Home › Library
Tor Watch library for first-time visitors
Every guide answers one beginner question in a few minutes. Pick a topic below or read them in order from the top.
Devices 4 guides
AndroidOpening the Tor Watch onion on AndroidHow to install Tor Browser for Android, paste a tor watch onion link correctly on a small screen and keep your phone setup tidy.iPhoneReaching Tor Watch from an iPhone or iPadThere is no official Tor Browser for iOS, but Tor-based browsers exist. What to look for and how to open the torwatch URL on Apple devices.Copy & pasteCopying a tor watch link correctly on small screensLong-press menus, autocorrect and keyboard suggestions can damage a tor watch link. Simple ways to copy the onion address intact.ConnectionWhen Tor Browser will not connect at allIf Tor Browser cannot connect, no tor watch link will open. Common reasons, from blocked networks to wrong clock settings, and how bridges help.
First visit 4 guides
BasicsWhat the Tor Watch onion is, in plain EnglishA beginner explanation of the Tor Watch onion: what an onion service is, why it has a strange address and why it only opens in Tor Browser.SetupGetting Tor Browser from the right placeBefore you can open any tor watch link you need Tor Browser. How to download it from the official source and avoid fake installers.First visitOpening Tor Watch for the first time: what to expectA walk-through of your first visit to Tor Watch: pasting the torwatch URL, waiting for the page and checking that you landed in the right place.GlossaryA short Tor Watch glossary for beginnersOnion, mirror, relay, bridge, circuit: the terms you will meet around Tor Watch and the tor watch link, explained in one sentence each.
Reading the link 3 guides
URL basicsReading a torwatch URL without getting lostA torwatch URL has a protocol, a long onion name and sometimes a path. Learn which part identifies Tor Watch and which parts you can ignore.MirrorsTor Watch mirror explained for beginnersWhat a tor watch mirror is, why services run more than one onion address and how a beginner can tell a real torwatch mirror from a copied one.ChangesWhy a Tor Watch link sometimes changesOnion services occasionally move to a new address. The usual reasons a Tor Watch link changes and how real changes are normally announced.
Staying safe 4 guides
MessagesIgnoring messages that offer a new Tor Watch linkUnsolicited messages offering a new tor watch mirror or a 'working' torwatch URL are common. Why to ignore them and where to check instead.Fake pagesSpotting a fake Tor Watch login pageFake pages copy Tor Watch's look to steal logins. Simple checks a beginner can do before typing a username or password.Security levelUsing Tor Browser's security slider for safer visitsTor Browser's Standard, Safer and Safest levels change how pages behave. Which level makes sense when you visit the Tor Watch onion.DownloadsWhy to avoid downloads from onion pagesFiles downloaded through Tor can expose you or carry malware. Why beginners should avoid downloads when visiting Tor Watch or any tor watch mirror.