# Path to "torrc" file? Using Flatpak Tor Browser **URL:** https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825 **Category:** Tor Browser Desktop **Tags:** tor-browser **Created:** [November 19, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825 "2025-11-19T22:38:50Z") **Posts on this page:** 6 **Page:** 1
### Author: ![Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/user_avatar/forum.torproject.org/francewhoa/32/5301_2.png) [@Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Francewhoa) #### Post date: [November 19, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825/1 "2025-11-19T22:38:50Z")
Where is the **torrc** configuration file stored at ? I need the full path. I am using Flatpak Tor Browser 15.0.2. Not the Flatpak from the Stable repository. I found a “torrc” file at `/etc/tor/torrc` But any edit to this file are ignored somehow by Tor Browser. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Below is the same as above. But with details for those interested. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = **Using** • Debian 12 Bookworm • GNOME 43.9 • Flatpak Tor Browser Launcher 0.3.9 • Tor Browser 15.0.2 • Tor 0.4.7.16-1 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = \*\*Steps to reproduce\*\* 1 . Install this Flatpak [https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher](https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher) 2 . Using the installed Tor Browser Launcher above, install \*\*Tor Browser\*\* 3 . Exit \*\*Tor Browser\*\* 4 . Using a text editor, edit the torrc configuration file at `/etc/tor/torrc` At the bottom of this file, add those two lines: `ExitNodes {ca},{us}` `StrictNodes 1` 5 . Using Terminal, execute this command to reload the configuration file `sudo systemctl reload tor.service` 6 . Using Terminal, execute this command to restart tor `sudo systemctl restart tor.service` 7 . Start Tor Browser 8 . Somehow the **StrictNodes** are ignored. 95% of the time, the **ExitNodes** are other random countries. This is the second challenge. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = \*\*Notes\*\* • Why using **ExitNodes** and **StrictNodes**? For my testing software services for software engineers. • I understand all the risk of using **ExitNodes** and **StrictNodes**. Per above, my primary need is using Tor ExitNodes Tor testing. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = \*\*What I tried that failed\*\* • Searched for **torrc** configuration file stored in other location. I found none. The only one is at **`/etc/tor/torrc`** But it is suspiciously hold. Dated way back from 2023. • Double-checked that the permissions are appropriate on the configuration file at torrc `/etc/tor/torrc` • Searched for a .torrc file at **`//.torrc`** but found none • Using Flatseal at [https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.github.tchx84.Flatseal](https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.github.tchx84.Flatseal) Allowed access to all files on the devices. Including, but not limited to, `/etc/tor/torrc` • Tried another device • Rebooted devices = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = \*\*Cause of this challenge\*\* Below are theories about the cause of this challenge. Theory 1 Somehow, Tor Browser does not have reading access to the file at `/etc/tor/torrc` Theory 2 Somehow, the Flatpak version of Tor Browser install and use a **torrc** configuration file which is stored elsewhere. When searching, sometime I get a result at `/run/user//doc//etc/tor/torrc`I am guessing that, after the Flatpak Tor Browser starts, this is a temporary file is created by Flatpak. ---
### Author: ![Noino](https://forum.torproject.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/ed655f/32.png) [@Noino](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Noino) #### Post date: [November 21, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825/2 "2025-11-21T01:14:16Z")
Tor Browser is a self-contained application containing its own configuration file (`torrc`). It is located in the following directory relative to the top level directory Tor Browser was installed to: `tor-browser\Browser\TorBrowser\Data\Tor`, see this screenshot from my system (Linux Mint 22.2): ![torrc](https://forum.torproject.org/uploads/default/original/2X/1/1a72d1a6341fbac9534ae5db0bad17b418d263e3.png) With a Flatpak installation you’ll need to start by finding where Flatpak installs Tor Browser to. On my system this would be `/var/lib/flatpak/app/`. I believe you can get the location of the Tor Browser Launcher app like so: `flatpak info --show-location org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher`. The `torrc` for your Flatpak Tor Browser should be in there. The `torrc` at `/etc/tor/torrc` is for the system `tor` (little-t tor) you have installed. It is important to appreciate that Tor Browser does not use this configuration file. Any changes you make to it _will_ affect your system tor installation though. I use both Tor Browser and a system tor for proxying other applications/processes through tor (e.g. `curl`). If you don’t need a system tor you can remove it (e.g. `sudo apt remove tor`) any it won’t affect Tor Browser in any way. ---
### Author: ![Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/user_avatar/forum.torproject.org/francewhoa/32/5301_2.png) [@Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Francewhoa) #### Post date: [November 21, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825/3 "2025-11-21T17:53:04Z")
Thanks for your reply Noino 💚 We will try that. Then I will try to share our results here. ---
### Author: ![Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/user_avatar/forum.torproject.org/francewhoa/32/5301_2.png) [@Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Francewhoa) #### Post date: [January 26, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825/4 "2026-01-26T12:46:29Z")
On Debian 12, for a `torrc` file custom configuration per Debian user. If Tor Browser was installed using this “ **Tor Browser Launcher** ” Flatpak package from [https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher](https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher) The correct path to the `torrc` file is: `/home//.var/app/org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher/data/torbrowser/tbb/x86_64/tor-browser/Browser/TorBrowser/Data/Tor/torrc` Note: - In this path above, the `` needs to be replaced by your Debian username. One `torrc`file per Debian user. If needed, redo the appropriate configuration for each Debian user. - To find the username, [choose an appropriate option here](https://www.howtogeek.com/410423/how-to-determine-the-current-user-account-in-linux/) - This Debian username is not to be confused with the Debian login name. Because those might be different. In other words, the username is the `owner` of the `torrc` file. ---
### Author: ![Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/user_avatar/forum.torproject.org/francewhoa/32/5301_2.png) [@Francewhoa](https://forum.torproject.org/u/Francewhoa) #### Post date: [January 26, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825/5 "2026-01-26T12:46:38Z")
I tried this path a while ago `\tor-browser\Browser\TorBrowser\Data\Tor`but it does not exist on Debian 12. Reminder that my Tor Browser was installed with **Tor Browser Launcher** from Flathub. I am assuming this path is for another type of installer. I found the correct path. I will add it in another comment below. ---
### Author: ![system](https://forum.torproject.org/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d3424bed34f4ec18b2e99178c2801ba6dfb655d6.png) [@system](https://forum.torproject.org/u/system) #### Post date: [January 27, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.torproject.org/t/path-to-torrc-file-using-flatpak-tor-browser/20825/6 "2026-01-27T12:46:43Z")
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