Tor Browser 15.0 is here, and it comes with a rather extensive list of changes. Based on Firefox ESR 140This leap brings useful improvements for those who prioritize privacy, but also for those seeking productivity in their daily lives. In addition to new features, structural decisions have been refined that reduce the attack surface and strengthen protection against trackers and digital footprints.
This release consolidates decisions that had been tested in the alphas of the 15 series, including the removal of AI integrations inherited from Mozilla's code. WebAssembly control is also moved to NoScript, vertical tabs and tab groups arrive on the desktop, and Android receives an integrated screen lock. If you're worried about compatibility, be warned: this will be the last major version with support for 32-bit Linux and Android 5.0/6.0/7.0, with an eye on changes in requirements starting from version 16.0.
What's new in Tor Browser 15.0
The technological base takes a significant leap forward with the adoption of Firefox ESR 140This incorporates a year of upstream changes that have been audited to ensure privacy is not compromised. Among the most visible are the vertical tabs and tab groups On desktop, two tools that make it easy to organize complex sessions without getting lost among dozens of open sites.
The address bar redesign adds a unified search button which allows you to switch engines on the fly, search between bookmarks or open tabs, and launch quick actions from the same menu. All of this is designed to reduce clicks and maintain focus, something that is appreciated in Tor because The tabs are private. and they are cleaned upon closing, forcing clean sessions by design.
In terms of visuals, details have been polished so that the dark mode to be more consistent across platforms and browser-specific elements. This improvement goes hand in hand with adjustments to the custom style of Letterboxing to maintain anti-fingerprinting protection even with the changes in Firefox 140 and support for vertical tabs.
There are also typographic and rendering tweaks. The font is included on Linux. I Notice Color Emoji To ensure that modern emojis display correctly, the display of CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) characters has been improved by replacing the Noto family with Jigmo for a more consistent representation in web content.
Privacy and security as our guiding principles
One of the headlines of this version is the removal of components and connectors from Artificial Intelligence which Mozilla has been integrating into Firefox. In Tor, the rule is clear: if it can't be audited reliably or if it involves external calls that could expose data, it's not allowed. That's why integrations like sidebar chatbots (ex. Copilot or Perplexity), contextual assistants like Page Buddy or automatic summaries and “smart” groupings based on machine learning.
This decision was tested in the alpha 15.0a4 and it is consolidated in the stable branch, where the objective is to minimize any unnecessary exchange of information. In addition to the audit, European regulatory criteria carry weight: under the GDPR and similar, reducing treatments and external dependencies is a plus in terms of compliance and trust for demanding organizations and users.
The project's message is clear: Tor doesn't want features it can't handle. audit with rigor or that open doors to traffic correlations. While Chrome pushes Gemini and Edge does the same with CopilotHere, the real security of the user is prioritized, even if it means saying no to flashy "novelties" that do not fit with Tor's threat model.
WebAssembly: now managed by NoScript
The second major security change affects WebAssembly (Wasm)Until now, Tor disabled it globally at the Safer and Safest levels by modifying the preference. javascript.options.wasmBetween versions 128 and 140, Mozilla moved part of the reader to PDF to Wasm, which made it impossible to maintain that approach without breaking essential functions.
Starting with Tor Browser 15.0, Wasm management is transferred to NoScriptwhich already controls JavaScript and other sensitive components. The practical consequence is more granular control: Wasm works on privileged browser pages (like the PDF reader) but is blocked on regular sites if you choose the levels Safer or Safest, keeping the attack surface under control.
If you had the preference javascript.options.wasm In “false” using the Standard level, you will see that your level changes to CustomIt is recommended to return this preference to "true" to delegate management to NoScript and avoid PDF issues. Additionally, manually disabling Wasm in Standard may cause problems. browser footprint More unique, which Tor tries to avoid with uniform configurations. If you want to keep Wasm disabled, it's best to upgrade to Safer or Safest and let NoScript do its job.
A useful note: at the level Safest There is no exposure to potential vulnerabilities added by Wasm, since this technology relies on JavaScript to function. Therefore, those who choose the most restrictive profile maintain their security posture without sacrificing the browser's PDF reader.
New features on desktop: tabs and usability
After the meal, the arrival of the vertical tabs It offers a more convenient alternative layout when managing many pages. By activating the side view, tabs (including pinned ones) are stacked in a panel, and bookmarks are accessible from the same bar when it expands, reducing the need to navigate through menus and bars.
The other key piece is the tab groupsThese are designed for those who accumulate dozens of sites per project or theme. They can be named, color-coded, and collapsed independently, bringing order to sessions that, by Tor's very nature, will end up clean after closing the browser.
