The Tor Project announced Tor Browser 16.0, a major update to its privacy-focused web browser for Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android.
The new version moves to Firefox ESR 153, introduces redesigned settings, adds native Linux ARM64 support, and adds an option to prevent other applications from reading webpage titles.
One of the most visible changes is a complete redesign of the browser’s settings interface, following similar changes introduced in Firefox earlier this year.
The previous General section has been replaced by dedicated sections covering Appearance, Downloads, Tabs and browsing, Accessibility, and Languages. Tor-specific settings, including Connection and Security Level, have also been rebuilt to match the new interface.
Additionally, dangerous settings that could compromise privacy or make users easier to fingerprint are either hidden or accompanied by warnings. Existing preferences are preserved during the transition.
Another notable addition is an optional privacy feature called generic window titles. Normally, browser windows display the title of the visited webpage, information other local applications and the operating system can read without special permissions.
When enabled, the new option replaces these titles with simply “Tor Browser,” preventing other applications from identifying visited pages through window titles. Users can find it under Privacy and security -> Protections from third-party applications.
Importantly, the feature remains disabled by default because the developers are still evaluating potential compatibility issues, particularly with screen readers, desktop window managers, and application switchers.
Moreover, after about a year of testing, Tor Browser 16.0 now officially supports 64-bit ARM Linux systems in its stable release channel. This includes devices such as Raspberry Pi computers and Apple Silicon Macs running Linux.
At the same time, the project has discontinued support for 32-bit x86 Linux systems, following Mozilla’s decision to end support for that architecture in Firefox. According to the Tor Project, the platform currently accounts for only about 200 daily update checks, compared with roughly 4,000 in 2019.
The desktop browser also includes a revised user manual, now based on documentation from the Tor Project’s Support portal. As before, the manual is available offline and can be accessed by entering about:manual in the address bar or through the Help menu.
On Android, Tor Browser 16.0 adopts additional interface improvements based on Google’s Material Design 3. The developers have also optimized bundled resources to help keep the Android APK within Google Play’s 100 MB size limit.
Under the hood, the release updates Tor to version 0.4.9.15 and NoScript to 13.6.37.1984, alongside numerous bug fixes and security-related adjustments.
For more information, see the official announcement. Tor Browser 16.0 is available for download from the project’s official website.
