Buzz
This guide will show you how to enable a private browsing window to avoid saving your web activity. Most modern browsers come with built-in incognito modes, available on both desktop and mobile interfaces. However, if the computer administrator has disabled the browser's incognito mode, you won't be able to activate or even find the option to enable it.
Steps
Chrome on Desktop
Click on the ⋮ option located at the top-right corner of the Chrome window, just below the X icon.
Click on New incognito window in the displayed menu. This action will open a new Chrome window in incognito mode.
- If this option is not visible, incognito mode might be restricted by your Chrome browser.
- Once you close the incognito tab, all browsing history and downloads during the private session will be deleted.
Use a keyboard shortcut. You can press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+N (on Windows) or ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+N (on Mac) to open a new incognito window whenever needed.
Chrome on Mobile
Tap the ⋮ icon at the top-right corner of the screen.
Tap New Incognito Tab. This will open a new incognito window, ensuring your browsing data isn't saved to history. When you close the window, all browsing information and downloaded files will be erased from Chrome.
- The incognito window has a darker appearance compared to the regular Chrome window.
- You can switch between regular Chrome windows and incognito windows by tapping the numbered square icon at the top of the screen and swiping left or right.
Firefox on Desktop
Launch the Firefox browser. Click or double-click the application icon featuring an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
Click the ☰ icon at the top-right corner of the Firefox window to open the menu.
Select New Private Window. This action opens a new private browsing window, ensuring your browsing and download history are not saved in Firefox.
Use a keyboard shortcut. Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+P (on Windows) or ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+P (on Mac) to open a new private browsing window from any page in Firefox.
Firefox on iPhone
Open Firefox. Tap the app icon featuring an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
Tap the "Tabs" icon, represented by a numbered square at the bottom of the screen, to view the list of open tabs.
Tap the mask icon located at the bottom-left corner of the screen. The mask icon will turn purple, indicating that you are in private browsing mode.
Tap the ＋ icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen to open a new tab in private browsing mode. This ensures your search history is not saved while using this tab.
- You can switch back to regular browsing mode by tapping the numbered square and then tapping the mask icon to disable it.
- Closing Firefox will delete all private browsing tabs.
Firefox on Android
Launch Firefox. Tap the app icon featuring an orange fox encircling a blue globe.
Tap the ⋮ icon at the top-right corner of the screen to open the menu.
Select New private tab from the displayed menu. This opens a new tab in private browsing mode, ensuring your browsing history is not saved while using this tab.
- You can switch back to regular browsing tabs by tapping the numbered square at the top-right corner of the screen and then selecting the hat icon at the top-left corner.
Microsoft Edge
Open Microsoft Edge. Click or double-click the app icon featuring a white "e" on a dark blue background (or a dark blue "e").
Click the ⋯ icon at the top-right corner of the window to open the menu.
Select New InPrivate Window near the top of the menu. This opens a new browsing window that allows you to surf the web and download files without Edge saving data to your history.
- Closing the InPrivate window will return the browser to regular mode.
Use a keyboard shortcut. Press the combination of Ctrl, ⇧ Shift, and P to open a new InPrivate window whenever using Microsoft Edge.
Internet Explorer
Open Internet Explorer. Click or double-click the app icon featuring a blue "e".
Select Safety near the top of the displayed menu to open an additional menu.
Click InPrivate Browsing near the top of the Safety menu. This opens a private browsing window in Internet Explorer, allowing you to browse the web without your computer saving your browsing history or downloaded files.
- Exiting private browsing mode will return you to regular browsing mode.
Use a keyboard shortcut. Press the combination of Ctrl, ⇧ Shift, and P to open a private browsing window whenever using Internet Explorer.
Safari on Desktop
Open Safari. Click the app icon featuring a blue compass in the Dock of your Mac.
Click File at the top-left corner of the screen to open the menu.
Select New Private Window. This opens Safari's private browsing mode, allowing you to browse the web without Safari saving your visited pages or downloaded files.
- Safari's private window has a darker appearance compared to the regular browsing window.
Use a keyboard shortcut. Press ⌘ Command+⇧ Shift+N while using Safari to open a new private window.
Safari on Mobile
Open Safari. Tap the app icon featuring a blue compass on a white background.
Tap the button with the overlapping squares icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Tap Private at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen. This opens a new private browsing window, allowing you to search without Safari saving your history.
- To return to regular browsing, tap the overlapping squares icon, select Private again, and then choose Done.
- Closing the Safari app does not exit private browsing mode. You can close the tab by swiping it to the left.
Tips
- Incognito mode is ideal for accessing two different accounts (such as Gmail or Facebook) simultaneously, as it does not save passwords or cookies on your computer.
Warning
- Browsing in incognito mode does not prevent employers, internet service providers, or spyware installed on your computer from seeing your search history.
