Test Figma prototypes of multi-path circuits

Context

Multi-path circuits (aka. Conflux) is a feature that enhances reliability and performance by splitting traffic across multiple circuits at the same time and prioritizing circuits with lower latency.

Right now:

On desktop, Tor Browser only displays single-path circuits.
On Android, Tor Browser has no circuit display at all.

Design

Desktop
- Figure out how to display conflux circuits in T... (design#152 - closed)
- https://www.figma.com/design/UK2DMTKim6RMSPK6MSHtkH/Tor-Browser-16.0?node-id=74-1587
Android
- Port circuit display to Android (design#200)
- https://www.figma.com/design/UK2DMTKim6RMSPK6MSHtkH/Tor-Browser-16.0?node-id=1-127
Study on circuits

Assets

Figma prototype

Desktop

Android

Alternates

Tab vs. list	Title vs. pill

Timeline

At best, this feature will be implemented in Tor Browser 16.0, not before June-July 2026. We're aiming at handing over finished designs by the end of 2025.

September
- Week of September 22
  - Discuss goals and methodology with @felicia and @alicia
- Week of September 29
  - Prepare screening
October
- Week of October 6:
  - Recruit
  - Finish basic prototype (@felicia)
- Week of October 13:
  - ⚠️ YEC Launch
  - Integrate prototype with contextual elements (together with @felicia)
  - Recruit
- Week of October 20:
  - Schedule participants
  - ~~Run pilot test~~
- Week of October 27:
  - Run sessions
November
- Week of November 3:
  - Analyze
- Week of November 10:
  - Analyze
- Week of November 17:
  - ⚠️ Tails Sprint
- Week of November 24:
  - Prepare internal reporting
December
- Week of December 1:
  - Prepare internal reporting
- Week of December 8:
  - Discuss results with UX and Applications
- Week of December 15:
  - Discuss results with UX and Applications
January
- Prepare public report

Research goals and questions

Test the basic version (no bridge + no onion service) of the new circuit display for single-path and multi-path circuits on both desktop and Android, before we hand it over for development.
- Discoverability
  - D1: Do users know where to find the circuit display?
    - Even more important for Android users since there is no circuit display right now on Android.
    - Use of the circuit icon instead of the shield icon with UTP.
  - D2: Is it intuitive for users to switch between the view of each path?
- Understanding
  - U1: Do users understand that websites using multi-path circuits are using the different paths at the same time?
  - U2: Do users understand that the same exit relay is used in multi-path circuits?
  - U3: Do users wonder about the implications of Tor Browser using a single-path vs. a multi-path circuit?
    - U3.1: Do users wonder about the benefits or disadvantages of both?
    - U3.2: Do users wonder about when Tor Browser chooses one or the other?
    - U3.3: Do users wonder about how to change between one and the other?
  - U4: Do users understand the relay terminology? (#148)
    - U4.1: Otherwise, how might we improve it?
  - U5: What questions do people have when opening the "Learn more" link? (not written yet)
Test the new circuit display within Firefox's new Unified Trusted Panel (UTC).
- P1: Do the other elements of the UTP interfere with the circuit display?

Out of scope

Test variants of the new circuit display
- Onion sites
  - Multi-path won't work yet with onion sites.
- Bridges
Accessibility
- Is the new circuit display accessible for screen reader users?

Script

Multi-path_script.pdf

Participant recruitment

Duration

Limit ourselves to 1 hour: not a lot of different things to test + remote + questions more than tasks.

Number of participants

We won't test both desktop and Android with the same participant (between-subjects study), because the interfaces are too similar.

4 participants for Android
- Ideally people who use Tor Browser on Android already
4 participants for desktop
- Ideally people who use Tor Browser on desktop already

Screening criteria

Occasional and frequent users
Location
- SIDA countries
- Time zone
Language
- Prototype in English only
Incentives: #182

Methodology

Figma prototype

We'll show the prototype from our screen:

Improve privacy for the participant. Everything happens on Signal and they don't have to share their IP with Figma.
Force people to explain better their thoughts.
Fix the reliability issue with Figma.

Signal

"Create call link"

Deliverables

Polished report using template from design#260 (closed).

Checklist

Edited Nov 27, 2025 by sajolida