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How to Disable Safari Private Browsing on Mac

turn off incognito mode safari mac

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.

turn off incognito mode safari mac

Atish is a seasoned tech enthusiast fueled by caffeine and a Computer Science engineering degree. He stumbled into the blogging world in 2015 and hasn't looked back. Over 2000+ articles later, his work has been featured on sites like Gizbot, Firstpost, PhoneArena, GSMArena, and IBTimes. At GT, he's your go-to guy for how-tos, invaluable tips, and troubleshooting guides that actually work. He's also an SEO and digital marketing whiz and content strategist, so his tech takes are always on point and ethical.

If you hand over your Mac to someone else, you may not know what they were up to during their browsing sessions. Now,  put kids into the equation , and that becomes a severe issue due to the numerous harmful websites out there. That is why you should know how to disable Safari Private Browsing on Mac.

Disable Safari Private Browsing on Mac

But before we begin with the article, it is vital to know the risks associated with disabling Private Browsing on Safari for Mac. When you disable Private Browsing, your browsing history, cookies, and other browsing data are stored, which can compromise your privacy.

However, on the flip side, it also offers benefits such as personalized browsing experiences and easier access to previously visited sites. With this understanding, let’s begin with the article.

How to Use Screen Time to Turn Off Private Browsing on Safari

Screen Time made its debut on the iPhone and iPad alongside iOS 12. Not only does it provide the ability to keep a tab on the activities across all of your iOS devices, but it also contains a healthy dose of web content restrictions. The adult content restriction, in particular, not only blocks all NSFW content but also deactivates Safari’s Private Browsing tabs .

Let’s begin with the steps.

Step 1: Press the ‘Command + Space’ key on your keyboard to open Spotlight Search. Then, type Settings or System Settings , and hit the Return key.

type Settings or System Settings

Step 2 : In the Settings window, go to Screen Time on the left pane.

go to Screen Time

Step 3 : On the right pane, scroll down, and under Restrictions, click on ‘Content & Privacy.’

click on 'Content & Privacy'

Step 4 : Under ‘Content & Privacy,’ toggle on the feature.

toggle on the feature

Step 5 : Now, click on Content Restrictions.

click on Content Restrictions

Step 6 : In the pop-up modal, click on the chevron (arrow) drop-down icon next to the ‘Access to Web Content’ option.

click on the chevron (arrow) drop-down icon

Step 7 : From the drop-down menu, choose ‘Limit Adult Websites.’ Then, click Done.

choose 'Limit Adult Websites'

And that’s it. Private Browsing in Safari is now disabled. You can no longer open Private Browsing windows within Safari — the New Private Window option on the Safari File menu will appear grayed out, and the related ‘Shift + Command + N’ keyboard shortcut will also not work.

If you want to re-enable Private Browsing in Safari on your Mac, head back into Settings > Screen Time > click ‘Content & Privacy’ > Content Restrictions > Access to Web Content > Unrestricted Access.

Synced Devices and Screen Time Passcodes

If you have other macOS or iOS devices tied to your Apple ID , your restrictions will also carry over to them by default. If you want to stop that from happening, follow the below steps.

Step 3 : On the right pane, scroll down, and below ‘Content & Privacy’ toggle off ‘Share across devices.’

toggle off 'Share across devices'

There you go. The settings you made on the current device will not get synced across your other Apple device. Additionally, you can also set up a Screen Time Passcode , which will help prevent anyone else from messing around with your Screen Time settings.

How to Get Rid of Private Browsing in Guest Mode

By default, macOS imposes adult content filters when logged in as a guest user. That means Private Browsing in Safari is already disabled. But if that doesn’t appear to be the case, then here’s what you must do:

Step 2 : From the left pane, navigate to ‘Users & Groups.’ On the right pane, click on the ‘i’ button right next to the Guest User.

click on the 'i' button right next to the Guest User

Step 3 : Toggle on ‘Allow guests to log in to this computer.’

Toggle on 'Allow guests to log in to this computer'

Step 4 : To enable this setting, you’ll need to enter your Mac’s password.

enter your Mac's password

Step 5 : Once enabled, toggle on ‘Limit adult websites.’

toggle on 'Limit adult websites'

This should disable Private Browsing windows when using Safari as a guest. However, all data within the Guest User account is deleted each time that a user signs out, which kind of beats the purpose of having Private Browsing disabled in the first place. But imposing limits on NSFW content is still a major plus point.

That said, if you have any queries we missed addressing, check out the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Disabling Safari Private Browsing on Mac

No, Safari does not have a built-in feature to password-protect Private Browsing. Once it’s disabled, anyone with access to your computer can enable it again.

Disabling Private Browsing does not delete your existing browsing history. However, your future browsing activities will be recorded in the history if Private Browsing is turned off.

No, Safari does not provide built-in tools for monitoring or tracking Private Browsing activity.

Turn off Private Browsing

Now that you know how to disable Safari Private Browsing on Mac, you can know what goes on when someone else uses your Mac. You may also want to know how to disable incognito mode in  Google Chrome  and  Microsoft Edge .

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Last updated on 23 February, 2024

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

turn off incognito mode safari mac

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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How to Go Incognito in Safari on Mac: 3 Quick Ways

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Hashir Ibrahim

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Last updated: October 21, 2023

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Online privacy is a growing concern and many of us want to browse the internet without leaving a digital footprint. Whether you’re researching sensitive material, shopping for a surprise gift, or simply prefer not to have your browsing history logged, going incognito is a useful tool for maintaining your privacy.

For Mac users, the Safari browser offers a convenient and robust way to go undercover while you surf the web. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to go incognito in Safari on Mac, ensuring your browsing session remains your business and no one else’s.

Before We Begin

For enhanced online privacy, combine Safari’s private browsing feature with MacKeeper’s Private Connect VPN to conceal your IP address. Additionally, using MacKeeper’s Antivirus offers robust protection against spyware on your Mac.

What Is Safari Private Browsing Mode?

Safari’s Private Browsing Mode is a feature that allows you to browse the internet without saving your browsing history, search history, or form data. When you activate this mode, Safari won’t keep any cookies or temporary files that could be used to trace your online activities.

Private Browsing Mode aims to help you use the internet without leaving a record of your activities on your computer. So, in other words, this is the incognito mode on Safari.

What Happens When You Use Safari Private Browsing?

When you enable Private Browsing Mode in Safari, several changes occur to how the browser manages your data and online activity. Here are some key things that happen:

  • 📜 No Browsing History : Safari won’t record the websites you visit, so you won’t see them in your history later.
  • 🔍 Search History Cleared : Any search queries you enter will not be saved, so they won’t appear in the search bar’s dropdown suggestions in future sessions.
  • 📝 No Form Data : Information entered into forms, like usernames, passwords, or search queries, is not stored.
  • 🍪 Cookies and Site Data : Any cookies or site data obtained during your session are not saved, making it more difficult for websites to track you.
  • 🗂️ Temporary Files : While temporary internet files like images may be stored to improve page load times during the session, they are deleted once you exit Private Browsing Mode.
  • 🖥️ Open Tabs : Tabs opened in Private Browsing Mode won’t be stored in Safari’s Tabs feature for later retrieval.
  • ⬇️ Downloads : Files you download will still be saved to your computer, but Safari won’t keep a record of these downloads within the browser.
  • 🚫 Autofill Disabled : Features like Autofill for forms and passwords are disabled, meaning Safari won’t suggest information based on previous entries when you’re in Private Browsing Mode.
  • 🔗 Extensions Limited : Some browser extensions may not work as expected in Private Browsing Mode to prevent them from tracking your activity.
  • 🛡️ Isolated Session : Each Private Browsing window operates in isolation, meaning that if you open a new Private Browsing window, it won’t share cookies, history, or site data with the previous Private Browsing session.

While Safari’s Private Browsing Mode offers a good level of privacy, it is not entirely foolproof. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP), network administrators, and websites can still potentially identify you through your IP address.

How to Open a Private Window in Safari on Your Mac

Opening a private window in Safari on your Mac is a straightforward process that takes just a few seconds. Here are three ways to open a private window and go incognito in Safari on Mac:

Method 1: Using the Menu Bar

The most commonly used method for opening a private window in Safari is the menu bar. Follow these steps to go incognito in Safari on Mac via the menu bar:

  • Open the Safari browser on your Mac.
  • Click File in the menu bar.
  • From the dropdown menu, choose New Private Window .

click file and selecte new private window

A new window should open with a dark search field, indicating you’re now in Private Browsing Mode.

private browsing window in safari

Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac keyboard shortcuts are an excellent way to streamline your browsing experience, especially if you prefer using the keyboard over navigating through menus. So, if you’re looking to swiftly open a private window without taking your hands off the keyboard, follow these steps:

  • If you haven’t already, launch the Safari browser.
  • Press Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + N simultaneously.

macbook pro command shift n keys

This will open a new private browsing window instantly.

