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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsDisconnect the VPN first, then test Tor Browser’s normal Connect button. Tor Project says VPNs tend to interfere with Tor and recommends that most people do not run both together. If Tor connects with the VPN off, the VPN or one of its network settings is the cause; leave it disabled unless you have a specific, well-understood reason to combine the two.
This guide separates ordinary Tor Browser from the separate Tor VPN Beta Android app, establishes a clean baseline before changing settings, and then covers local blocks, proxies, bridges, logs, and the “Proxy Server Is Refusing Connection” error.
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First, identify which Tor app is failing
Tor Browser is the privacy-focused web browser that routes its browser traffic through the Tor network. The instructions below apply to the desktop and Android Tor Browser application when you are also running a commercial VPN app.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTor VPN Beta is a separate Android app with a different connection model. Android does not allow two VPN apps to operate at the same time, and firewall apps that use Android’s VPN function can block Tor VPN Beta. Manually configured Private DNS can also bypass Tor’s DNS handling. If your screen mentions Tor VPN rather than Tor Browser, use the Android branch in this guide instead of changing Tor Browser proxy or bridge settings. Tor Project documents those distinctions at its Tor VPN troubleshooting page.
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Establish a clean connection baseline
Most Tor Browser users should not need to enter a proxy, bridge address, or port. Start with the simplest supported configuration so every later test has a meaningful comparison.
- Turn off the VPN completely. Disconnect it rather than merely switching servers. Quit its desktop or mobile app if it keeps a background network filter active.
- Verify ordinary internet access. Open a normal website in another browser or use the device’s network indicator. If the device is offline, Tor cannot connect; fix Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile data, captive-portal login, or router access first.
- Open Tor Browser and choose Connect. Do not select a manual proxy or bridge during this first test. Tor Project’s first-launch guidance says most users can connect without additional configuration (first-launch instructions).
- Check Connection Assist when it appears. On desktop, Connection Assist reports whether the internet and Tor are reachable. An Offline status points to the underlying internet connection, not a Tor relay problem.
- Record the result. Note whether Tor reaches the browser window, remains on Connecting, or displays an exact error. This comparison tells you whether the VPN is implicated before you modify anything.
If Tor connects with the VPN disabled, keep the VPN off while you browse with Tor. Tor Project’s known-issues guidance states: “VPNs also tend to interfere with Tor and need to be disabled. We also do not recommend using VPN and Tor together unless you’re an advanced user who knows how to configure both in a way that doesn’t compromise your privacy.” The statement appears in Known issues and limitations in Tor Browser.
A VPN is not required to use Tor, does not guarantee anonymity, and is not a general solution for censorship. If the network blocks Tor, use Tor’s own circumvention tools rather than assuming another VPN server will solve the problem.
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Run the basic local checks before changing Tor settings
These checks address common failures that look like VPN problems. Make one change at a time and retry the ordinary connection after each check.
Correct the computer’s clock and time zone
Set the operating system to the current date, time, and time zone, preferably with automatic time synchronization enabled. A substantially wrong clock can make secure connections and Tor’s certificates appear invalid. Restart Tor Browser after correcting the clock.
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Close duplicate Tor Browser processes
Quit every Tor Browser window. In the operating system’s process or task manager, end any remaining Tor Browser or Tor process, then start one fresh instance. Two instances can compete for the same local ports or profile files.
Check antivirus and firewall interference
Security software may block Tor Browser or its local Tor process even when ordinary browsers work. Temporarily pause the relevant web shield, application-control rule, or firewall block and test once. This is a diagnostic step, not a recommendation to browse unprotected: restore the protection immediately and create a narrowly scoped allow rule for the official Tor Browser installation if the test identifies it as the cause.
Reboot after sleep, hibernation, or a network change
If the failure began after waking the computer, changing Wi-Fi networks, or reconnecting a VPN, reboot the device and retry with the VPN still off. A restart clears stale sockets and tunnel routes that a normal application restart may leave behind.
Check and update Tor Browser
Open Tor Browser’s update or about screen and install an available update through the official workflow. Record the exact version before contacting support. Do not replace the browser with an unofficial build or copy configuration files from an old installation while troubleshooting.
Tor Project groups these clock, process, security-software, reboot, and version checks in its connection and usage troubleshooting guidance.
