Tails7.14
A portable live system built around privacy.
What is Tails?
Tails is a live operating system intended to run from removable media. It routes supported internet traffic through Tor and aims to leave fewer traces on the host. It is a specialized workflow, not a general guarantee of anonymity. Understand its threat model and limitations before relying on it.
Who is Tails for?
Tails fits best for privacy. Where it ranks in our lists:
Pros
- Portable live USB workflow
- Tor-based networking by default
- Optional encrypted persistent storage
Cons
- Not a typical daily desktop installation
- Privacy still depends on user behavior and threat model
Tails system requirements
For a comfortable desktop with a modern web browser, plan for about 4 GB of RAM. Tails is available for x86_64. Leave at least 25 GB of storage for the system and applications. These figures are editorial guidance; check the official documentation for minimums.
Tails versions and support dates
| Version | Released | Latest | Support ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tails 7 | Sep 18, 2025 | 7.14 | Not announced | Supported |
| Tails 6 | Feb 27, 2024 | 6.19 | Sep 18, 2025 | Ended |
| Tails 5 | May 3, 2022 | 5.22 | Feb 27, 2024 | Ended |
| Tails 4 | Oct 22, 2019 | 4.29 | May 2, 2022 | Ended |
| Tails 3 | Jun 13, 2017 | 3.16 | Oct 21, 2019 | Ended |
| Tails 2 | Jan 27, 2016 | 2.12 | Jul 10, 2017 | Ended |
| Tails 1 | Apr 29, 2014 | 1.8.2 | Jan 25, 2016 | Ended |
Source: endoflife.date. Support scope varies by product; confirm on the project’s site.
Try Tails before you install
Write the image to a USB stick and boot it as a live session to test Wi-Fi, graphics, sound, and suspend on your own computer. A browser trial on DistroSea shows the desktop, but cannot verify your hardware.
Compare Tails with…
Best Tails alternatives
Tails: common questions
What is Tails based on?
Tails is based on Debian. It uses APT (limited persistence) for software and systemd as its init system.
What is the latest version of Tails?
The latest Tails release is 7.14, released Sep 30, 2026, according to endoflife.date.
Is Tails good for beginners?
It is manageable if you are comfortable troubleshooting and occasionally using a terminal. Complete beginners may prefer Linux Mint or Ubuntu first.
How much RAM does Tails need?
We suggest about 4 GB of RAM for a comfortable desktop experience with a modern browser. This is editorial guidance, not the project’s official minimum, which can be lower. It runs on x86_64.
What desktop does Tails use?
Tails offers GNOME.
Is Tails a rolling release?
No. Tails uses fixed releases; you upgrade to a new version periodically.
Is Tails free?
Yes, Tails is free to download and use.