Multiple Tor Browser instances without using VM/Sandboxies

Question

On Windows is it possible to have multiple instances? I tried to copy paste Tor browser folder and running Tor Browser from it but did not worked.

Answer 1

I answered this here.

This method launches multiple Tor instances, each with its own SocksPort and ControlPort. This ensures that the Tor Browsers are fully functional, portable, and self-contained. However, someone should confirm that I haven't missed anything that could compromise TBs security.

1. Optional: Download, verify, and install Tor Browser.
2. Make copies of the Tor Browser folder with different names (eg. Number them)
3. Launch Tor Browser
4. Edit about:config
   • Modify extensions.torlauncher.control_port to a new ControlPort (eg. 9052 for Tor Browser 2)
5. Edit Torbutton Preferences
   • Use custom proxy settings, and change the Port to SocksPort (eg. 9152 for Tor Browser 2)
6. Close Tor Browser
7. Edit torrc-defaults in \TorBrowser\Data\Tor
   • Change SocksPort to what you set in step 5
   • Change ControlPort to what you set in step 4
8. Launch Tor Browser, and check that everything was configured correctly
   • Homepage (about:tor) should say "Congratulations!"
   • Click "Test Tor Network Settings". check.torproject.org should say "Congratulations."
   • Go to ip-check.info. Test should be all green and orange except Tab name. Authentication should be "protected". Note: It may not say that you are using Tor, but this is incorrect.
   • Optional: Go to ipleak.net for IP, DNS, Geolocation, Browser and other info
   • Optional: Test your browser fingerprint at panopticlick.eff.org
9. Optional: Edit about:config
   • Type “banned" and modify the ports of the two entries. Add all the new SocksPort and ControlPort to the list (Copy the ports from other Tor Browsers)
10. Optional: Turn on “Forbid Scripts Globally” in NoScript for further security and privacy (also reduces browser fingerprint)
11. Repeat 3-10 for each Tor Browser folder

Alternatively, this might be possible with a single Tor instance as the SocksPort and ControlPort. This would require the use of the control_auth_cookie (CookieAuthentication) or HashedControlPassword, and about:config extensions.torlauncher.start_tor=false. However, the browsers would not be self-contained and portable, as they would require a process that isn’t in their own directory.

Inspired by mirimir's answer which seemed to compromise TB's security.

Answer 2

Enable the proxy port by downloading privoxy: http://www.privoxy.org/

Set the browser proxy as following:

ip address : 127.0.0.1

port : 8118

Verify that proxy port is running. If so, you may request multiple Tor browsers.

http://www.privoxy.org/config/