/tor-browser"
./start-tor-browser.desktop

Launch Tor Browser from the Applications Menu on Ubuntu

All installation methods can 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 updater that checks for new browser releases when you launch it. APT and Flatpak still update the launcher package itself through their own package managers, while the archive method relies on the browser updater from your user-writable install directory.

For the APT method, refresh package metadata and upgrade the launcher package when Ubuntu publishes an update:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade torbrowser-launcher

For the Flatpak method, update the launcher and any required Flatpak runtime changes from Flathub:

sudo flatpak update org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher -y

For the archive method, open Tor Browser normally and let its built-in updater apply browser updates. A separate update helper script is not needed here because the archive install lives under $HOME/.local/share/tor-browser, where the browser updater can write to its own files without changing system directories.

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

The Flatpak launcher does not expose your full home directory by default. If Tor Browser installed via Flatpak cannot access a folder you need, grant a user-scoped permission with Flatseal or with a command such as:

flatpak override --user --filesystem="$HOME/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

Remove the APT launcher package first:

sudo apt remove torbrowser-launcher

Preview unused dependencies before removing them. Continue only if the list does not include packages you intentionally use, such as tor or torsocks for non-browser tasks:

sudo apt autoremove --dry-run

If the preview is safe, run the cleanup:

sudo apt autoremove

If you want to remove the launcher-downloaded browser files too, review the Tor Browser directories and delete them manually:

rm -rf "$HOME/.local/share/torbrowser" "$HOME/.cache/torbrowser" "$HOME/.config/torbrowser"

Verify the package is fully removed:

dpkg -l torbrowser-launcher | grep '^ii'

No output confirms the package is no longer installed.

Remove the Flatpak Tor Browser Launcher on Ubuntu

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

The --delete-data flag removes the Flatpak application’s sandboxed data along with the launcher package. Remove unused Flatpak runtimes afterward if no remaining app needs them:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused -y

If you need to confirm the app is gone, this command should return no output:

sudo flatpak list --app --columns=application | grep -Fx org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher

If ~/.var/app/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher/ remains and you no longer need any Flatpak Tor Browser settings, review it before deleting it manually.

Remove the Manual Tor Browser Archive Installation on Ubuntu

rm -rf "$HOME/.local/share/tor-browser"
rm -f "$HOME/.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.

Conclusion: Tor Browser on Ubuntu

For most Ubuntu users, torbrowser-launcher is the simplest way to install and maintain Tor Browser because it handles the Tor Project download and signature verification for you. Flatpak is useful when you already manage desktop apps through Flathub, while the archive method is best when you want the direct upstream bundle and are comfortable verifying the signature yourself. For a broader privacy setup, consider how to install Mozilla VPN on Ubuntu or install LibreWolf on Ubuntu.