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Decide what the VPN test means
| Test result | Likely implication | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Tor connects with VPN off and fails with VPN on | The VPN client, kill switch, DNS handling, firewall rule, or tunnel route is interfering. | Use Tor with the VPN disconnected. Only investigate a combined setup if you understand both products’ routing and privacy effects. |
| Tor fails with and without the VPN | The VPN is not the only variable; the local device, network, Tor block, proxy, or installation may be responsible. | Complete the local checks, remove an unneeded proxy, then try a built-in bridge if the network blocks Tor. |
| Tor works on one network but not another | The failing network may filter Tor or require a proxy, captive-portal login, or special firewall allowance. | Get online normally first, then use Connection Assist or Configure Connection to select a bridge or pluggable transport. |
| Tor VPN Beta fails while another VPN is installed | Android is preventing simultaneous VPN services, or a firewall VPN is taking the VPN slot. | Disconnect and disable the other VPN and any VPN-based firewall before testing Tor VPN Beta. |
Do not treat the first row as proof that a different VPN will fix Tor. The supported conclusion is that the current VPN path is incompatible with the Tor connection; removing that extra layer is the reliable remedy for most users.
Remove proxy settings you do not actually need
A proxy is separate from a VPN. Tor Browser’s first-launch instructions say to configure one only when the network genuinely uses a proxy. A guessed address, stale corporate proxy, or leftover VPN proxy can stop Tor from reaching the network.
- Open Tor Browser’s connection settings (the exact menu wording can vary slightly by platform and version).
- Review the proxy option. If your school, employer, hotel, or ISP has not supplied a proxy address and port, select the direct/no-proxy option.
- Save the change and retry the normal connection with the VPN off.
- If you plan to test a bridge, remove the unnecessary proxy first. Tor notes that an incorrect proxy can prevent Tor from using a bridge.
Do not enter random public proxy addresses. A proxy can observe or alter traffic before it reaches Tor, can fail without notice, and is not a substitute for Tor’s encrypted relay path. The relevant setup cautions are in Tor Browser’s first-launch guide and known-issues guidance.
When the network blocks Tor: use Connection Assist or a bridge
If ordinary internet access works but direct Tor connections fail, the network may be blocking Tor relays. Tor Browser includes Connection Assist and a Configure Connection path for this situation. Follow the prompts and try the built-in options before manually entering addresses.
- Leave the VPN disconnected and confirm that a normal website loads.
- In Tor Browser, open Connection Assist, or choose Configure Connection from the connection screen.
- Accept a suggested connection method if one is offered. If direct connection fails, select a built-in bridge or transport.
- Try another available option if the first one times out. Effectiveness depends on the network and can change over time.
- Allow extra time for the first connection and compare whether the browser reaches the Tor start page.
Tor documents four transport families for blocked connections: obfs4, meek, Snowflake, and WebTunnel. The list is not a universal ranking; a transport that works on one network may be blocked or slow on another. Tor’s current options and selection instructions are at What to do if access to Tor is blocked?.
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| Option | How you obtain it | Setup effort | Speed and trade-offs | When to try it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in bridge selection | Choose a bridge or transport from Connection Assist or Configure Connection. | Lowest; no address entry when a built-in choice is available. | Varies by network; Tor warns that bridges can be slower than ordinary relays. | First choice when direct Tor access is blocked and you want the simplest supported test. |
| obfs4 | Select it when offered, or enter bridge details supplied through Tor’s official process. | Low with a built-in choice; higher if manual addresses are required. | Effectiveness depends on whether the network recognizes or blocks the bridge. | When you need a bridge that disguises Tor traffic and the network permits it. |
| meek | Select the available meek option in the configuration screen. | Usually a built-in selection. | May trade speed for reachability; no option is fastest everywhere. | When other transports do not connect on the current network. |
| Snowflake | Select Snowflake when it is offered by your Tor Browser version. | Built-in selection in supported versions. | Performance varies with available volunteer capacity and the local network. | As an alternative when direct relays or another bridge type are blocked. |
| WebTunnel | Select it when available or enter the bridge information provided through Tor’s official channel. | Low for a built-in choice; manual setup requires supplied bridge details. | Can be slower than a direct relay and depends on network conditions. | When HTTPS-like traffic is more likely to pass the network filter. |
Do not enable a proxy merely because you are using a bridge. Add proxy details only when the network requires them, and test the bridge without an unnecessary proxy first.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix “Proxy Server Is Refusing Connection”
This message points to a local proxy or port configuration problem, not automatically to a blocked Tor network. Tor Project’s dedicated troubleshooting page is How to fix the “Proxy Server Is Refusing Connection” error in Tor Browser.
