Some ISPs and some countries block Tor entry. Bridges route your Tor connection through a relay that is not publicly listed as a Tor node, which hides the fact that you are using Tor.

When bridges are worth it

Your ISP blocks Tor entirely, or you are in a country where Tor entry is logged or blocked. Signs: Tor Browser cannot connect at all, or connects very slowly, or the Tor Project download page is blocked.

When bridges are not worth it

Ordinary browsing in a jurisdiction where Tor is not blocked. Adding a bridge in that scenario only adds latency without changing your privacy.

How to configure

  1. Open Tor Browser.
  2. Settings → Connection.
  3. Tick Use a bridge.
  4. Pick obfs4 from the built-in list, or request a bridge from bridges.torproject.org.
  5. Restart Tor Browser.

What bridges do not hide

They hide that you are on Tor. They do not hide what you do on Tor. Every guarantee inside Tor still applies. Every reader defence inside the storefront still applies (captcha check, PGP verification, everything).