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<h1>Running the <a href="<page index>">Tor</a> client on Microsoft Windows</h1>
<br>
<p>
<b>Note that these are the installation instructions for running a Tor
client on Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, 7, and Server Editions).
If you want to relay traffic for others to help the network grow (please
do), read the <a href="<page docs/tor-doc-relay>">Configuring a relay</a>
guide.</b>
</p>
<p>Freedom House has produced a video on how to install Tor. You can
view it at <a href="http://media.torproject.org/video/2009-install-and-use-tor.ogv">How
to install Tor on Windows</a>. Know of a better video, or one
translated into your language? Let us know!</p>
<div class="center">
<p><video id="v1" src="http://media.torproject.org/video/2009-install-and-use-tor.ogv" autobuffer="true" controls="controls"></video></p>
</div>
<hr>
<a id="installing"></a>
<h2><a class="anchor" href="#installing">Step One: Download and Install Tor</a></h2>
<br>
<p>
The Vidalia Bundle for Windows contains <a href="<page index>">Tor</a>, <a
href="<page projects/vidalia>">Vidalia</a> (a GUI for Tor), <a
href="<page torbutton/index>">Torbutton</a> (a plugin for Mozilla Firefox), and <a
href="http://www.pps.jussieu.fr/~jch/software/polipo/">Polipo</a>
(a web proxy) packaged into one bundle, with the four applications
pre-configured to work together. Download either the <a
href="../<package-win32-bundle-stable>">stable</a> or the <a
href="../<package-win32-bundle-alpha>">experimental</a> version of
the Vidalia Bundle, or look for more options on the <a href="<page
download/download>">download page</a>.
</p>
<img alt="tor installer splash page" src="$(IMGROOT)/screenshot-win32-installer-splash.png">
<p>If you have previously installed Tor, Vidalia, or Polipo
you can deselect whichever components you do not need to install
in the dialog shown below.
</p>
<img alt="select components to install" src="$(IMGROOT)/screenshot-win32-installer-components.png">
<p>After you have completed the installer, the components
you selected will automatically be started for you.
</p>
<p>Tor comes configured as a client by default. It uses a built-in
default configuration file, and most people won't need to change any of
the settings. Tor is now installed.
</p>
<hr>
<a id="using"></a>
<h2><a class="anchor" href="#using">Step Two: Configure your applications to use Tor</a></h2>
<br>
<p>After installing Tor and Polipo, you need to configure your
applications to use them. The first step is to set up web browsing.</p>
<p>You should use Tor with Firefox and Torbutton,
for best safety. The bundle installs the <a
href="<page torbutton/index>">Torbutton plugin</a>
for you. Restart your Firefox, and you're all set:
</p>
<img alt="Torbutton plugin for Firefox" src="$(IMGROOT)/screenshot-torbutton.png"/>
<br>
<p>
If you plan to run Firefox on a different computer than Tor, see the <a
href="<wikifaq>#SocksListenAddress">FAQ
entry for running Tor on a different computer</a>.
</p>
<p>To Torify other applications that support HTTP proxies, just
point them at Polipo (that is, localhost port 8118). To use SOCKS
directly (for instant messaging, Jabber, IRC, etc), you can point
your application directly at Tor (localhost port 9050), but see <a
href="<wikifaq>#SOCKSAndDNS">this
FAQ entry</a> for why this may be dangerous. For applications
that support neither SOCKS nor HTTP, take a look at SocksCap or
<a href="http://www.freecap.ru/eng/">FreeCap</a>.
(FreeCap is free software; SocksCap is proprietary.)</p>
<p>For information on how to Torify other applications, check out the
<a href="<wiki>/TheOnionRouter/TorifyHOWTO">Torify
HOWTO</a>.
</p>
<hr>
<a id="verify"></a>
<h2><a class="anchor" href="#verify">Step Three: Make sure it's working</a></h2>
<br>
<p>
Check to see that Vidalia is running. Vidalia uses a small green onion
to indicate Tor is running or a dark onion with a red "X" when Tor is
not running. You can start or stop Tor by right-clicking
on Vidalia's icon in your system tray and selecting "Start" or "Stop"
from the menu as shown below:
</p>
<img alt="Vidalia Tray Icon" src="$(IMGROOT)/screenshot-win32-vidalia.png"/>
<p>
Next, you should try using your browser with Tor and make
sure that your IP address is being anonymized. Click on <a
href="https://check.torproject.org/">the Tor detector</a> and see
whether it thinks you're using Tor or not. (If that site is down, see <a
href="<wikifaq>#IsMyConnectionPrivate">this
FAQ entry</a> for more suggestions on how to test your Tor.)
</p>
<p>If you have a personal firewall that limits your computer's
ability to connect to itself, be sure to allow connections from
your local applications to local port 8118 and port 9050. If
your firewall blocks outgoing connections, punch a hole so
it can connect to at least TCP ports 80 and 443, and then see <a
href="<wikifaq>#FirewalledClient">this
FAQ entry</a>.
</p>
<p>If it's still not working, look at <a
href="<page docs/faq>#DoesntWork">this
FAQ entry</a> for hints.</p>
<p>
Once it's working, learn more about
<a href="<page download/download>#Warning">what Tor does and does not offer</a>.
</p>
<hr>
<a id="server"></a>
<a id="relay"></a>
<h2><a class="anchor" href="#relay">Step Four: Configure it as a relay</a></h2>
<br>
<p>The Tor network relies on volunteers to donate bandwidth. The more
people who run relays, the faster the Tor network will be. If you have
at least 20 kilobytes/s each way, please help out Tor by configuring your
Tor to be a relay too. We have many features that make Tor relays easy
and convenient, including rate limiting for bandwidth, exit policies so
you can limit your exposure to abuse complaints, and support for dynamic
IP addresses.</p>
<p>Having relays in many different places on the Internet is what
makes Tor users secure. <a
href="<wikifaq>#RelayAnonymity">You
may also get stronger anonymity yourself</a>,
since remote sites can't know whether connections originated at your
computer or were relayed from others.</p>
<p>Read more at our <a href="<page docs/tor-doc-relay>">Configuring a relay</a>
guide.</p>
<hr>
<p>If you have suggestions for improving this document, please <a
href="<page about/contact>">send them to us</a>. Thanks!</p>
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