«Tor exited during startup» on fresh install
I encounter «Tor exited during startup» error even on a fresh install of Tor Browser and profile.
Steps to reproduce:
- Clean all existing installs and profiles of Tor Browser
- Download the latest stable version of Tor Browser
- Run start-tor-browser
What is the current bug behavior?
The following message is displayed, and Tor Browser cannot open webpages:
Tor exited during startup. This might be due to an error in your torrc file, a bug in Tor or another program on your system, or faulty hardware. Until you fix the underlying problem and restart Tor, Tor Browser will not start.
What is the expected behavior?
Tor should not crash.
Environment
- OS: Arch Linux x86_64
- Tor Browser version: Both 11.5.2 (stable) and 12.0a3 (alpha) do not work.
- Installation method: Running directly from torproject.org’s binary tarball, installing tor-browser AUR package, and using torbrowser-launcher all do not work.
Relevant logs and/or screenshots
I have checked the «View the Tor logs» in Tor Browser and the console, but there is no log.
Additional context
Yesterday I can still use Tor Browser without any problem, and Tor Browser is connected to Tor network directly (no bridge is used, ISP is not censoring Tor).
However, today Tor Browser suddenly cannot start Tor (even though I haven’t updated any packages). I tried using bridges, using Tor Browser over VPN, and running a fresh install of Tor Browser, but it is still not working.
Running ./tor in the tarball returns ./tor: symbol lookup error: ./tor: undefined symbol: evutil_secure_rng_add_bytes .
If I follow the «Using a system-installed Tor process with Tor Browser» section in the start-tor-browser script, then Tor Browser can open webpages.
Tor exited during startup
When I open TorBrowser 7.0a1 or 6.5 on my MacBook Pro with Sierra X.12.3, I get this message:
Tor exited during startup. This might be due to an error in your torrc file, a bug in Tor or another program on your system, or faulty hardware. Until you fix the underlying problem and restart Tor, Tor Browser will not start.
I tried deleting the app and re-download it again, but I get the same result. I have no idea what to do. Any advice would help Thanks Andre
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Fix “Tor exited during startup. This might be due to an error in your torrc file, a bug in Tor”
– Click on the “Restart Tor” button that accompanies the error above inside a floating/pop-up window.
– Close the error window and click on the “Connect” button that also accompanies the error above inside a floating/pop-up window.
[Method 2:: Restart Tor Browser]
– Close the window that holds the error and close the Tor Browser window, then open the application again.
[Method 3:: Disable “Controlled Folder Access”]
In Microsoft Windows, if you have “Controlled Folder Access” turned on, Tor might not be accessing its dependencies. In this case, you will have to Disable “Controlled Folder Access”, then Quit and Relaunch the Tor Browser. Controlled Folder Access is a feature in Windows Security (previously Windows Defender) to block access to specified locations in a computer.
To access the feature, navigate to;
Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings > Manage settings > Controlled folder access > Manage Controlled folder access [toggle Off]
Evidence that this can affect can be demonstrated using the screenshot below that shows an error generated by “Controlled folder access” at work, blocking the executable “tor.exe“!
[Method 4:: Restart your Operating System]
At times, you find that a simple Restart (or complete Shutdown then Power On) of your OS will fix the issue, whether on Linux, macOS or Windows. The reason is that, it is possible that there are temporary changes or dependencies’ access problems or deadlocks on processes (or anything else) on files required by Tor Browser. When you exit all processes by doing a restart, the temporary problems no longer exist.
[Method 5:: Edit the “torrc” file]
If none of the above has worked so far, you might want to check permissions and the configuration settings of the “torrc” file, and edit as necessary. This should be among your the very last options!
NOTE:// The torrc file is a very sensitive and important file for Tor Browser. It dictates the behavior of your Tor Browser, and therefore might be the end of your Privacy and Security if MISCONFIGURED. My advice is to NOT EDIT the torrc file unless you are absolutely sure you want to do exactly that to resolve the error discussed here.
Depending on where you installed your Tor Browser in either Linux/ Windows/macOS, the location here may change;
Linux:: Tor Browser/Browser/TorBrowser/Data/Tor/torrc Linux:: /etc/tor/torrc Linux:: /usr/local/etc/tor/torrc
macOS:: ~/Library/Application Support/TorBrowser-Data/Tor/torrc macOS:: /opt/homebrew/etc/tor/torrc
Windows:: Tor Browser\Browser\TorBrowser\Data\Tor\torrc
[Method 6:: Uninstall && Reinstall Tor Browser]
This is the last option here, and not much of a fix to the error discussed, but rather a way to avoid the error altogether. Depending on your OS [Linux/Windows/macOS/Android], the procedure to UNINSTALL is different, and so is the procedure to INSTALL. The only common thing for all the OSes is the source (not code, but that as well) of the package. Download Tor Browser on the official Tor Project site::
After successfully fixing the error you should land on your “About Tor” page, following a successful Tor Network connection!
Fix “Tor exited during startup. This might be due to an error in your torrc file, a bug in Tor
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