How do you use a Tor private window in Brave?
A step-by-step way to hide your IP during everyday browsing using Brave's Tor-backed private window, no VPN subscription needed.
Short answer
Install Brave, open the hamburger menu at the top right and click "New private window with Tor". Once the window opens your traffic is routed through the Tor network; visit check.torproject.org to confirm the connection. There is no setup, subscription, or server picking. It stays slow for video and gaming, but it is fine for text-based browsing.
What you need
Step by step
Install and update Brave
Download and install the browser from brave.com. After installing, open the hamburger menu and check "About Brave" to confirm you are on the latest version. The Tor component is downloaded automatically on first use, so a current build matters.
Open the Tor private window
Click the hamburger menu at the top right and choose "New private window with Tor". If you prefer a shortcut, use Alt+Shift+N on Windows and Linux, or Option+Shift+N on macOS. The window opens in a darker theme with a notice at the top saying the Tor connection is being established.
Verify the connection
In the new window, go to check.torproject.org. If you see "Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor", your traffic is flowing through Tor. The IP shown on the page should not be your own connection's IP; if it is, close the window and open a fresh one.
Refresh the circuit when it drags
Tor is slow because it relays your traffic through several volunteer servers. If a page takes too long, close the window and open a new Tor private window so a new route is built. Some sites block Tor exit nodes and will not load at all, which is normal.
Keep sensitive tasks in a normal window
Do not use the Tor window for online banking or any government or identity-verified service. Those sites treat a constantly changing IP as suspicious and will end your session or temporarily lock the account. Use a regular window for that kind of work.
Close the window to clear the trail
When you are done, close the Tor private window completely. Brave keeps no history, cookies, or site data from that window, and everything is wiped on close. To stay in the same session, leave the window open rather than just the tabs.
Tips
Watch out
A Tor private window does not make you fully anonymous. Brave does not isolate sessions as strictly as Tor Browser, so browser fingerprinting can still identify you. And if you sign in to a site with your own account, hiding your IP loses all meaning.
Frequently asked questions
+Does Brave's Tor window fully replace a VPN?
No. It is enough for everyday browsing and search, but a VPN is faster and more flexible for streaming, gaming, and picking a country. With Tor you cannot choose the server location.
+What should I do if the Tor connection never establishes?
Update Brave, and if you are behind a corporate network or firewall, try mobile data instead. Some networks block Tor traffic; in that case the official Tor Browser's bridge settings help.
+Can my internet provider see what I am looking at?
It cannot see which site you visit, because the traffic is encrypted and passes through multiple relays. It can still see that you connected to the Tor network.
+Are files I download in a Tor window protected too?
The download itself goes through Tor, but the file stays on your disk and is not deleted when the window closes. If you open it with another program, that program uses your normal connection.
Sources and verification
Last verified: 13 Eylül 2026. tell us.
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