Method 3: Right-Click Option

If you’re comfortable using contextual menus that appear with a right-click, this option offers a speedy way to go incognito in Safari on Mac. Follow these steps to right-click on a Mac and go incognito in Safari:

  • Launch your Safari browser.
  • Right-click (or control-click) the Safari icon in the Dock.
  • From the contextual menu that appears, select New Private Window .

right click the safari icon and select new private window

A new window with a dark search field should appear, indicating that Private Browsing Mode is enabled.

How to Open a Private Tab in Safari

If you’re already in a regular browsing window in Safari, you can’t add a private tab to that window. Your only option for private browsing in this case is to open a new Private Browsing window. Then, add as many private tabs to that window as you like.

Follow these steps to open a new private tab within an existing private window:

  • Open a new Private Browsing window in Safari. You can do this by clicking File in the menu bar and selecting New Private Window , or by using the keyboard shortcut Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + N .
  • Once you’re in a Private Browsing window, click the plus ( + ) button in Safari’s toolbar at the top of the screen.

click the plus icon in safari private browsing window

  • Alternatively, you can press Command ⌘ + T on your keyboard.

macbook pro command t keys

  • A new tab will open within the existing Private Browsing window, indicated by a dark search field, confirming that it’s also in incognito mode.

You can have a regular browsing window and a private window open side by side. Just make sure you don’t mix them up to maintain the level of privacy you desire.

How to Always Browse Privately in Safari

Now that you know how to go incognito in Safari on Mac, can browse privately whenever you want. But if you want to set up Safari so that it always starts with a Private Browsing window, there’s a simple way to make that happen.

Following these steps will configure Safari to open in Private Browsing mode by default:

  • Navigate to Safari in the menu bar at the top, and select Settings .

click safari in the top menu bar and select settings

  • In Safari Settings window, click the General tab.

click the general tab in safari settings window

  • Locate the Safari opens with option, click the dropdown menu button next to it, and select A new private window .

select a new private window option from the dropdown menu

By following these steps, you’ll set Safari to automatically open a new Private Browsing window each time you launch the application. However, this setting only applies to the initial window at startup, any subsequent windows you open will be regular, non-private windows.

How to Turn Off Private Browsing on a Mac

Turning off Private Browsing in Safari on a Mac is a straightforward process. If you’re using Private Browsing and want to switch back to the standard browsing mode, here’s how you can do it:

  • A Private Browsing window in Safari is characterized by a dark search field at the top.
  • Simply close the Private Browsing window by clicking the red x button at the top left corner of the window.

click x to close private browsing window

  • Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command ⌘ + W .

macbook pro command w

  • If you don’t have any other Safari windows open, you’ll need to open a new one. You can do this by clicking File in the menu bar and selecting New Window .

click file and select new window

  • Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command ⌘ + N .

macbook pro command n

Once you leave Private Browsing, Safari will retain your browsing history, cookies, and other data unless you delete them manually.

Can You View Private Browsing History in Safari on Mac?

A key feature of Private Browsing in Safari is that it doesn’t retain your browsing history, search queries, or cookies once you close the Private Browsing window. This means that, by design, you can’t view the browsing history of a Private Browsing session once it’s closed.

However, while Safari’s Private Browsing mode doesn’t store your browsing history like a regular browsing session, the Terminal archive on Macs operates independently of Safari’s privacy features.

The Terminal archive contains records of all websites visited, including those accessed through Private Browsing. So, you can view your private browsing history in Safari on Mac through the Terminal archive.

How to Check Private Browsing History in Safari on a Mac

  • Open the Console application by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Console .

launch console from utilities

  • In the sidebar, click your Mac.

click your mac in the left sidebar of console

  • Type the following into the search box:

type any mdnsresponder in console search box

  • Click the Start button in the toolbar to display console messages.

click the start button in the console toolbar

  • Enter your admin username and password and click Continue .

enter your admin username and password and click continue

  • Head to Utilities and open the Terminal application.

launch terminal from utilities

  • Type the following command and press Enter :

type sudo killall info mdnsresponder in terminal

  • You will be prompted to enter your admin password.
  • Go back to the Console application as described in Step 1.
  • Here, you’ll find entries that correspond to your Private Browsing history.

private browsing history in console

Note that the website names will be displayed as IP addresses instead of website addresses.

How to Delete Private Browsing History Stored in Terminal Archive

  • Navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities and open the Terminal application.

type sudo killall hup mdnsresponder in terminal

  • You will be asked to provide your administrative password to proceed.

Executing this command will clear the DNS cache, effectively erasing stored private browsing history. Be cautious not to modify other settings in the Terminal.

Is Private Browsing Enough to Hide Your Online Activity?

While Safari’s Private Browsing feature enhances your privacy to some extent, it doesn’t make you completely anonymous online. For instance, it won’t hide your IP address, which means websites and online services can still potentially identify you.

Likewise, Private Browsing Mode won’t prevent external tracking by advertisers or third-party websites. For these reasons, you should pair Private Browsing with additional security measures such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and antivirus software to create a more comprehensive privacy solution.

Heres’ how to use MacKeeper’s Private Connect VPN to protect your online privacy:

  • Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
  • Open the MacKeeper app on your Mac and click the Private Connect feature under the Privacy section.

click the private connect feature under the privacy section

  • Select a server location from the VPN server location list. You can choose a server in your country for faster browsing or another country to bypass geo-restrictions.

select server location from provided list

  • Click Turn On to activate Private Connect VPN.

click turn on to activate private connect vpn

  • Once connected, you should see a notification indicating your VPN connection is active. You can also check your IP address online to confirm the change.
  • When you’re done browsing, disconnect the VPN by clicking the Turn Off button.

What Else Can MacKeeper Do?

Besides offering a foolproof VPN feature, MacKeeper can help scan your Mac for viruses , remove login items from your Mac , delete duplicate files , and remove cache files from your Mac . Check out my MacKeeper review to learn more about its features.

Go Incognito in Safari on Mac and Start Secure Browsing

Navigating the web securely and privately is important, and understanding how Safari’s Private Browsing feature functions on your Mac is a significant step toward that goal. Private Browsing offers a level of protection, but it is not a replacement for more robust security measures, such as using a VPN or specialized security software.

Here are some more tips to make your browsing experience more secure:

  • Make sure you clear your browser cache on Mac regularly to avoid your browser from crashing and lagging.
  • If you notice suspicious toolbars in your browser, you should immediately remove unwanted toolbars from your Mac browser to prevent viruses from infecting your system.
  • Ads and trackers are also a threat to your online privacy. Learn how to block unwanted ads on your Mac and keep them from affecting your productivity. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cookies saved in private browsing mode in safari.

Cookies are not saved in Private Browsing mode in Safari once you close the session. While the session is active, cookies may be stored temporarily to enable website functionality. However, these cookies are automatically deleted when you close the Private Browsing window, enhancing your privacy.

Does Safari private browsing hide your IP address?

No, Safari’s Private Browsing mode does not hide your IP address. While it prevents storing your browsing history, cookies, and form data, it doesn’t make you anonymous online. Your IP address is still visible to websites, your Internet Service Provider, and network administrators.

Is Safari the best option for privacy?

While Safari offers strong privacy features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention and built-in encryption, whether it’s the best option for privacy depends on your specific needs. Other browsers like Firefox focus extensively on privacy and offer advanced customization. It’s important to compare features and decide what best suits your privacy goals.

Why can’t I open a private tab on Safari?

You can’t open a private tab on Safari within a regular window due to design choices aimed at enhancing user privacy and ease of use. Instead, Safari segregates private browsing into separate windows to prevent you from mixing up private and regular tabs, reducing the risk of privacy breaches.

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I'm Hashir, a tech journalist with a decade of experience. My work has been featured in some of the top tech publications like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. I have a bachelor's degree in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and extensive knowledge of Apple hardware, specifically MacBooks. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write in depth guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac and unbiased reviews that help you make the right buying decisions.

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Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

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iGeeksBlog

Private tab in Safari is useful for temporarily logging in to a different social account, preventing yourself from web trackers profiling you, or browsing the web privately. However, if you hand over your Mac to someone else, especially kids, at times, it becomes important to know what they do on the web. And even prevent them from accessing websites they wish you not find out. For such situations disabling Safari private browsing on your Mac is a great solution. It makes sure that the sites they visit are shown in the browsing history.

So, if you are looking to turn off private browsing in Safari on Mac, you’ve come to the right place.

How to close Safari private browsing window on Mac

Private browsing in Safari is handy when surfing the web without leaving any traces. But there might be times when you need to switch back to regular browsing mode.

  • Head to Safari’s private browsing window.
  • Open the tab you want to close.
  • Click the x next to the tab’s name. Else, press cmd (⌘) + W to close it.

In this manner, close all the incognito windows to exit private browsing mode on Safari. If you want to close all tabs, including your standard browsing windows, press cmd (⌘) + Q on your Mac keyboard.

How to turn off Safari private browsing on Mac using Screen Time

If you only exit incognito windows, anyone can open it again quickly. So, you must permanently disable private browsing in Safari so no one can access it on your Mac.