It's worth noting that this first iteration of vertical tabs comes with small quirksWhen opening Tor with the sidebar visible, the window may resize noticeably; and due to these size variations, letterboxing may become visible (the protection remains active, but the default size may not be the intended one). The team is working on both issues, tracked as tor-browser#44096.
All of this is complemented by the update of the address bar, which integrates the unified search button and several accessibility improvements inherited from Firefox and inspected during Tor's ESR transition.
Android: Privacy on the go
Those who use Tor Browser on their mobile devices benefit from a new screen lock App-specific. Once activated in Settings > Tabs, your tabs will automatically lock when you switch apps without closing the browser. When you return, you'll need to unlock them with your fingerprint, face, or code, depending on what your device supports.
As on desktop, the session is deleted when you close Tor Browser, so the lock adds an extra layer just in time for that awkward scenario: you leave your phone on the table or lend it out for a moment and someone comes back to Open Tor in the background. With the new feature, your browsing remains safe from prying eyes.
There's a known issue on Android: after updating to older versions of the system, some pages may stop loading. The solution involves manually clearing the app cache in Settings > Apps > Tor Browser > Storage and cache. After doing so, browsing should return to normal.
Compatibility and end of support on the horizon
Important for those who maintain hardware Veteran: Tor Browser 15.0 is the last major version that will support 32-bit Linux and Android 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0Furthermore, the end of support for CPUs is being prepared. x86 on Android and Linux with the arrival of Tor 16.0, scheduled for the middle of next year.
Mozilla has announced its intention to raise the minimum requirement to Android 8.0And the Tor Project explains that it's not viable to single-handedly maintain platforms that the Firefox base leaves behind. Beyond security, maintaining x86 compatibility on Android clashes with... 100MB limitation imposed by Google Play, which forced costly workarounds: for example, some x86 users were left without pluggable transport Conjure in recent builds.
For users in Spain and the EU with older equipment, the recommendation is to plan a update system or hardware. Continuing on unsupported platforms amplifies the risk of vulnerabilities and can complicate compliance obligations in regulated sectors.
Interface, brand, and other visible settings
Beyond the aesthetics, there's been a cleanup of elements inherited from Mozilla. Graphics, services, and Firefox branding Features that don't enhance the Tor experience, such as the modern history panel, have been replaced by the classic panel that users were already familiar with. The goal is to maintain consistency, avoid external calls to action, and stick to what the community needs.
On desktop, Tor no longer hides the protocol (http/https) in the address bar, following Mozilla's guidelines and adding clarity when identifying .onion services and secure contexts. On Android, the protocol remains hidden to save horizontal space, which is vital on smaller screens.
Among the changes in the project is also the renaming of pluggable transport meek-azure Simply put, it removes references to cloud providers that were no longer representative. These are minor adjustments in appearance, but they help keep the set up-to-date and more neutral.
Download, update, and verification
Tor Browser 15.0 can be downloaded from the official website or the distribution directory of the project. If you're already using it, the automatic update should arrive soon. It's good practice to check firms and, if applicable, check reproducible builds to confirm the integrity of the binary before installing.
In corporate environments, universities, or government agencies, it's advisable to deploy first in a test environment: review policies of NoScript, compatibility of extensions and possible dependencies with internal services and considers create a portable privacy profileAlthough Tor is not a typical "corporate" browser, there are organizations with top-secret or research needs that appreciate this level of control.
A helpful reminder: Tor tabs and session data are cleared upon closing, promoting natural hygiene. For those who open many tabs... projects or researchTab groups and the new unified search button can make a difference in productivity without sacrificing the default privacy philosophy.
Audit, community, and under-the-hood changes
With each ESR transition, the Tor team performs a systematic audit of upstream changes. This time, approximately [number of changes] have been reviewed and addressed. 200 incidents Bugzilla's features that could affect the privacy and security of Tor users, including the software telemetry and privacyThe reports are available in the project's GitLab repository, tor-browser-spec.
The Tor Project reminds everyone that the continued development of the Tor Browser depends on your support. communityIf you care about this work, now is a great time to support the mission of “FREE THE INTERNET": Until December 31, 2025, donations will be matched by Power Up Privacy, multiplying the effect of each contribution."
Have you found a bug or have a suggestion? The team encourages you to report it and collaborate: there's a guide for new contributors and a... issue tracker with open issues, including those related to vertical tabs and letterboxing. For those who want to take a closer look, the full changelog lists changes by platform and the build system, which includes, among other things, the update of Go to 1.24.9.
What remains is a browser with robust privacy features that also improves usability with vertical tabs, groups, and a unified search engine; it strengthens its stance on the AI withdrawal It's difficult to audit; and it's moving sensitive components like WASM to NoScript to gain fine-tuned control. The horizon does point to compatibility changes, yes, but in return, long-term stability and security are prioritized—exactly what you'd expect from Tor.
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