Check security software first
Repeat the temporary antivirus and firewall test described earlier. If pausing a web shield makes the error disappear, restore the protection and add an appropriate allow rule rather than leaving the security product disabled.
Confirm the installation folder was not moved
Tor Browser can fail when its folder is moved after installation, especially if a shortcut, profile, or local configuration still points to the old location. Launch the browser from its current official installation rather than an obsolete shortcut. Avoid copying a partially configured profile into a new location while diagnosing the error.
Review the configured port
Tor’s support page gives 9050 and 9150 as example ports to try when a local proxy error specifically calls for a port check. These are examples for this error path, not a general fix for every Tor connection failure. Change a port only when the error or your local configuration indicates that the current port is wrong, then retry with the VPN disconnected.
Perform a clean reinstall if the configuration is damaged
After recording your Tor Browser version and any logs, uninstall or remove the affected installation according to your operating system, download Tor Browser from the official Tor Project channel, and install it in a new directory. Do not overwrite the old directory if you need to preserve it for diagnosis. Test the fresh installation before importing bookmarks or custom settings.
Read Tor logs before asking for help
Logs turn “it will not connect” into information that support staff can use. Capture them after reproducing the failure with the VPN off and note whether a bridge or proxy was enabled.
- Desktop: open Settings → Connection → View Logs.
- Android Tor Browser: open the connection settings and select Tor Logs.
- Copy the exact error text, Tor Browser version, operating system, network type, and the configuration you tested.
- Remove passwords, personal identifiers, private bridge addresses, or other sensitive data that appears in the log before sharing it.
- Use Tor Project support or a bug report with the cleaned log and the shortest reproducible description: for example, “direct connection fails on office Wi-Fi; VPN off; obfs4 connects on home Wi-Fi.”
The menu locations and logging advice come from Tor Project’s troubleshooting instructions. A log is more useful when it shows one controlled test rather than a mixture of VPN, proxy, bridge, and firewall changes.
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Use this section only if the application is Tor VPN Beta, not Tor Browser. Android assigns a single VPN slot to the system, so another VPN app cannot remain connected alongside Tor VPN Beta.
Disconnect competing VPN services
Disconnect and disable the commercial VPN, then check Android’s VPN settings for an always-on or “block connections without VPN” rule that still refers to the other app. Reopen Tor VPN Beta and test its connection.
Temporarily disable VPN-based firewall apps
Firewall or filtering applications that implement their protection through Android’s VPN interface can occupy the same slot or reject Tor VPN Beta’s tunnel. Stop that firewall for one diagnostic attempt, then restore it and configure a compatible arrangement if the test identifies the conflict.
Review Private DNS
Manually configured Private DNS can bypass Tor VPN Beta’s DNS handling. Return Private DNS to the automatic setting for a test, reconnect Tor VPN Beta, and only then decide whether a custom DNS policy is necessary.
These Android constraints are documented separately by Tor Project at Troubleshooting common errors when running Tor VPN. They do not change the desktop Tor Browser advice: first remove the VPN variable and establish a normal Tor connection.
Quick Recap
A compact decision path
- No ordinary internet: fix Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile data, or captive-portal access before touching Tor.
- Tor works only when the VPN is off: leave the VPN disconnected; combining both is an advanced configuration, not the default fix.
- Tor fails everywhere, even without a VPN: check clock, duplicate processes, security software, version, proxy, and installation folder.
- Tor works at home but not on a restricted network: use Connection Assist or Configure Connection and try built-in bridges or transports.
- An unnecessary proxy is configured: remove it before testing a bridge.
- The exact message says the proxy server is refusing connection: check security software, moved folders, the configured port (9050 or 9150 are examples in Tor’s guidance), and then reinstall cleanly if needed.
- Support is still needed: provide the version, exact error, controlled test conditions, and cleaned Tor logs.
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