Navigate to the Apple logo and choose System Settings

Now, launch Safari and click File from the menu bar. You will see the New Private Window option is grayed out. Also, the keyboard shortcut to open an incognito window won’t work. Besides, when you click History from the menu bar, you will see the Clear History option is also disabled.

Therefore, you can track all Safari browsing activities of anyone logged into your Mac user account.

To enable Safari Private Browsing back on Mac, follow the same steps and choose Unrestricted Access , which is just above Limit Adult Websites.

Safari Private Browsing Restrictions are synced to all your Apple devices that have the same Apple ID. So, if you enable Limit Adult Websites on your Mac, it is turned ON for your iPhone and iPad too. So, if you do not want this, Go to Screen Time → Toggle on Share across devices .

For further protection, you may remove private browsing mode in Safari on Mac for guest users.

How to disable Safari private browsing for Guest Users on Mac

  • Navigate to the Apple logo (  )   → Choose System Settings .

Select Users and Groups and click the i icon next to Guest User

Get rid of Incognito Mode on Mac quickly!

I hope the above guide has helped disable Safari’s private browsing mode on Mac. However, remember that doing this won’t stop someone from using incognito mode or private browsing in  other web browsers  like Chrome, Firefox, and others on their Mac.

  • How to lock Safari private tabs on iPhone, iPad and Mac
  • How to turn off or block Safari Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad
  • How to change default search engine for Private Browsing in Safari on iPhone

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Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com, who has a keen eye for news, rumors, and all the unusual stuff around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting content on social media.

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Tips and tricks for using Private Browsing on Mac

Avatar for Michael Potuck

Private Browsing is a useful mode on Mac with Safari. It means websites you visit aren’t saved in your history, with iCloud, Smart Search, and more. Follow along for a look at how to use Private Browsing, the keyboard shortcut to quickly open a new private Safari window, setting it as your launch default, and more.

Table of contents

Keyboard shortcut for private browsing on mac, set private browsing as your default safari startup page, going further.

Using a Private Browsing window includes a number of privacy features. In a support document , Apple details how a Private Browsing window works as of macOS Big Sur and Safari 14.

  • Browsing initiated in one tab is isolated from browsing initiated in another tab, so websites you visit can’t track your browsing across multiple sessions.
  • Webpages you visit and your AutoFill information aren’t saved.
  • Your open webpages aren’t stored in iCloud, so they aren’t shown when you view all your open tabs from other devices.
  • Your recent searches aren’t included in the results list when you use the Smart Search field.
  • Items you download aren’t included in the downloads list. (The items do remain on your computer.)
  • If you  use Handoff , Private Browsing windows are not passed to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or other Mac computers.
  • Changes to your  cookies and website data  aren’t saved.

Below we’ll look at how to use Private Browsing on Mac but also a few extra tips and tricks to make it faster and easier to use.

  • Mac: How to clear the cache, history, and cookies in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
  • Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad here .

How to use Private Browsing on Mac

  • To open a new Private window, click Safari in the menu bar > New Private Window
  • There’s also an alert near the top that you’ve enabled Private Browsing (disappears when you start browsing)

Here’s how it looks:

Site default logo image

  • You’re probably used to the command + N shortcut for a new Safari window
  • Just add shift to that to get a new Private window – command + shift + N
  • If you like to use Private Browsing regularly, you can make it your default when Safari launches
  • Click Safari > Preferences in the menu bar
  • Select the General tab at the top
  • Next to Safari open with click the dropdown and choose A new private window

turn off incognito mode safari mac

  • If you want to tweak the default settings for normal Safari windows, check out the options at the bottom of the Safari > Preferences > General
  • At the bottom of the window, you can adjust the settings for when history and downloads are removed and more
  • Also, head to Safari > Preferences > Security or Privacy to tweak your fraudulent website warnings, and settings for cookies, website data, and more.
  • To clear your Mac’s cache, history, and cookies head to Safari > Clear History (read more in our full guide on that here )

Read more 9to5Mac tutorials:

  • How to make a WhatsApp audio/video call on the Mac
  • How to use the Magic Keyboard shortcuts on the iPad Air and iPad Pro
  • Mac: webp image downloads frustrating you? Here’s how to convert them to jpg, png, more
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How to Use Private Browsing in Safari

Private browsing, also known as incognito mode, lets you surf the web without storing your browsing or search history. Here's how to quickly turn private browsing on or off in Safari.

It's worth noting that private browsing won't disguise you from the sites you visit. They could still record your IP address and any information you enter into their sites, such as search terms. Additionally, private browsing won't protect you from web-based malware attacks, so you'll still need to be careful about what you click on whether you're in private or normal browsing mode.

safari private browsing

Private browsing mode is helpful when you don't want other users to discover (accidentally or not) the sites you've been looking at. Apple iCloud syncs your browsing history between the Mac and the iPad and iPhone , so if you share devices, you can protect your privacy with private browsing mode. This also comes in handy if you're using a public computer and don't want to leave any AutoFill information behind.

Turn on Private Browsing on the Mac

In OS X, the quickest way to open a new private browsing window is with the keyboard shortcut.

1. Hold down Command+Shift+N. This will open a new window with private browsing enabled. Alternatively, go to File > New Private Window.

safari private browsing menu

2. Search or browse the web as you normally would. The web pages you visit, your search history, and AutoFill information while you use the private browsing window won't be recorded.

3. Close the window when you're done with private browsing.

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Note that private browsing is OS X applies only to the private browsing window you have opened. If you open a new window with Command+N or File > New Window, that window will save your search history and other private browsing information.

Turn on Private Browsing in iOS

Safari on the iPad has a private browsing mode as well.

1. Tap the Pages button , which is shaped as two squares in Safari's menu.

safari ios pages

2. Tap Private.

safari ios private

3. Tap the Search field to search for a site to visit.

4. Tap Pages then Private again to turn off private browsing mode.

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How to go incognito in Safari on Mac

There may be times when you want complete privacy while browsing the web. Maybe you don’t want others to know which websites you visit or what items you download, or you may also just want to prevent sites from tracking you across browser tabs. The best way to achieve that is by learning how to go incognito in Safari on a Mac.

How to go incognito on Mac with private browsing in Safari

What happens when you use private browsing, how to exit private browsing in safari, how to always use private browsing in safari, what you need.

Mac computer

Safari browser

When you want to initiate a private browsing session in Safari on Mac, you have a few easy ways to do it.

  • Use the Safari menu: With Safari open and active, select File from the menu bar and choose New Private Window .
  • Use the Safari icon in the Dock: If you keep the Safari icon in your Dock, right-click it and select New Private Window .
  • Use a keyboard shortcut: With Safari open and active, press Shift + Command + N on your keyboard.

Once you open a new private window, you’ll notice the appearance is slightly different. The Smart Search field (URL bar) has a dark background with white text.

You’ll also see a message letting you know that private browsing is enabled. Select the X on the right side to dismiss the message and then visit the websites you want.

Although you can browse the web as you normally would in Safari, there are some differences when you use private browsing.

  • Any sites you visit, AutoFill details you use, or changes you make to cookies or website data are not saved.
  • Your recent searches are unavailable in the Smart Search field.
  • Items you download do not display in the Safari downloads list. However, they are still viewable in your Downloads folder.
  • You cannot pass private windows using Handoff to your other devices.
  • Any webpages you visit are not stored in iCloud and therefore unavailable when viewing Safari tabs on your other devices.
  • Websites cannot track your browsing across tabs in Safari because each private browsing tab is isolated from the next.

When you finish using private browsing, you can simply close the Safari window. You can then select File > New Window or use the keyboard shortcut Command + N to initiate a non-private browsing session.

One additional way to go incognito on Mac is to always use private browsing in Safari. With a simple setting adjustment, you can have Safari open in a private window every single time.

Step 1: Open Safari and select Safari > Preferences from the menu bar.

Step 2: Go to the General tab.

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Step 3: Pick the drop-down next to Safari opens with and choose A new private window .

Step 4: Close the Preferences using the X on the top left corner.

Once you change this setting, you’ll use private browsing each time you open Safari. If you change your mind later, you can follow the same steps and select a different option in the Safari opens with drop-down list.

It’s easy to go incognito on a Mac, whether you go once in a while or all the time. Will you?

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How-To Geek

How to always start safari in private browsing mode on a mac.

Keep your Safari browsing history private on your Mac by opening a new Private Browsing window every time you launch. Here's how.

Quick Links

What is private browsing in safari, how to always launch safari with a new private browsing window.

If you use Safari on a Mac and would like for your browsing history to stay private but don't want to always think about having to turn it on, there's a way to open a new private browsing window every time you launch Safari. Here's how.

Private Browsing is a mode where Safari doesn't save your browsing history, AutoFill information, changes to cookies, recent searches, and download history between sessions. The mode also inclues Apple-centric privacy features, such as preventing sharing of browsing information through iCloud . And if you have Handoff enabled, browsing windows do not get passed to your other Apple devices.

Even with all those features, you should be aware that Private Browsing mode does not conceal your browsing history from websites on the internet that might use your IP address to track you across sites , hosts of your network (such as a school or business), or your ISP.

