In this article, you will learn how to open a private window (incognito window, private window) in a web browser that does not store browser history. There are private windows in almost any browser, both on a computer and on a mobile device. If your network administrator has disabled incognito mode in browsers, you will not be able to open a private window.
Steps
Method 1 of 9: Chrome (on a computer)
Step 1. Launch Google Chrome
Click on the round yellow-red-green-blue icon.
Step 2. Click on ⋮
You will find this icon in the upper right corner under the "X" button.
Step 3. Click on New Incognito Window
You will find this option at the top of the menu. An incognito window will open.
- If you don't see this option, Incognito Mode is locked in your Chrome browser.
- When you close the window / tab in incognito mode, the download history and browsing history will be deleted.
Step 4. Use the keyboard shortcut
Press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + N (Windows) or ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + N (Mac) to open an incognito window.
Method 2 of 9: Chrome (mobile)
Step 1. Launch Google Chrome
Click on the round yellow-red-green-blue icon.
Step 2. Tap ⋮
You will find this button in the upper right corner.
Step 3. Tap New Incognito Tab
A window will open in incognito mode, in which the history is not saved. When you close the window / tab in incognito mode, the download history and browsing history will be deleted.
- The incognito window has a darker color scheme than the standard Chrome window.
- To switch from a standard window to an incognito window (and vice versa), tap the square icon with a number at the top of the screen, and then swipe right or left.
Method 3 of 9: Firefox (desktop)
Step 1. Start Firefox
Click on the orange fox icon on the blue ball.
Step 2. Click on ☰
You will find this button in the upper right corner. A menu will open.
Step 3. Click on Private Window
A private window will open; in this window, the history of downloads and the history of viewed pages are not saved.
Step 4. Use the keyboard shortcut
Press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + P (Windows) or ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + P (Mac) to open a private window.
Method 4 of 9: Firefox (on iPhone)
Step 1. Start Firefox
Click on the orange fox icon on the blue ball.
Step 2. Click on the "Tabs" icon
It's a square-shaped icon with a number at the bottom of the screen. The screen displays thumbnails of the open tabs.
Step 3. Tap the mask-shaped icon
You will find it in the lower left corner. The mask turns purple, which means that private mode is on.
Step 4. Click +
This icon is in the lower right corner. A new private tab will open, where no history is saved.
- To go to normal mode, tap the square icon with a number and then tap the mask icon to turn off private mode.
- If you close Firefox, all open private tabs will disappear.
Method 5 of 9: Firefox (on an Android device)
Step 1. Start Firefox
Click on the orange fox icon on the blue ball.
Step 2. Tap ⋮
This icon is in the upper right corner of the screen. A menu will open.
Step 3. Click New Private Tab
You will find this option at the top of the menu. A new private tab will open, where no history is saved.
To switch to normal mode, tap the square icon with a number in the upper right corner, and then tap the hat icon in the upper left corner
Method 6 of 9: Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Launch Microsoft Edge
Click on the blue icon with a white "e" or the blue "e" icon.
Step 2. Click on ⋯
This button is in the upper right corner. A menu will open.
Step 3. Click New InPrivate Window
You will find this option at the top of the menu. A new private window will open, in which the download history and browsing history are not saved.
When you close the private window, you will be taken to your regular browser window
Step 4. Use the keyboard shortcut
Press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + P to open a private window.
Method 7 of 9: Internet Explorer
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
Click on the icon that looks like a blue "e".
Step 2. Click on "Settings"
You will find this gear-shaped button in the upper right corner. A menu will open.
Step 3. Click Security
You will find this option at the top of the menu.
Step 4. Click InPrivate Browsing
You will find this option at the top of the menu. A new private window will open, in which the download history and browsing history are not saved.
When you close the private window, you will be taken to your regular browser window
Step 5. Use the keyboard shortcut
Press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + P to open a private window.
Method 8 of 9: Safari (on a computer)
Step 1. Launch Safari
Click on the blue compass icon in your dock.
Step 2. Open the File menu
You will find it in the upper left corner.
Step 3. Click on New Private Window
A new private window will open in which the download history and browsing history are not saved.
The private window has a darker color scheme than the standard Safari window
Step 4. Use the keyboard shortcut
Press ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + N to open a new private window.
Method 9 of 9: Safari (mobile)
Step 1. Launch Safari
Click on the blue compass icon in your dock.
Step 2. Tap the icon that looks like two intersecting squares
You will find this icon in the lower right corner.
Step 3. Tap Private Access
You will find this option in the lower left corner.
Step 4. Tap +
This icon is at the bottom of the screen. A new private window will open in which the download history and browsing history are not saved.
- To return to your normal browser window, tap the two overlapping squares icon, and then tap Private> Done.
- When you close Safari, the private window will not close. To close private tabs, swipe left on them.