Want to open onion links? Use the Tor browser, as it is the most used browser for accessing dark web links or .onion domains.
Well, it is not the only resource that can do this: there are many alternatives. Read this post and find our tested methods on how to open Onion links without Tor browser.
What are Onion Links?
On a traditional search engine, when you open a link, its name is followed by a .com or any other domain. Meanwhile, an onion link is a slightly long, unintelligible string of characters and numbers followed by a .onion domain. The onion links get their name from the .onion suffix.
Onion links are part of the hidden internet known as the dark web. You can’t access them from everyday browsers like Chrome, Edge, Yandex, or Safari. You can open these links via a TOR browser, which is a modified version of Mozilla Firefox with integrated scripts and other add-ons to protect your privacy. This browser is preconfigured to connect to the Tor Network and mostly works independently.
However, there are lots of misunderstandings surrounding the TOR network which drive many people away from this browser. It is also technically challenging to use; that’s why people who want to access the dark web look for the Tor Browser alternatives.
How To Open Onion Links Without Tor Browser (5 Ways)
If you think that the TOR browser is so complicated and not your thing, then there are some other ways to access the .onion sites and the dark web. However, all of the methods mentioned below will route your internet traffic through the Tor network via proxies. At the same time, it lets you access onion links and also eliminates the protection and anonymity you get with the Tor Browser. That is why we did not recommend you use these methods.
Doing so can expose your private browsing data to the site you are accessing. You can also run into scams or phishing links that might fingerprint your device and data, so be very cautious before going ahead.
1: Use Brave Browser
In 2018, the Brave browser integrated TOR and ran TOR relays to contribute to its network. It is the safest option to access .onion links without the Tor browser.
- First download and install the Brave browser.
- Once you install it, click on the hamburger menu icon you will see at the top right side.
- Now click on the Settings option from the pop-up menu list.
- In settings, go to the privacy and security option and then click the New private window with the Tor option.
- Turn on all the options, excluding Use Bridges. It is useful when Tor is blocked in your state.
However, when you insert an onion link on Brave’s address bar, you will see a ‘blocked’ message. Click the Open in Tor menu option; you will see the tiny onion symbol next to the address. Now a separate private browser window opens; wait till the Tor connected successfully status appears, which has a green symbol. Here, open as many private tabs as you want to access multiple dark web and deep web hidden onion links.
2: Use Tor Browser Extension
There are many browser extensions that you can insert in your regular browser and let you open onion links without a Tor browser. The browser extensions will run a script to connect your computer to a Tor proxy or route your traffic through a proxy; however, it depends on the proxy you are using. However, proceed with caution while using any browser extension, as many of them are scams or malware that might scan your computer for data.
3: Add Tor Proxies into the Regular Browser
If you want to access hidden onion links without a Tor browser, then add a Tor proxy on your regular browser. You can open onion links by simply routing them via a Tor proxy. In proxy, all you have to do is replace “.onion” at the end of the onion URL with one of these suffixes:
- .onion.to
- .onion.city
- .onion.cab
- .onion.direct
- .onion.pet
However, when you use a proxy, the site publisher is protected when accessing onion sites, meaning all your browsing data is visible to the server.
4: Use VPN Having Onion Servers
VPN providers offer onion servers that help you directly open onion links without the Tor browser. VPNs having onion servers route all your PC’s internet traffic via the Tor Network. This is the same procedure the Tor Browser uses to connect to its network. So, it is one of the safest alternatives to the Tor Browser when it comes to accessing onion sites. You can opt for these below-mentioned VPNs:
- Surfshark
- NordVPN
- Proton VPN
5: Use Firefox Browser
The Firefox browser can also connect to the Tor Network like the full-fledged Tor browser; thus, it is not as secure. By default, the Tor connection is blocked in Firefox, but you can turn it on to access onion links without the Tor browser. To do that,
- Launch Firefox and type and enter about:config in the address bar.
- Click on the Accept Risk and Continue option.
- In the search bar, type and enter network.dns.blockDotOnion setting and toggle it to the false option.
Now access the Tor Network and open any onion sites you want on the Firefox browser. But keep in mind that this isn’t as secure as the Tor Browser. Moreover, your browsing data, including your IP address, can be visible to any servers you are connected to.
Sum Up
If you think that the Tor browser is too complicated for you, then this article will guide you on how to open onion links without the Tor browser. However, it comes at the cost of a huge security and privacy breach. With the dark web as risky as it already is, that is why we recommend you not take these dangerous methods.