Related: The Many Ways Websites Track You Online

First, launch Safari. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click "Safari" and select "Preferences."

In the Preferences pop-up window, make sure you're on the General tab. Look for the option called "Safari Opens With:" located beside a drop-down menu.

Click on the drop-down menu and select "A New Private Window" from the list of options.

Close the Preferences window, quit Safari, and launch Safari again. You should see a window with a "Private Browsing Enabled" notice along the top.

Now you're free to use the window as you typically would . Just make sure you close it when you're done.

Related: Five Worthwhile Uses for Private Browsing Mode (Besides Porn)

It's worth noting that the option we just set only works when you first open Safari.  By default, new windows you open after that will not be private. If you want to open additional Private windows, you'll need to select File > New Private Window from the menu bar, or use the Shift+Command+N shortcut. Good luck, and happy browsing!

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Turn Off and Disable Private Browsing on Any Web Browser

Last Updated: April 28, 2024 Fact Checked

Turning Off Private Browsing

Disabling private browsing on windows, disabling private browsing on mac, disabling private mode in safari on mac, disabling private browsing on android, disabling private browsing on iphone and ipad.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls . Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 299,265 times. Learn more...

Incognito Mode or Private Browsing is a feature that most web browsers have that allows you to browse the internet without saving your internet use as history. However, there are many inconvenient drawbacks to browsing in private mode. It can also be a challenge for parents and companies that want to monitor internet usage. This wikiHow article teaches you how to turn off private browsing as well as how to permanently disable it.

Turn Off or Disable Private Browsing

  • On most web browsers, you can tap the menu icon (with three dots or three lines) and tap the option to open a new window to exit private or incognito mode.
  • On Windows and Mac, you can use Command Prompt or Terminal commands to permanently disable private or incognito mode in various web browsers.
  • On mobile devices, enable content restrictions using Screen Time (iPhone/iPad) or the Family Link app (Android) to disable private mode in Google Chrome or Safari.
  • Click Incognito in the upper-right corner.
  • Click Close Incognito .
  • Open a new window or tab.
  • Tap the icon that resembles a square with numbers (tabs) in the upper-right corner (Android) or lower right corner (iPhone/iPad).
  • Tap the same icon again at the top of the page to switch to normal browsing.
  • Tap the Plus (+) icon to open a new tab.
  • Click File in the menu bar at the top.
  • Click New Window .
  • Tap the icon that resembles 2 squares stacked on top of each other in the lower-right corner.
  • Tap the " # Tabs " button at the bottom of the screen.
  • Tap the plus (+) icon to start a new tab.
  • Tap the icon that resembles a screen with a menu in the upper-left corner.
  • Tap Start Page at the top of the menu.
  • Click the icon with three dots ( ⋯ ) in the upper-right corner.
  • Click New Windows .
  • Tap the icon that resembles a square with numbers in the menu bar at the bottom.
  • Tap Tabs at the top.
  • Tap the plus (+) icon to open a new tab.
  • Click the icon with three lines ( ☰ ) in the upper-right corner.
  • Click New Window
  • Tap the icon that resembles a square with numbers (tabs) in the lower-right corner.
  • Tap the same icon again next to the icon that resembles a mask in the bar at the top.
  • Tap the plus (+) icon in the lower-right corner.

Step 1 Consider backing up your PC.

  • Click the Windows Start menu.
  • RIght-click the Command Prompt icon.
  • Click Run as adminitrator .
  • Disable Google Chrome Incognito Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome /v IncognitoModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1
  • Disable Google Chrome Guest Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome /v BrowserGuestModeEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0
  • Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge /v InPrivateModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1
  • Disable Microsoft Edge Guest Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge /v BrowserGuestModeEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0
  • Disable Firefox Private Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox /v DisablePrivateBrowsing /t REG_DWORD /d 1
  • Disable Brave Incognito Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave /v IncognitoModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1
  • Disable Brave Guest Mode: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave /v BrowserGuestModeEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0
  • Disable Brave Incognito Mode with Tor: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave /v TorDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1
  • 4 Type yes and press ↵ Enter . If there is already a registry item for Incognito Mode Availability, you will be asked if you want to overwrite it. Type yes and press Enter .
  • 5 Restart your web browser. If your web browser is currently open, close it and then reopen it.

Step 1 Close your web browser.

  • Click the magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner.
  • Enter Terminal into the search bar.
  • Click the Terminal app.

Step 3 Enter one of the following terminal commands and press ↵ Enter.

  • Disable Google Chrome Incognito Mode: defaults write com.google.chrome IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1z
  • Disable Google Chrome Guest Mode: defaults write com.google.Chrome BrowserGuestModeEnabled -bool false
  • Disable Firefox Private Mode: defaults write /Library/Preferences/org.mozilla.firefox DisablePrivateBrowsing -bool TRUE
  • Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate Mode: defaults write com.microsoft.edge InPrivateModeAvailability -integer 1
  • Disable Microsoft Edge Guest Mode: defaults write com.microsoft.edge BrowserGuestModeEnabled -integer 0
  • Disabling Brave Incognito Mode: defaults write com.brave.Browser IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1
  • Disable Brave Guest Mode: defaults write com.brave.Browser BrowserGuestModeEnabled -bool false

Step 4 Restart your Mac.

  • To reinstate Incognito Mode again, re-enter the command in the Terminal and change the integer value to "0" instead of "1".

Mac Apple

  • 4 Click Content & Privacy . It's next to a red icon that has a circle with a line through it.

Step 5 Enter your administrative password.

  • 6 Click the toggle switch next to "Content & Privacy." It's at the top of the page. This enables Content & Privacy restrictions.

Step 7 Click the radio option next to

  • If you want to allow certain websites, click Allowed Sites and enter the websites you want to allow.
  • You must have a Google account for yourself on your devices and child's account to link to.
  • 2 Set up Google Family Link. Once you download the app, you'll need to log into your Google account and link your child's Google account. This is how you can set parental controls on their devices . Once connected, you'll be able to edit permissions and access.
  • 3 Make sure your child is logged into their account. Your child will need to be signed into their Google account on their device. Once they are logged into their Google account on their device, Incognito mode will be disabled in Google Chrome. [5] X Research source
  • 4 Tap your child's account. This should be on the Family Link's home page.
  • 5 Tap Content restrictions . It's on the main page of your Child's account.
  • Tap Google Play .
  • Tap Require Approval for .
  • Tap the radio option next to "All content."

Step 1 Open your iPhone's/iPad's Settings icon.

  • 4 Tap the toggle switch next to "Content & Privacy Restrictions." This enables content and privacy restrictions on your device.

Step 5 Tap Content Restrictions.

  • 6 Tap Apps . It's below "Allowed Store Content."
  • 7 Tap Don't Allow Apps . This will prevent unapproved apps from being downloaded. Since Screen Time only disables Private Browsing in Safari, you will want to make sure your child can't download any other web browsers.
  • 8 Tap Content Restrictions . It's at the top of the page. This returns to the previous menu.

Step 9 Tap Web Content.

  • If you want to allow certain websites, tap Allow and enter the websites you approve of.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Most browsers don't support disabling of private or incognito browsing. Your best course of action when attempting to prevent unauthorized private access is to install a set of parental controls that can monitor Internet use while in incognito/private mode. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

turn off incognito mode safari mac

  • ↑ https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Infinity_Portal/WebAdminGuides/EN/Harmony-Endpoint-Admin-Guide/Topics-Common-for-HEP-HB/Browser-Settings.htm
  • ↑ https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-disable-safari-private-browsing-on-mac/
  • ↑ https://www.guidingtech.com/disable-safari-private-browsing-mac/
  • ↑ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.kids.familylink&hl=en_US&gl=US
  • ↑ https://support.google.com/families/answer/7087030?hl=en&sjid=16404751465167313741-NA

About This Article

Travis Boylls

1. Click the Windows Start menu and type "Regedit". 2. Click Registry Editor . 3. Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_KEY" > "SOFTWARE" > "Policies" > "Google" > "Chrome". 4. Right-click and add a new DWORD (32 Bit) value in "Chrome. 5. Name the new value "IncognitoModeAvailability". 6. Open "IncognitoModeAvailability" and change the value to "1". 7. Click Apply followed by Ok . 8. Restart your computer. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Browse Privately in Safari on a Mac

Private browsing in Safari allows you to keep your online activity a secret from other people using your Mac. It’s the perfect solution for gift shopping, getting the answer to embarrassing questions, or anything else you might like to do in private.

That said, private or incognito browsing won’t stop your internet service provider (ISP) from tracking your online activities using your IP address. You’ll need a VPN for that, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Before we begin   To improve your privacy online, you should pair private browsing in Safari with a VPN to mask your IP address. You should also install antivirus software like MacKeeper to protect your Mac from spyware. Download MacKeeper now to get both of these features.  

In this article we’ll explain:

  • What private browsing in Safari does
  • How to use private browsing in Safari
  • Other ways to boost the privacy on your Mac
  • What is Safari private browsing mode?

