Tor Project Releases Tor Browser 14.0 – What You Need to Know

On October 22, 2024, the Tor project was released Tor browser 14.0available for download now. Well known as the only way to access the encrypted Onion Network, the browser makes it harder to track a user’s internet activity, enabling anonymous communication and surveillance protection.

This is the first stable release based on Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) 128, and Tor has completed its annual ESR transition audit as part of the process. Changes to Firefox that may negatively impact the privacy and security of Tor Browser users have been reviewed and addressed, and final reports of this review are available at tor-browser-spec repository.

Tor Browser’s typography, inherited from Firefox, has also been updated to reflect the latest patterns and styles used. The changes include heavier headings and changes to line heights, intended to improve font compatibility and accessibility.

Many technical challenges have been overcome and the release includes a number of usability and compatibility improvements for Tor fingerprint protection. This has been done without compromising their effectiveness, allowing Tor to enable useful features such as picture-in-picture, screenshots and more.

What’s new

In previous versions of Tor Browser for Android, users could request a “New Identity” by interacting with a persistent message that appeared while Tor Browser was running. No such feature was available in the app’s user interface itself, and it could only be activated outside the app. This feature did not perform the same steps as the desktop Tor Browser to restore your identity, such as closing all tabs, clearing all cookies, and deleting browsing history.

Most Android users relied on this feature to request a new circuit—the connection between your device and the page you’re visiting—for a broken website instead of restoring its identity. This new update brings the desktop “New circuit for this site” feature to Android, allowing mobile users to request a new circuit in a more direct way.

Tor Browser 14.0 provides extended support for older platforms. Users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 and macOS 10.12, 10.13 and 10.14 were warned Tor Browser 13.5 was the last major update to support their platforms. However, these platforms will continue to receive critical security updates on an interim basis until at least March 2025.

Tor Browser 13 is based on Firefox ESR 115, which Mozilla has announced will continue to receive critical security updates until at least March 2025, with the intention of re-evaluating at the beginning of the year.

Flowchart showing which operating systems are supported by Tor Browser 14.0 and 13.5

(Image credit: Tor Project)

The result is that the Tor Browser user base will be split across two update paths. Users of Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.15 or later will be updated to Tor Browser 14.0. Users of older platforms will remain on Tor Browser 13.5, with Tor releasing new versions of Tor Browser 13.5 whenever important security updates are made available for Firefox ESR 115.

This will only be temporary and depends on Mozilla’s timetable, and Tor strongly recommends older platforms that users update their operating systems to receive Tor Browser 14.0. Keeping your browser up-to-date is critical to protecting your privacy, security and anonymity online.

Known issues

There are some known issues that come with Tor Browser 14.0, mainly affecting Android and Windows users. Users on Android have been unable to update their browser if it was downloaded via F-Droid. Thor states Google Play Store is unaffected and Tor Browser 14.0 can be downloaded from there in the meantime. Alternatively, affected users can download and install the Tor Browser 14.0 APK directly from its download page, although APKs are not automatically updated.

For Windows users, Tor Browser in compatibility mode in Windows 10 and 11 can make it look like you are using Windows 7. Users of these operating systems must turn off compatibility mode before they can update to Tor Browser 14.0.

How Tor differs from a VPN

The Tor browser is often considered an alternative or replacement for best VPN services, but the two differ significantly. The main difference comes down to privacy vs anonymity – VPNs do not provide total anonymity. In fact, the only anonymity achieved with VPN is through “safety in numbers” if there are many people using the same server at the same time. Anonymity also relies on VPN providers not tracking you via IP and/or usage logging. No VPN we recommend does this, although many smaller providers do.

VPNs are much more useful for everyday use but Tor also has its advantages. They are difficult to compare at face value but our guide on Tor vs VPN describes their similarities and differences, helping you gain a clearer understanding of which option is best for you.

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Tor Project Releases Tor Browser 14.0 – What You Need to Know

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