Using Tor Browser in Qubes-Whonix ™
Documentation for Tor Browser in Qubes-Whonix ™: Installation, Update, Start, and Usage
Start Tor Browser[edit]
Qubes Start Menu
→ Whonix-Workstation ™ AppVM (commonly called anon-whonix)
→ Tor Browser
Update Tor Browser[edit]
Unfortunately, updating Tor Browser is more complex than regular system updates due to technical limitations outside of Whonix's control. [1] Apply the following instructions to keep Tor Browser up-to-date at all times.
New App Qubes and Disposables[edit]
In Qubes-Whonix ™, Tor Browser Downloader by Whonix ™ (update-torbrowser
) automatically runs when the Whonix-Workstation ™ Template (whonix-ws-16
) package tb-updater
is updated. Therefore, running Tor Browser Downloader by Whonix ™ inside the Template (whonix-ws-16
) ensures that new App Qubes and Disposables are created with a copy of the latest Tor Browser version.
If the Tor Browser Downloader by Whonix ™ package tb-updater
has not been updated yet, it is advised to manually run it in the Whonix-Workstation ™ Template (whonix-ws-16
). For instructions, see Tor Browser Downloader by Whonix ™.
Disposable Template[edit]
For further information on installing, updating and using Tor Browser in Qubes Disposables, see: How to use Disposables in Qubes-Whonix ™.
Existing App Qubes[edit]
Follow these steps to update Tor Browser in an existing Whonix-Workstation ™ App Qube such as anon-whonix
:
- Start Tor Browser:
Qubes Start Menu
→Whonix-Workstation ™ App Qube (commonly called anon-whonix)
→Tor Browser
- Use Tor Browser Internal Updater.
Summary[edit]
Tor Browser Downloader (by Whonix ™ developers):
Tor Browser Downloader (by Whonix ™ developers) is useful to run inside:
Whonix-Workstation ™ Template
(whonix-ws-16
): to ensure that new App Qubes and Disposables are created with a copy of the latest Tor Browser version.Whonix-Workstation ™ App Qube
(anon-whonix
): to re-install the latest Tor Browser version in existing Whonix-Workstation ™ App Qubes.
Tor Browser Downloader (by Whonix ™ developers) is less useful if run inside:
- Disposables: because upgrades won't persist
Tor Browser Downloader (by Whonix ™ developers) should not be run in:
- Disposable Template (
whonix-ws-16-dvm
)
Tor Browser:
Tor Browser is useful to run in:
Whonix-Workstation ™ App Qube
(anon-whonix
)- Dispoables
Tor Browser should not be run in:
Whonix-Workstation ™ Template
(whonix-ws-16
)- Disposable Template (
whonix-ws-16-dvm
)
See Also[edit]
Footnotes / References[edit]
- ↑ Tor Browser Update: Technical Details
- ↑ It is possible to run Tor Browser Downloader by Whonix ™ inside a Disposable as well -- probably easiest using Tor Browser Internal Updater -- and then restart Tor Browser. However, these updates will not persist due to the Disposable design.
- ↑ See tb-updater in Qubes Template for technical details.

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