When you browse the web normally, Safari will save all sorts of data about the sites you visit, the information there, and the files you download. For example, you can click History in the menu bar to see all your recently visited sites. Then, when you revisit them, Safari can use AutoFill to automatically enter any usernames and passwords you saved.

As a result, when someone else uses your Mac, Safari might suggest sites from your browsing history for them to visit, and it could even AutoFill your details to log them into your accounts.

Private browsing offers a solution to this.  

turn off incognito mode safari mac

According to Apple , when you use private browsing in Safari, also known as Incognito Mode in other browsers, your Mac won’t save any web history or login details from the sites you visit. It’ll also delete your web cookies, caches , and downloads when you’re finished.

Even better than that, Safari won’t sync private tabs to other devices over iCloud or allow you to use them with Handoff — they’re only available on your Mac. And only until you close the tab.

Private browsing mode can’t completely protect your privacy

While it’s a good start, there are still problems with incognito private windows in web browsers:

  • Your IP address is still visible to websites and your ISP, making it possible for them to track your online activities
  • Spyware or parental control software can still track what you’re doing on your Mac, including which websites you visit in a private browser
  • Any files you download still appear on your Mac after ending a private browsing session

To completely protect your privacy, you should pair private browsing with a VPN and antivirus on your Mac. That way, your ISP won’t be able to track your online activities and you can rest assured that you don’t have any spyware on your Mac.

  • How to open a private window in Safari on your Mac

To start a private browsing session on your Mac:

  • Open Safari
  • Click File > New Private Window

turn off incognito mode safari mac

  • That’s it. Your private browsing window will have a darker Smart Search bar with white text, but other than that, it’ll look like a regular Safari window.

Incognito window in Safari

If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts , just press Shift + Command + N while using Safari to automatically open a new private window.

After opening a private window in Safari, you can use that window to visit any website as you normally would and you’ll appear incognito. That means Safari won’t remember where you go and you won’t be logged in to any websites you visit.

It’s important to mention that any bookmarks you make and files you download will still be saved. If you forget to use a private window in Safari, check this article on how to delete the history in Safari .

How to open a private tab in Safari

After opening a private browsing window, you can click the plus (+) button in Safari’s toolbar or press Command + T to open as many new tabs as you like. Any tabs you open in the private browsing window will also be incognito.

Safari keeps tabs isolated when you’re browsing in private, so websites in one tab won’t be able to track your activity in other tabs.

Unfortunately, if you’ve already opened a regular browsing window in Safari, you can’t open a private browsing tab in a normal window . Your only option is to open a new private window and create private tabs in that. However, there’s nothing wrong with opening a normal window and a private window side by side in Safari, just as long as you don’t get them mixed up.

How to always browse privately in Safari

If you always want to use private windows in Safari, but you’re worried you might forget to open one, you can change the settings so that Safari opens a private window by default.

You just need to follow these instructions to make private windows the default :

  • Go to Safari > Preferences from the menu bar
  • Go to the General tab
  • Next to Safari opens with select A new private window

turn off incognito mode safari mac

Doing this will make it so that Safari opens a new private window every time you launch it. However, any new windows you open after that will be normal browsing windows.

  • How to turn off private browsing on a Mac and clear your data

When you’ve finished gift shopping, researching, or doing whatever else you wanted a private browser for, all you need to do is close your incognito window and open a new window to turn off private browsing in Safari.  

To do this, click the red button in the top-left corner or press Command + W to close your current window. Then go to File > New Window or press Command + N to open a regular window.

Close Safari window

After closing your private window, make sure you also delete any files you downloaded to ensure everything does remain private.

  • Other privacy tips

Private and incognito browsing in Safari is a good start, but if you really care about improving your Mac’s privacy you should use a VPN with your Mac as well. A VPN will mask your IP address to stop websites and ISPs tracking you through that.

Additionally, you need to make sure your Mac is protected from spyware and other malware that might track your activities. While macOS comes with a selection of protective software, like Gatekeeper and XProtect , you should probably install a reliable third-party antivirus as well.

Finally, if you share your Mac with other people, create a separate user profile for each person. That way, you won’t need to worry about other people stumbling across your browsing history because they can use their own user account instead, with their own browsing history.

1. Are cookies saved in private browsing mode in Safari?

Safari’s private browsing mode deletes your cookies when you end the browsing session. It also avoids saving your browsing activity, search history, AutoFill details, and website cache. However, it still doesn’t hide your IP address from websites or your ISP.

2. Does Safari private browsing hide your IP address?

No. Private and incognito windows only affect the settings in your web browser, like Safari. They don’t hide your IP address from websites, your ISP, or any public Wi-Fi admins. To do that, you need to use a VPN .

3. Can you disable private browsing in Safari?

Yes, it is possible to disable browsing in macOS. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences
  • Select Screen Time
  • Click Options , you can see it in the lower-left corner
  • Turn on Screen Time for this Mac
  • From the sidebar, click Content & Privacy
  • In the Web Content section select Limit Adult Websites

This will disable the New Private Window option in Safari and stop anyone from starting a private browsing session.

4. Is Safari the best option for privacy?

Apple’s dedication to user privacy over the years means Safari is still one of the best browser option for protecting your privacy online. This is thanks to features like the Privacy Report, tracking blockers, and private browsing windows.

For stronger security and privacy on your Mac, we recommend pairing Safari with a VPN and antivirus, like you can get with MacKeeper.

  • Where in the World is My Data?
  • How to Protect Your Online Privacy
  • How to Protect Yourself from Data Breaches

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  • Delete unnecessary system files and caches
  • Free up GBs of storage space
  • Easily find and delete duplicate files

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How to Turn off Incognito Mode

Prevent private browsing on your computer and your phone

turn off incognito mode safari mac

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In This Article

Jump to a Section

  • Turn Off Incognito Mode on a PC
  • Disable Incognito Mode on a Mac
  • Get Out of Private Mode in Firefox
  • Disable InPrivate Browsing in MS Edge
  • Exit Chrome Incognito Mode on Android
  • Disable Private Mode in Safari/iPhones
  • Extra: How Browsers & Operating Systems Treat Private Browsing
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

  • Enter a Windows command prompt, or close the Incognito browser window and restart Chrome.
  • On a Mac: Type defaults write com.google.chrome IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1z in Terminal.

This article explains how to disable private browsing mode, also known as Incognito Mode, in popular web browsers. Information covers Google Chrome for Windows PCs, Macs, and Android devices; Firefox and Edge for Windows PCs; and Safari on iOS devices.

How to Disable Incognito Mode in Chrome on the PC

You can disable Chrome's Incognito Mode completely on a Windows PC using a Registry addition. It sounds complicated, but it's fairly easy:

If you enter incognito mode and just want to get out of it and back to normal browsing, close the Incognito browser window. When you restart Chrome, it will open as usual in public browsing mode.

Select Start and type " CMD " into the search box.

Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator .

In the Command Prompt window, type REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome /v IncognitoModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1 , then press Enter .

How to Disable Incognito Mode in Chrome on the Mac

On a Mac, the actions for disabling Incognito Mode in Chrome are slightly different, but the end result is the same. The biggest difference is in how Macs handle registry editing.

In the Finder, click Go > Utilities .

Open the Terminal app.

Type the following:

Press Enter .

How to Disable Private Mode in Firefox on the PC

The Firefox browser doesn't call its capability Incognito Mode. Instead, it's Private Mode. But you can still disable it.

Start Firefox.

Select the Hamburger Menu at the top right of the browser window, then select Add-ons .

In the search box at the top of the page, enter " private begone ."

Select Private Begone in the search results. This add-on will completely disable Private Browsing in Firefox.

Select Add to Firefox .

If a pop-up appears called Add Private Begone, select Add .

To complete the installation, select Okay, Got It .

Close all instances of Firefox that are running, then restart Firefox. You should no longer be able to open Firefox in a private window.

How to Disable InPrivate Browsing in Microsoft Edge

Disabling InPrivate Browsing on Microsoft Edge requires a bit more attention to detail.

Close any instances of the Microsoft Edge browser that are running.

Select Start and type " REGEDIT " into the search box.

In the Start menu search results, select Registry Editor . If Windows asks if you want to allow the program to make changes to your computer, select Yes .

In the tree in the left pane, find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft .

Right-click Microsoft and in the menu, select New > Key .

Name the key " MicrosoftEdge ."

Right-click MicrosoftEdge (the key you just made) and select New > Key .

Name this new key " Main ."

Right-click the key called Main . In the menu, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value .

Name the new key " AllowInPrivate ."

Double-click the DWORD called AllowInPrivate and make sure it is set to 0 . If it’s any other value, change it to 0 .

Select OK . You can now close the Registry Editor.

Reboot your computer. Now when you use Microsoft Edge, the InPrivate option will no longer be available.

How to Disable Incognito Mode in Chrome on Android Phones

Unlike desktop computers, there is no built-in way to disable Chrome’s Incognito mode for Android. There is, however, a third-party app you can install which does the same thing.

