Getting started

How to Use Tor Browser on Android

Yes, there's a real, official Tor Browser for Android — free, open-source, and made by the same non-profit as the desktop version. The tricky part is that app stores are full of unofficial “Tor” apps that aren't it. This guide shows you how to install the right one, connect for the first time, and understand what Tor on a phone does (and doesn't) protect.

By the Tor Browser Guide editors · Updated

Quick answer

The quick version

Open Google Play → search “Tor Browser” → make sure the developer says The Tor Project → Install → Open → tap Connect. That's the whole setup. Pick the app called Tor Browser, not “Tor Browser (Alpha),” which is a test version. Skip look-alike “Tor” apps from other developers: the official one is free, with no ads.

Before you install: watch out for fake “Tor” apps

Search “Tor” in the Play Store and you'll see dozens of results — most of them unofficial, for-profit apps that borrow the name. Some bundle ads or unknown “VPNs,” and they are not reviewed or endorsed by the Tor Project. The same caution applies as on desktop: only the official app protects you the way Tor is supposed to.

How to spot the real one

The app is named Tor Browser, the developer is The Tor Project, and it's free with no ads and no “premium” tier. (The same developer account also publishes Orbot and the Tor VPN beta; those are legitimate too, but for private browsing you only need Tor Browser.) Other official sources are the Guardian Project's F-Droid repository and the APK files on torproject.org/download. If you install an APK by hand, choose the version for your phone's processor (most modern phones use aarch64) and remember to update it by hand too. It's the same rule we explain in is Tor safe?

Installing Tor Browser on Android (step by step)

  1. Open the Google Play Store

    On your Android phone or tablet, open the Play Store app.

  2. Search for “Tor Browser”

    Type Tor Browser in the search bar and open the result.

  3. Check the developer

    Make sure the app is named Tor Browser (not “Alpha”) and the developer line says The Tor Project. Similar-looking apps from other developers are fakes.

  4. Install and open

    Tap Install, wait for it to download, then tap Open.

  5. Tap “Connect”

    On the welcome screen, tap Connect. After a few seconds you're on the Tor network. Tip: switch on “Always connect automatically” so the app connects by itself next time.

Tor blocked on your network?

If Connect fails, your network may block Tor. Tap “Try a bridge” when the app offers it, and it will pick a bridge for your location. You can also set one up by hand, the same fix as on desktop. See how to set up Tor bridges and what to do when Tor won't connect.

What Tor on Android does — and doesn't do

  • ✔ The same core protection as on a computer, inside the browser

    Your browsing goes through three relays with layered encryption: sites don't see your IP, and your carrier or Wi-Fi owner doesn't see which sites you visit. (Details: is Tor anonymous?)

  • ✘ It doesn't cover your other apps

    Only what happens inside the Tor Browser app is protected. Messengers, email, and other apps use your normal connection. To route other apps through Tor, you can use Orbot (built by the Guardian Project; on Google Play it's listed under The Tor Project) or the Tor Project's new Tor VPN app, which is still in beta and not meant for sensitive use yet. For private browsing you don't need either.

  • ✔ Private by default

    No history is kept between sessions, and tracker blocking works the same as on desktop.

  • ✘ It won't be as fast as your normal browser

    Three relays cost speed on mobile just like on desktop — that's normal. (Why, and what helps: why is Tor so slow?)

Using an iPhone or iPad?

There's no official Tor Browser for iOS

Apple requires every iPhone browser to use its own WebKit engine, so the Tor Project doesn't make Tor Browser for iOS. It instead recommends Onion Browser, a free app that connects to the Tor network on iPhone and iPad. Our Onion Browser guide shows how to set it up safely and explains its limits.

Tips for staying private on mobile

Your mobile checklist

Keep the app updated. Don't log into personal accounts when you want anonymity. Don't install “Tor + VPN” combo apps from unknown developers. Remember that only browser traffic is protected — what you do in other apps is not. And download the app only from Google Play (developer: The Tor Project), the Guardian Project's F-Droid repository, or torproject.org. Note: Tor Browser 16, due soon, will need Android 8 or newer, so very old phones will stop getting updates.

The bottom line

Tor on Android is the real thing: the same three-relay privacy as on a computer, in a free official app. The only real pitfall is installing a fake — so check the developer name, tap Connect, and you're browsing privately in under five minutes. Setting up on a computer too? Our full installation guide covers Windows and macOS.

Download Tor Browser Set up on desktop instead

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official Tor Browser for Android?

Yes. The Tor Project publishes an official Tor Browser app for Android. Install it from Google Play (check that the app is Tor Browser and the developer is The Tor Project), from the Guardian Project's F-Droid repository, or download it from the official torproject.org website. It's free and open-source, just like the desktop version.

Is Tor Browser safe on Android?

Yes — the official app gives you the same three-relay, layered-encryption protection as Tor on a computer. The main risk on mobile is installing a fake “Tor” app instead of the real one: always check the developer name, and avoid unofficial apps that bundle ads or unknown VPNs.

Does Tor on Android protect all my apps?

No. The Tor Browser app protects only what you do inside the browser itself — other apps use your normal connection. If you want to route other apps through Tor, Orbot (built by the Guardian Project) or the Tor Project's Tor VPN beta can do that, but for private browsing the Tor Browser alone is enough.

Is there a Tor Browser for iPhone?

Not an official one — Apple's platform restrictions don't allow it. The Tor Project recommends Onion Browser, a free app that connects to the Tor network on iPhone and iPad. See our Onion Browser setup guide.

Sources

We base this guide on official Tor Project documentation and independent sources. Links checked October 8, 2026.