Here is a complete tutorial guide for OnionShare – a secure, anonymous file sharing and messaging tool built on top of the Tor network.
🧅 OnionShare – Complete Tutorial Guide
📌 What is OnionShare?
OnionShare is a free and open-source tool that allows you to share files, host websites, and chat securely and anonymously over the Tor network without requiring any third-party server or service.
Created by: Micah Lee, and maintained by Freedom of the Press Foundation
Official site: https://onionshare.org/
🔒 Why Use OnionShare?
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| ✅ File Sharing | Securely send files using a .onion URL |
| ✅ Anonymous Chat | Real-time messaging with no metadata |
| ✅ Anonymous Website Hosting | Create a temporary .onion site on your machine |
| ✅ Secure by Design | Peer-to-peer, end-to-end encrypted |
| ✅ No Cloud or Server | No third-party server, no upload to internet |
💻 Supported Platforms
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux (Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora)
- Tails OS (with special configuration)
📦 1. How to Install OnionShare
✅ Method 1: From Official Site
👉 Download from: https://onionshare.org
✅ Method 2: Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt install onionshare
✅ Method 3: Using Flatpak
flatpak install flathub org.onionshare.OnionShare
🚀 2. How to Use OnionShare
OnionShare has four core modes: File Sharing, Receive Files, Chat, and Website Hosting.
🔁 A. Send Files Anonymously
- Launch OnionShare
- Select “Send Files”
- Drag and drop files/folders
- Click “Start Sharing”
- A
.onionlink will appear, e.g.:http://exampleabcd123.onion - Share the link with the recipient
- They must open it using Tor Browser
🛡 The file is hosted directly from your computer, and shuts down automatically after the session (or if you choose to).
📥 B. Receive Files Anonymously
- Go to Receive Files tab
- Start the server
- A secure .onion page appears where others can upload files directly to you
💬 C. Anonymous Chat (OnionShare Chat Room)
- Choose Chat tab
- Click “Start Chat Server”
- Share the generated .onion link
- All participants open the link in Tor Browser
- Chat is end-to-end encrypted and hosted from your machine
✅ No login, no metadata, no logging — perfect for whistleblowers, activists, journalists.
🌐 D. Host Anonymous Websites
- Go to the Website tab
- Add your HTML/CSS files (e.g., simple site or blog)
- Start server
- Share the .onion link
- People can visit your site anonymously using Tor Browser
🧠 Advanced Features
- Stop sharing automatically after 1 view (for file links)
- Configure persistent Onion addresses (for advanced users)
- Use Bridges or custom Tor configs in restricted countries
🔐 Security & Privacy Tips
| Tip | Reason |
|---|---|
| Always use Tor Browser to test | Standard browsers cannot access .onion |
| Don’t share links on public forums | Anyone with the link can access the file/chat |
| Disable auto-quit only if needed | Auto-close ensures minimal trace |
| Use in combination with Tails OS | For maximum anonymity |
🔧 Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Tor not starting | Make sure no firewall is blocking Tor ports |
| File not uploading/downloading | Keep OnionShare open during file transfer |
| Recipient can’t access link | Ensure they are using Tor Browser |
| Slow transfer speeds | Normal for Tor; try smaller file sizes |
🤔 OnionShare vs Alternatives
| Tool | Peer-to-peer | Uses Tor | Requires Account | Anonymous Chat | File Size Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnionShare | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | No hard limit |
| Firefox Send (defunct) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Yes |
| WeTransfer | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ (email needed) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Dropbox | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Depends on plan |
📌 Summary
| Feature | OnionShare Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Anonymous file sharing & chat tool |
| Network | Runs over Tor |
| Account Needed? | ❌ No account or login required |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| .onion Access Required | ✅ Yes, via Tor Browser |
| Privacy Level | Extremely high |
🔗 Official Resources
- Download: https://onionshare.org
- Source Code: GitHub – onionshare/onionshare