Start the Google Play app on your phone.

Search for Disable Incognito Mode and install the app when you see it.

Launch the Disable Incognito Mode app.

Tap Open Settings .

In the settings screen, turn on DisableIncognitoMode . Tap Allow to give the app permission when requested.

You can also return to the app and tap Hide icon after Setting to make the app disappear from the phone’s app screen.

How to Disable Private Mode in Safari on iPhones

You can disable Private Mode in the Safari browser running on iPhones using the Content & Privacy Restrictions controls.

Go to Settings > Screen Time .

On the Screen Time page, tap Turn on Screen Time .

After reading a summary of what the Screen Time feature can offer, tap Continue .

If you're setting up parental controls on your kid’s iPhone, tap This is My Child’s iPhone .

If you want to, set the Downtime hours the phone can’t be used. On the next page, do the same for App Limits. Tap Continue on the Content & Privacy page.

Create a passcode so only you can control these settings.

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions . Enter the passcode if you’re asked for it.

Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions by swiping the button to the right.

Tap Content Restrictions .

Tap Web Content . On the Web Content page, tap Limit Adult Websites .

How Browsers & Operating Systems Treat Private Browsing

You can disable Chrome’s Incognito mode on the PC, Mac, and Android, but not on the iPhone. Instead, on the iPhone, you can disable private browsing in Safari , since it's the default browser for iOS. As for Firefox and Microsoft Edge , you can disable their Private browsing modes on the PC, but not on the Mac, and since you need to use a plug-in for Firefox on the PC, be aware it's easily disabled by anyone who is somewhat tech-savvy.

If you're trying to control someone’s browsing habits, you need to be aware of what browsers are installed on the devices and computers in use. There’s no point in limiting Safari on the iPhone, for example, if Chrome or Firefox is also installed since you can't disable private browsing for those apps.

To use incognito mode in Chrome , use the Ctrl + Shift + N  keyboard shortcut while in the Chrome browser on Chrome OS, Linux, and Windows, or Cmd + Shift + N on macOS. You can also open a new incognito window with the File menu on a Macintosh.

In incognito mode, your web browser "forgets" that your browsing session ever happened. Cookies are deleted and nothing remains in your web browsing history. However, if you log into an account, such as Facebook or Amazon, your activity is no longer anonymous.

Netflix offers a private watching mode where what you're watching won't appear in any of your statistics or show up in your "Continue Watching" section. To access it, select your profile icon, choose Account > Profile and Parental Controls > Edit Profile , and turn on incognito mode.

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Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPad

When you use Private Browsing, the details of your browsing aren't saved, and the websites you visit aren't shared with your other devices. Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information.

How to turn on Private Browsing

Open Safari on your iPad.

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While Private Browsing is on, the Safari address bar appears black or dark instead of white or gray, and the buttons are black instead of blue.

How to turn off Private Browsing

No alt supplied for Image

Learn how to use Private Browsing on iPhone or iPod touch .

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How to turn on private browsing on a Mac computer in Safari

  • You can turn on private browsing on your Mac computer in a Safari browser to use the internet without having your activity catalogued by your browser. 
  • Private browsing is a good option to keep sensitive information from living in your web history or being saved to your iCloud account. 
  • Here's how to turn on private browsing on a Mac computer by opening a new private window or using a keyboard shortcut. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

A private browser is a useful way to navigate the internet with minimal tracking, although the exact functions may vary slightly depending on which browser you are using. 

On Safari, private browsing means that websites won't be able to track your activity across sites, your visited websites aren't saved or stored on in iCloud, and your recent searches won't appear in the Smart Search field. 

You also won't have access to any saved AutoFill information when you visit websites, so keep that in mind if you need to log into a site.

With that in mind, here's how to open a private window on a Mac using the Safari web browser: 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Macbook pro (from $1,299.99 at best buy), how to turn on private browsing on a mac in safari.

1. Open your Safari browser.

2. In the top toolbar, click "File."

3. Select "New Private Window."

The smart search field will show up with a dark background, which will signal that you are in private browsing mode. 

Alternatively, you could use the keyboard shortcut to open a private window in your Safari browser. To do that, you'd open a window in the browser, then press the shift, command and "N" keys.

turn off incognito mode safari mac

Related coverage from  How To Do Everything: Tech :

How to update the safari browser on your mac computer by installing the latest version of macos, how to enable adobe flash player on a mac computer using safari, how to block pop-ups on a mac computer's safari browser, and avoid fraudulent websites, how to add websites to your favorites list on a mac's safari browser, making them easily accessible at any moment, how to save and delete webpages on the reading list in your mac computer's safari browser.

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Disable Incognito Mode and Private Browsing in Browsers

Ensure a transparent browsing experience by removing incognito mode in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

Many people use incognito mode or private browsing features in their web browsers to hide their online activity from others. However, this can also pose a challenge for parents, employers, or anyone who wants to monitor or filter the content that is accessed on their devices. Fortunately, it is possible to disable incognito mode on most browsers.

Incognito - Large.png

Incognito mode is designed for privacy, so it makes sense that it can make monitoring websites difficult. Specifically:

  • Incognito mode (or private browsing in general) automatically deletes any browsing history from the device. 
  • In many cases, private browsing uses a proxy , which usually bypasses content filtering.
  • Other privacy features can prevent browsing history from being properly saved.

In this article, you will learn how to disable incognito mode in popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari. By doing so, you can prevent users from bypassing your content filtering and traffic monitoring settings and ensure a safer and more transparent browsing experience.

Considering Other Privacy Features

In addition to incognito mode, we also recommend disabling other similar features that some browsers provide. 

For example, some browsers, like Google Chrome, sync browser settings and browsing history to user profiles.

Screen Shot 2023-05-30 at 5.06.57 PM.png

This means that a user can add a new profile and potentially gain access to something similar to incognito mode.

That's why we provided instruction to disable the following features:

  • Incognito Mode.
  • Guest Mode.
  • Adding new profiles.
  • The Ability to deleting browsing history.
  • Tor Browsing (for the Brave browser).

How Do You View Browsing History When a Computer Uses Incognito Mode?

dashboard-activity-traffic-logs-dns-logs.png

While browsing history will be deleted on a device using incognito mode, it's still possible to view which sites have been visited:

  • You can use your home router to monitor websites visited on your home's Wi-Fi .
  • Set a DNS content policy to monitor internet traffic on a device or your home's Wi-Fi.

In both cases, you are able to view the actual traffic that a computer uses to access a website. However, monitoring your traffic logs with your router only works if your devices are home. Instead, you can install DNS filtering on your devices to always monitor its internet traffic . 

If you're using a DNS filter to view traffic logs, you also having the added ability to immediately make changes to your content policy. For example, you can add websites you don't want visited to your blocklist, which will deny access for that website on your computer:

block porn hub pornhub.png

You can also enable the filter on your home's router to monitor websites and block them across your entire home network.

Get Powerful DNS Filtering

Disable Incognito Mode on Windows

If you are using a Windows computer, you may want to disable incognito mode for different browsers such as Chrome and Microsoft Edge. The easiest way to do this is using the Command Prompt application and entering commands that customize your browsing experience.

In this section, we will show you how to disable incognito mode on Windows for each browser step by step.

How to disable incognito mode in Google Chrome on Windows 10/11

cmd.jpg

Disable guest mode:

Disable adding new user profiles:

Disable incognito mode:

Prevent user from deleting browsing history:

windows-command-prompt-disable-guest-mode-chrome.png

You also shouldn't be able to add new profiles:

mac-chrome-guest-mode-profile-window-removed-after.png

Incognito mode should no longer be an available option.

How to disable private browsing in Microsoft Edge for Windows 10/11

windows_command_prompt_cmd_open_as_admin.jpg

Disable adding new profiles

Disable deleting of browser history:

Disable InPrivate Window mode:

windows - Microsoft Edge - private-disabled.png

How to disable incognito mode on Brave browser for Windows 10/11

Brave browser is a bit interesting, because in addition to Incognito mode, we also recommend disabling Tor browsing.

Disable Incognito Mode:

Disable Tor Browsing:

Disable Guest Mode:

Disable adding new profiles:

Disable Incognito mode on Mac

If you are using a Mac computer like a Macbook, you can disable incognito mode for popular browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. The fastest way to do this is using the Terminal application and entering commands that customize your browsing experience.

In this section, we will show you how to disable incognito mode on MacOS for each browser step by step.

How to disable incognito mode in Google Chrome for MacOS

mac_terminal_e8ac6ab6a7.jfif

Disable Incognito mode:

Prevent deleting browsing history:

When you open the "who's using Chrome" window, it shouldn't allow you to enter guest mode or add new profiles:

You also should not be able to open an incognito window or delete browsing history.

How to Disable Private Browsing in Safari

It's not possible to disable Apple's Safari browser private browsing features using Terminal like we did for Google Chrome and Edge.

