# How can I run Tor on a Silicon Mac? **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussion & Solutions\ **Tags:** solved\ **Created:** [July 19, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/how-can-i-run-tor-on-a-silicon-mac/324014 "2026-07-19T18:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TASK\_MAKER](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/task_maker/32/166738_2.png) [@TASK\_MAKER](https://onehack.st/u/TASK_MAKER)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/how-can-i-run-tor-on-a-silicon-mac/324014/1 "2026-07-19T18:49:44Z")
I’ve been trying to find the best way to use Tor on my Apple Silicon Mac, but it’s been a bit of a mess. Since Tor isn’t really available natively for ARM, I tried running it in a Linux VM through UTM. I set up Debian, installed Tor there, and even looked for older ARM alpha builds but it still feels a little unsafe and clunky. I usually delete the VM after use but I’m not sure that’s the best approach. Another option I found was using Tails from a USB, which seems like the most anonymous setup since nothing is saved to the machine. The problem is that Tails doesn’t seem to work well on Apple Silicon Macs either. I haven’t tried Whonix yet, but I’m not sure whether it would work on this setup. So what’s the best way to browse as safely and anonymously as possible on a Silicon Mac? Any advice appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Tachyon](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/tachyon/32/152003_2.png) [@Tachyon](https://onehack.st/u/Tachyon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/how-can-i-run-tor-on-a-silicon-mac/324014/2 "2026-07-20T06:43:19Z")
Install OpenCode, then run it. Use the `/models` command to select one of the free models inside, preferably HY3. If that’s not available, choose Mimo 2.5 free. Then ask about your problem. It will solve it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Astrid](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/astrid/32/174869_2.png) [@Astrid](https://onehack.st/u/Astrid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 9:00am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/how-can-i-run-tor-on-a-silicon-mac/324014/3 "2026-07-22T09:00:00Z")
**The whole struggle is a myth — Tor runs NATIVE on Apple Silicon. No VM needed just to use it.** 🍎 native Tor Browser (ARM) ▸ 🧅 or fail-closed Whonix-in-UTM ▸ ⛔ Tails can’t boot ARM (stop trying) 🖥 Tor Browser has an ARM64 build — download, run, done. The VM stuff was never to _run_ Tor. 🧅 VMs are only for **isolation** (so a browser exploit can’t leak your real IP). Tails is x86-only; Whonix is the ARM answer. > **🍎 Browse anonymously now — native Tor Browser (ARM), no VM** > > The whole answer for most threat models. Official, native on M1–M4, set it to **Safest**. > ├─ 📦 Tor Browser (Apple Silicon) → [https://www.torproject.org/download/](https://www.torproject.org/download/) > ├─ ✅ proof it’s native → [https://doesitarm.com/app/tor-browser](https://doesitarm.com/app/tor-browser) > └─ 🛡 Mullvad Browser (Tor-team hardened, pair w/ VPN) → [https://mullvad.net/en/download/browser/macos](https://mullvad.net/en/download/browser/macos) > **🧅 Max isolation — Whonix in UTM (what Tails can't do on ARM)** > > Two VMs: a Gateway that forces ALL traffic through Tor + a Workstation you browse in. Even fully hacked, the Workstation can’t see or leak your real IP. Tails is amd64-only and will never boot an M-chip — Whonix is the same “nothing leaks” anonymity that actually runs here. > ├─ 🍎 Whonix on Apple Silicon (official) → [https://www.whonix.org/wiki/MacOS](https://www.whonix.org/wiki/MacOS) > ├─ 📦 pre-built ARM images + guide → [https://medium.com/@KarolCzubernat/how-to-run-whonix-on-macos-apple-silicon-pre-built-images-included-8b92a4134011](https://medium.com/@KarolCzubernat/how-to-run-whonix-on-macos-apple-silicon-pre-built-images-included-8b92a4134011) > └─ 🔁 amnesia done right: UTM **snapshot** → restore to clean each session (beats delete-and-rebuild) > **⚙️ Going further — daemon, bridges, leak-proofing** > > ```auto > brew install tor # native; other apps → 127.0.0.1:9050 (with torsocks) > > ``` > > ├─ 🌉 Tor blocked? bridges (obfs4 / WebTunnel) → [https://bridges.torproject.org/](https://bridges.torproject.org/) > ├─ 🧱 LuLu firewall — block anything trying to leave outside Tor → [https://github.com/objective-see/LuLu](https://github.com/objective-see/LuLu) > └─ 🦀 Arti (Tor in Rust, native ARM) → [https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/arti](https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/arti) > **💡 Pick by how paranoid you are** > > 1. 🍃 Casual → native **Tor Browser** , Safest level. No VM. > 2. 🛡 Don’t trust the browser sandbox → **Whonix-in-UTM** , IP physically can’t leak. > 3. 🌍 Tor blocked where you are → add a **bridge** (obfs4/WebTunnel), still native. There was never an ARM wall — just a rumor. Tor’s been native for years; the VM was only ever a vault, not a key.