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FIX: Tor Browser is Already Running But is Not Responding

Solve this Tor browser issue fast and get back to browsing safely

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Tor is a free and open-source browser focused on anonymous communication, but many users reportedTor Browser is already runningerror messages.

If you’re unfamiliar with Tor, let us remind you that it is straightforward to download and use Tor on Windows 10, as you can see in thisquick guide.

However, if you’re getting this error message while running Tor, we’ll show you how to fix it today.

Here’s how one user onStack Exchangedescribed this issue:

When I launch Start Tor Browser.exe it indicates that the circuit is established but then immediately gives the following error message:Firefoxis already running, but not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existingFirefoxprocess, or restart your system.

Why is my Tor Browser not working?

If you are in a situation where Tor Browser was working and is not working now, your system may have been hibernating, which means that a simple reboot is in order.

Other users mentioned that the Windows Virus & Threat protection feature got in the way, or it could just be that the browser’s files became corrupted.

For more info on how to do that, check the guide below.

Quick Tip:

Use a different browser that is more responsive. We recommend Opera One because it’s light and very private. It includes a built-in VPN and adblocker, as well as crypto mining protection.

It blocks many unnecessary cookies and has up-to-date web filtering options, so it’s a good alternative to Tor in terms of online security.

Opera One

What can I do if the Tor browser is not working?

1. End Tor process in Task Manager

2. Delete parent.lock file

3. Install Tor Browser on a different partition

To altogether remove Tor Browser from your PC, we advise using an automated uninstaller utility. Our top recommendation is CCleaner’s uninstaller. It will clear your app and all registry entries and related files.

The tool is available in the free version and allows you to quickly select Tor from a list of all your apps, confirm that you want to uninstall it, and wait for the process to complete.

Suppose you already uninstalled the browser with a different method. In that case, we recommend you run the CCleaner scanner and remove any junk files found, as there is a high possibility for your regular uninstaller wizard to leave behind unnecessary files.

⇒Get CCleaner

As you can see, situations such as theTor browser is already running but is not responding, orThe old Torbrowser process must be closed to open a new windowcan appear out of nowhere.

You could also run into an error such asClose tor browser, a copy of tor browser is already openon your Mac device.

However, these problems are easy to fix, as we’ve shown you above. Leave a comment below if you managed to solve this issue.

FIX: Tor Browser is Already Running But is Not Responding#

Why is my Tor Browser not working?#

Opera One#

What can I do if the Tor browser is not working?#

1. End Tor process in Task Manager#

2. Delete parent.lock file#

3. Install Tor Browser on a different partition#