There are two ways to disable private browsing in Safari:

  • Enabling Screen Time's web content filter
  • Using managed mode to disable private browsing in Safari

If you open Screen Time External link icon and go to Content & Privacy, you can select Limit Adult Websites , which will also turn off the private browsing feature in Safari.

mac-screen-time-web-content-filter-adult-websites-limit-block-websites.png

Safari should no longer have an option to open private browsing mode.

Restart Safari

If you set up your Mac as a managed device like we talked about earlier, you can configure Safari to disable private browsing in a more enforceable way.

mac-imazing-safari-private-browsing.png

Disable InPrivate Browsing in Microsoft Edge on MacOS

There are a few ways to disable private browsing features in Microsoft edge:

  • Using commands entered into terminal to remove the private browsing feature from Microsoft edge
  • Using device management to configure the Microsoft Edge browser without the possibility of selecting or re-enabling private browsing.

Let's start with the terminal commands.

Disable InPrivate mode:

Prevent deleting browsing history

If you find that using terminal commands does not go far enough for your use case, consider setting your Mac up as a managed device .

Once you enable device management on your Mac, you can completely customize Microsoft edge to remove private browsing features.

We get it, making your own managed mac device can be difficult and confusing! Tech Lockdown members get access to  premium guides  that provide step-by-step instructions to enable managed mode, including how to use it to disable Safari. You also get access to our support team to get your questions answered!

This method is difficult to bypass and is the most restrictive setup you can achieve.

mac-imazing-microsoft-edge-enable-deleting-browser-history.png

There are many other options once you manage a Mac. You can completely control and lock down the microsoft edge browser to do other things like enforce or block browser extensions. You can even convert this into a dumb browser by blocking images everywhere or on specific websites.

How to Disable Incognito Mode on Brave browser for MacOS

For Brave browser, we also recommend disabling Tor browsing, since this can be used to also hide browsing history.

mac_terminal_f622d4e079.jfif

Disable Browser Privacy features on Managed Mac

If you have set up a managed MacOS device External link icon , you can enforce disabling these privacy features so that a user cannot re-enable them.

Enabling Managed Mode on a Mac can be difficult. That's why we've made available to our premium members  step-by-step guides that walk you through this process.

Disable Incognito mode in Google Chrome on a managed Mac

On a managed Mac device, it is much easier to enforce browser settings using a device manager. A good example of a device manager is iMazing, which allows you to custom-configure a device.

imazing-managed-browser-chrome-misc.png

Disable Browser Privacy Features in Microsoft Edge on a Managed Mac

Here's how to configure Microsoft Edge with iMazing.

macOS - managed - Misc-tab.png

How To Go On Incognito Mode On Mac

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Introduction

Welcome to our guide on how to go on incognito mode on Mac. Whether you’re concerned about your privacy, browsing sensitive information, or just want a clean browsing slate, using incognito mode can be beneficial. Incognito mode allows you to browse the internet without leaving behind a trace of your activity, such as history, cookies, or downloads. This can be particularly useful when using a shared computer or when you don’t want your browsing habits to be stored in your browser’s history.

In this article, we will walk you through the steps to enable incognito mode on popular web browsers for Mac, including Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. Each browser has its own method for enabling incognito mode, but they all share the same purpose of allowing anonymous browsing. By following the instructions in this guide, you can browse the web with peace of mind, knowing that your online activities won’t be stored on your device.

It’s important to note that while incognito mode prevents your browsing history from being recorded on your device, it does not guarantee anonymity. Your internet service provider, network administrator, and the websites you visit can still track your online activities. Therefore, if you require complete anonymity, we recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) in conjunction with incognito mode for enhanced privacy and security.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions to activate incognito mode on your preferred web browser on your Mac.

Method 1: Using Safari browser

If you’re using the Safari browser on your Mac and want to go on incognito mode, follow these simple steps:

  • Open the Safari browser by clicking on its icon in the Dock or searching for it using Spotlight.
  • In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on “File” and then select “New Private Window” from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Command + N” to open a new private window.
  • A new window with a dark background and a mask icon will appear. This indicates that you are now in incognito mode.
  • You can now browse the web privately in this private window. Any websites you visit or actions you take in this window will not be recorded in your browsing history.
  • To exit incognito mode, simply close the private window by clicking on the “X” button in the top-left corner of the window or using the keyboard shortcut “Command + W”.

Using incognito mode in Safari allows you to browse privately without leaving behind any traces of your online activities. It’s important to note that while your browsing history is not stored, other aspects of your online behavior, such as downloads or bookmarks, may still be saved on your device.

Now that you know how to go on incognito mode in Safari, you can enjoy private browsing on your Mac. Let’s move on to the next method to enable incognito mode on another popular browser, Google Chrome.

Method 2: Using Google Chrome browser

If you prefer using Google Chrome as your web browser on your Mac, follow the steps below to go on incognito mode:

  • Launch Google Chrome by clicking on its icon in the Dock or searching for it using Spotlight.
  • In the top-right corner of the browser window , click on the three-dot menu icon, also known as the “More” button.
  • From the dropdown menu, select “New Incognito Window”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Command + N” to open a new incognito window.
  • A new window with a dark background and an icon of a person in disguise will appear. This signifies that you are now browsing in incognito mode.
  • You can now browse the internet privately in this incognito window. Any websites you visit, files you download, or extensions you install will not be stored on your device or shown in your browsing history.
  • To exit incognito mode, simply close the incognito window by clicking on the “X” button in the top-left corner of the window or using the keyboard shortcut “Command + W”.

By using incognito mode in Google Chrome , you can maintain your privacy by preventing the browser from storing your browsing history, cookies, and site data. However, it’s important to note that incognito mode does not make you completely anonymous online. Your internet service provider, network administrator, and certain websites can still track your activities.

Now that you know how to enable incognito mode in Google Chrome, let’s move on to the next method and learn how to go incognito in Mozilla Firefox.

Method 3: Using Mozilla Firefox browser

If you use Mozilla Firefox as your preferred web browser on your Mac, you can follow these steps to go on incognito mode:

  • Launch the Mozilla Firefox browser by clicking on its icon in the Dock or searching for it using Spotlight.
  • In the top-right corner of the browser window, click on the three-line menu icon, also known as the “Open Menu” button.
  • From the dropdown menu, select “New Private Window”. You can also use the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Command + P” to open a new private window.
  • A new window with a purple mask icon and a message emphasizing your privacy will appear. This indicates that you are now in private browsing mode.
  • You are now free to browse the internet privately in this private window. Your browsing history, cookies, and temporary files will not be saved once you close the window.
  • To exit private browsing mode, simply close the private window by clicking on the “X” button in the top-left corner of the window or using the keyboard shortcut “Command + W”.

Using private browsing mode in Mozilla Firefox allows you to browse the web without leaving behind any traces of your online activities. However, it’s important to keep in mind that private browsing does not make you completely anonymous. Your internet service provider, network administrator, and websites you visit can still track your online activities.

With the knowledge of how to go on incognito mode in Mozilla Firefox, let’s proceed to the next method and explore how to enable private browsing in Microsoft Edge.

Method 4: Using Microsoft Edge browser

If you prefer using Microsoft Edge as your web browser on your Mac, follow the steps below to go on incognito mode:

  • Launch the Microsoft Edge browser by clicking on its icon in the Dock or searching for it using Spotlight.
  • In the top-right corner of the browser window, click on the three-dot menu icon, also known as the “More” button.
  • From the dropdown menu, select “New InPrivate Window”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Command + N” to open a new InPrivate window.
  • A new window with a blue mask icon and a brief explanation of its privacy features will appear. This signifies that you are now browsing in InPrivate mode.
  • You can now browse the internet privately in this InPrivate window. Any websites you visit, files you download, or searches you make will not be saved or shown in your browsing history.
  • To exit InPrivate mode, simply close the InPrivate window by clicking on the “X” button in the top-left corner of the window or using the keyboard shortcut “Command + W”.

By using InPrivate browsing mode in Microsoft Edge, you can maintain your privacy by preventing the browser from storing your browsing history, cookies, and site data. However, it’s important to note that InPrivate mode does not make you completely anonymous online. Your internet service provider, network administrator, and certain websites can still track your activities.

Now that you know how to enable InPrivate mode in Microsoft Edge, let’s move on to the next method and discover how to go incognito in the Opera browser.

Method 5: Using Opera browser

If you use the Opera browser on your Mac, you can follow these steps to go on incognito mode:

  • Launch the Opera browser by clicking on its icon in the Dock or searching for it using Spotlight.
  • In the top-left corner of the browser window, click on the “Opera” menu option.
  • From the dropdown menu, select “New Private Window”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Command + N” to open a new private window.
  • A new window with a dark mask icon and a message reassuring you about your privacy will appear. This indicates that you are now browsing in private mode.
  • You can now browse the internet privately in this private window. Any websites you visit, files you download, or searches you make will not be stored in your browsing history.
  • To exit private mode, simply close the private window by clicking on the “X” button in the top-left corner of the window or using the keyboard shortcut “Command + W”.

Using private mode in the Opera browser allows you to browse the web without leaving behind any traces of your online activities. It’s important to note, however, that private mode does not make you completely anonymous. Your internet service provider, network administrator, and certain websites can still track your activities.

