When people first open Tor Browser they go to The Hidden Wiki. The issue is that the name no longer has any meaning, because there is now no official Hidden Wiki, merely hundreds of copies, most of which contain clones, fake shops and dead links.
thehidden.wiki is a type of hidden wiki that differs from the rest; it is a directory of verified .onion links to actual services, for example newsrooms, search engines, secure email providers, software projects and the Tor Project itself. Each address we include has been checked against the page on which the owner publishes it, and with every entry there is a link to that proof, so you never need to take our word for it.
We never include markets, never offer placement for sale, and if an address ceases to match its source we remove it and state that we have done so rather than keeping it live and hoping that no one notices.
If you’re visiting for the first time, the three links listed below are the best place to start. If you already know what you want, then search the directory or go to a category lower down the page.
Start here#
- Get the real Tor Browser. Most fake onion links reach people through fake browsers and apps. Follow How to Download and Install Tor Browser Safely, or on a phone, Using Tor on Android and iPhone.
- Learn to check an address. An onion address is a long string of letters and numbers, and clones are built to look almost identical to the real one. How to Verify an Onion Address Is Official shows how to check any address in under a minute.
- Use the directory. The Official Onion Mirrors Directory includes all the addresses we have verified, together with the date on which they were last checked and a link to the proof provided by the owner.
What makes this hidden wiki different#
Most hidden wiki lists are in fact copies of copies; no one knows who is behind them, the links aren’t verified, and the top positions are frequently sold to scammers. We set out to explain how this came about in the article titled Why Most ‘Hidden Wiki’ Lists Are Full of Scams. This site works the other way round.
- Every address has a source. We include an onion address only in those cases where the owner publishes it somewhere we can link to, for example on their own website or in an official announcement.
- Every address is checked. Listed addresses are checked regularly; if an address stops functioning or ceases to match its source it is placed on a public on-hold list.
- No markets, no shops, no paid spots. We list news outlets, privacy tools, software and public services. Nothing on this site is for sale, not even our listings.
- A real editor. We say who runs the site and how to reach us in About thehidden.wiki.
- Built for Tor Browser. This site does not load any trackers, ads or third-party scripts, and it works even at Tor Browser’s Safest security level.
Each onion address on this site comes with a copy button and an open button, and the first and last characters are displayed in bold so that you can easily compare it with its source. That is the same check that we advise you to make each time.
New to onion sites?#
An onion site is a website which can only be accessed via the Tor network; its address has the extension .onion and the address is in fact a cryptographic key, so that no one can take control of it without having the key. When you visit such a site, the location from which you are connecting is hidden and the connection through Tor is kept entirely within the network. For an explanation in simple terms see What Is an Onion Service?, and for information on how to configure Tor Browser for the sites you want to visit see Tor Browser Security Levels.
Using Tor is legal in most countries though not in all of them, and the laws applicable to your activities via Tor are the same as those applicable to anything else. If you’re uncertain, see Is Tor Legal? Using Onion Services Responsibly. If Tor is blocked where you live, our guide Bridges, Snowflake and WebTunnel explains how to get connected.
Verified onion links by category#
These are the parts of the onion network most people are looking for. Each guide explains what the service is, why its onion address is useful, and where its owner publishes the address.
| Category | What you’ll find | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| All verified addresses | Every onion address we track, with proof links and check dates | Official Onion Mirrors Directory |
| The Tor Project | Tor’s own websites, downloads, support and documentation over onion | Tor Project’s Official Onion Sites |
| News and journalism | Newsrooms such as the BBC, DW and The Guardian, and how SecureDrop works | News Onion Sites |
| Search | Privacy search engines with their own official onion sites | Search Engines With Official Onion Sites |
| Proton, Riseup and what an onion address does and doesn’t protect | Secure Email Over Tor | |
| Software | Debian, Qubes, OnionShare and other projects that publish onion mirrors | Open-Source Projects on Onion |
If you run an organisation and want your own onion address listed, first follow the instructions in How to Host Your Own Onion Service (for Organisations) and then let us know where you publish it.
Stay safe on the onion network#
The greatest risk for the majority of people who visit onion sites doesn’t lie in the network but in a fake address, a fake app, or a fake list. These guides explain how each of these traps works and how to avoid them.
- Onion Phishing: How Fake Mirrors Clone Real Addresses
- Fake ‘Dark Web’ Apps in 2026: What to Avoid
- Why Most ‘Hidden Wiki’ Lists Are Full of Scams
- How to Verify an Onion Address Is Official
Tor news that affects you#
We don’t just list the releases; we focus on those that affect what you should do. The most recent ones are given below the FAQ, with recent highlights being Tor’s September 2026 Security Fixes, the Tor Browser 16 alpha, the Tor VPN beta for Android, Arti 2.7.0 and Tails 7.14.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the Hidden Wiki?#
The Hidden Wiki was at first an editable directory of onion links and was hosted on an onion site, beginning in about 2007; the original version vanished many years ago and nowadays the name is being used by hundreds of unrelated copies, the majority of which are not maintained. thehidden.wiki is an independent directory which uses the name since that is what people search for, but includes only addresses that have been verified for legitimate services.
Is there an official Hidden Wiki?#
No. There hasn’t been one for over ten years, so any website stating that it is the official or original Hidden Wiki is making a claim which must be false. You should assess a directory by checking where each address originates, not by looking at its name.
Is it safe to use the onion links on this site?#
We check each address against the page on which the owner publishes it and provide a link for that proof in every entry. Entries are therefore just as reliable as their sources. However, you should always check the address yourself before using it, particularly if the thing you’re using it for is sensitive, and our verification guide explains how.
How do I open an onion link?#
You have to use Tor Browser, which is free from the Tor Project. On a computer, you should download it only from the Tor Project’s official website or from its official mirrors. For Android, use Tor Browser for Android, and for iPhone, the Tor Project suggests Onion Browser. Then copy the address from our directory and paste it into the address bar, or click on the open button.
Is it legal to visit onion sites?#
In most countries, using Tor and visiting onion sites is legal. A few countries block or restrict Tor, and the activities you carry out on any website are still subject to the laws of the country in which you live. For more details on Tor and the law, see our guide.
Why don’t you list markets or shops?#
Because the majority of them are scams, many of them are illegal and, in the case of the rest, they change their addresses so frequently that no list can safely keep up. Also, including them in a list would make this site a target for the same phishing clones that we are trying to protect people from.
How frequently are the addresses checked?#
The addresses are regularly checked and each one shows the date on which it was last verified; if an address stops working or no longer matches its source, it is placed on our on-hold list until it can be verified once more.
Can I suggest an onion site?#
Yes, if it belongs to a legitimate organisation that publishes the address itself. Tell us where the address is published, and we’ll check it against our listing rules.