Now that you know how to go on incognito mode in the Opera browser, you can enjoy private browsing on your Mac.

In today’s digital age, maintaining your privacy while browsing the internet is essential. Whether you’re concerned about your personal information, sensitive data, or simply want a clean browsing slate, going incognito can help protect your privacy. Throughout this guide, we have explored different methods to enable incognito mode on popular web browsers for Mac.

By following the step-by-step instructions provided for Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera, you can easily activate incognito mode and browse the web without leaving behind a trace of your activity. Remember that while incognito mode prevents your browsing history from being recorded on your device, it does not guarantee anonymity. Other entities, such as your internet service provider and websites you visit, may still have access to your online activities.

If you require the utmost privacy and anonymity while browsing, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) in conjunction with incognito mode. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and reroutes it through a secure server, protecting your data from prying eyes.

We hope this guide has been helpful in assisting you with enabling incognito mode on your preferred web browser. Whether you’re using Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Opera, the ability to browse privately and securely is now at your fingertips. Enjoy your anonymous browsing and stay safe on the web!

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Natasha2992

How do I disable incognito mode on my iPhone 12?

How do I disable incognito mode on my iPhone 12

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 16

Posted on Mar 17, 2023 6:02 PM

FoxFifth

Posted on Mar 17, 2023 6:36 PM

Private Browsing usually refers to Apple Safari. Incognito mode usually refers to Alphabet/Google's Chrome. See below depending on which you are asking about.

From Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone - Apple Support

How to turn off Private Browsing

  • Open Safari on your iPhone.

turn off incognito mode safari mac

From https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS

Incognito tabs are separate from your regular Chrome tabs.

If you have an Incognito tab open and you open another one, your private browsing session will continue in the new tab. To exit, close all Incognito tabs.

turn off incognito mode safari mac

  • Swipe right to find your open Incognito tabs.

turn off incognito mode safari mac

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  3. How to Open Incognito Mode in MacBook

  4. How to disable Incognito on Safari

  5. Stop Using incognito Mode / chrome incognito

  6. How to Turn On Private Mode In Safari On iPhone

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  1. Use Private Browsing in Safari on Mac

    In the Safari app on your Mac, close the private window, switch to a non-private Safari window, or choose File > New Window to open a non-private window. To further enhance privacy: Delete any items you downloaded while using private windows. Close any other private windows that are still open, to prevent other people from using the Back and Forward buttons to see pages you visited in them.

  2. How To Turn Off Incognito Mode On Mac

    By following the methods outlined in this article, you can easily turn off incognito mode or private browsing in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge. For Safari users, disabling incognito mode involves adjusting the settings in the Preferences menu.

  3. How to Disable Safari Private Browsing on Mac

    Then, type Settings or System Settings, and hit the Return key. Step 2: In the Settings window, go to Screen Time on the left pane. Step 3: On the right pane, scroll down, and under Restrictions ...

  4. How to Go Incognito in Safari on Mac: 3 Quick Ways

    Method 3: Right-Click Option. If you're comfortable using contextual menus that appear with a right-click, this option offers a speedy way to go incognito in Safari on Mac. Follow these steps to right-click on a Mac and go incognito in Safari: Launch your Safari browser. Right-click (or control-click) the Safari icon in the Dock.

  5. Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone

    How to turn off Private Browsing. While Private Browsing is off, the Safari address bar appears white or gray. In iOS 17. Open Safari on your iPhone. Tap the Tabs button. Swipe to the [number] Tabs tab group button, then tap the tab that you want to open. In iOS 16 or earlier. Open Safari on your iPhone. Tap the Tabs button.

  6. How to turn off Safari private browsing on Mac

    Open the tab you want to close. Click the x next to the tab's name. Else, press cmd (⌘) + W to close it. In this manner, close all the incognito windows to exit private browsing mode on Safari. If you want to close all tabs, including your standard browsing windows, press cmd (⌘) + Q on your Mac keyboard.

  7. How to use Private Browsing on Mac, keyboard shortcut, more

    Keyboard shortcut for Private Browsing on Mac. You're probably used to the command + N shortcut for a new Safari window. Just add shift to that to get a new Private window - command + shift + N.

  8. How to Use Private Browsing in Safari

    Safari on the iPad has a private browsing mode as well. 1. Tap the Pages button, which is shaped as two squares in Safari's menu. 2. Tap Private. 3. Tap the Search field to search for a site to ...

  9. How to Go Incognito in Safari on Mac

    Step 1: Open Safari and select Safari > Preferences from the menu bar. Step 2: Go to the General tab. Step 3: Pick the drop-down next to Safari opens with and choose A new private window. Step 4 ...

  10. How to Use Private Browsing in Safari on Mac, iPhone, or iPad

    Open the Safari app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap the Tabs button in the bottom-right corner to view your open pages. In the bottom-left corner, tap Private to enable private browsing mode. Then tap the Add ( +) button to open a private browsing window. Tap the Tabs button in the bottom-right corner.

  11. How to use Private Browsing in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

    Open Safari on your iPhone. Tap and hold the Tabs button. Tap [number] Tabs in the pop-up menu. You may also exit out of incognito mode in Safari on iOS 17 by completing these steps: Open Safari on your iPhone. Tap the Tabs button. Tap [number] Tabs or Start Page to show the Tab Groups list. Tap Private, then tap Done.

  12. Turn Off Safari Private Browsing on Mac

    To turn off incognito mode using Screen Time, follow the steps below: 1. Click on the Apple logo that you will find in the upper menu. 2. When the secondary menu pops up, click on "System Preferences". 3. In the "System Preferences" window, click on "Screen Time". 4. When the "Screen Time" window appears, at the bottom left corner, click on ...

  13. How to Always Start Safari in Private Browsing Mode on a Mac

    First, launch Safari. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click "Safari" and select "Preferences." In the Preferences pop-up window, make sure you're on the General tab. Look for the option called "Safari Opens With:" located beside a drop-down menu. Click on the drop-down menu and select "A New Private Window" from the list of options.

  14. How to Turn Off or Disable Incognito or Private Browsing

    Use the following steps to turn off Private Browsing on Safari for iPhone. Tap the icon that resembles 2 squares stacked on top of each other in the lower-right corner. Tap the " # Tabs " button at the bottom of the screen. Tap the plus (+) icon to start a new tab. 5. Turn off Private Browsing in Safari for iPad.

  15. How to Go Incognito on a Mac in Safari Browser

    You just need to follow these instructions to make private windows the default: Open Safari. Go to Safari > Preferences from the menu bar. Go to the General tab. Next to Safari opens with select A new private window. Doing this will make it so that Safari opens a new private window every time you launch it.

  16. How to Disable Private Browsing/Incognito Mode in Safari on Mac

    First off, the Command+Shift+N shortcut key for opening a Private Browsing window will no longer work. Likewise, if you click on the Safari drop-down menu, then the Clear History option will be greyed out as well. That's it. These were the steps to disable the Private Browsing/Incognito Mode window in the Safari Browser on Mac.

  17. How to Turn off Incognito Mode

    Launch the Disable Incognito Mode app. Tap Open Settings . In the settings screen, turn on DisableIncognitoMode. Tap Allow to give the app permission when requested. You can also return to the app and tap Hide icon after Setting to make the app disappear from the phone's app screen.

  18. Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPad

    Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information. How to turn on Private Browsing. Open Safari on your iPad. Touch and hold the Tabs button. Tap New Private Tab. While Private Browsing is on, the Safari address bar appears black or dark instead of white or gray, and the buttons are black instead of blue.

  19. How to Turn on Private Browsing on a Mac in Safari

    Open your Safari browser. 2. In the top toolbar, click "File." 3. Select "New Private Window." Click on New Private Window to turn on private browsing. Devon Delfino/Business Insider. The smart ...

  20. I cannot turn off incognito mode on iMac

    Use Private Browsing windows in Safari - help.apple.com "Stop using Private Browsing: Close the Private Browsing window, switch to a different Safari window that isn't using Private Browsing, or choose File > New Window to open a window that doesn't use Private Browsing.

  21. Disable Incognito Mode and Private Browsing in Browsers

    Disable Incognito mode on Mac. If you are using a Mac computer like a Macbook, you can disable incognito mode for popular browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. The fastest way to do this is using the Terminal application and entering commands that customize your browsing experience.

  22. How To Go On Incognito Mode On Mac

    Method 1: Using Safari browser. If you're using the Safari browser on your Mac and want to go on incognito mode, follow these simple steps: Open the Safari browser by clicking on its icon in the Dock or searching for it using Spotlight. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on "File" and then select "New Private Window" from ...

  23. How do I disable incognito mode on my iPh…

    Private Browsing usually refers to Apple Safari. Incognito mode usually refers to Alphabet/Google's Chrome. See below depending on which you are asking about. From Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone - Apple Support. How to turn off Private Browsing. Open Safari on your iPhone. Tap the Tabs button . Tap Private to show the Tab Groups ...