Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone
With Private Browsing, Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information. Private Browsing also blocks known trackers, removes tracking used to identify individual users from URLs, and adds protections against advanced fingerprinting techniques.
How to turn on Private Browsing
While Private Browsing is on, the Safari address bar appears black or dark instead of white or gray.
Open Safari on your iPhone.
Swipe to the Private tab group button, then tap the tab that you want to open.
For additional privacy, you can choose to lock Private Browsing when you're not using it. When you lock your device, your private tabs in Safari will also lock. Then, when you unlock your device again, just unlock Private Browsing with Touch ID, Face ID, or your device passcode.
Learn more about locking Private Browsing tabs
In iOS 16 or earlier
Tap [number] Tabs or Start Page to show the Tab Groups list.
Tap Private, then tap Done.
How to turn off Private Browsing
While Private Browsing is off, the Safari address bar appears white or gray.
Swipe to the [number] Tabs tab group button, then tap the tab that you want to open.
Tap Private to show the Tab Groups list.
Tap [number] Tabs, then tap Done.
Learn how to use Private Browsing on your iPad .
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How to Turn on Safari Private Browsing on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide
Turning on Safari Private Browsing on an iPhone is a simple process. Open the Safari app, tap the tabs button (which looks like two overlapping squares), then tap “Private” to turn on Private Browsing Mode. Now, Safari won’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information.
After you complete this action, your browsing activity will not be saved in Safari. This means that websites you visit won’t appear in your history, and information entered in forms won’t be saved for AutoFill.
Introduction
In today’s digital age, privacy is a hot commodity. With every click, tap, and scroll, we leave digital footprints that can tell a story about who we are and what we like to do online. That’s why learning how to turn on Safari Private Browsing on your iPhone is essential. Whether you’re entering sensitive information, researching a surprise gift, or simply want to keep your browsing history to yourself, Private Browsing Mode is your go-to feature.
This function is particularly handy for shared devices or when you want to keep your browsing habits under wraps. So, if you’re an iPhone user looking to browse the web without leaving a trace, you’re in the right place. We’ll show you how to enable this feature in just a few easy steps.
Step by Step Tutorial on How to Turn on Safari Private Browsing on an iPhone
Before we dive into the steps, let’s clarify what we’ll achieve here. By following these simple steps, you’ll enable Private Browsing Mode in Safari, which prevents Safari from keeping track of your browsing history, search records, and AutoFill information.
Step 1: Open the Safari App
Navigate to your iPhone’s home screen and tap on the Safari app to open it.
Opening the Safari app is your gateway to the internet on your iPhone. Make sure you’re connected to the internet before you proceed.
Step 2: Access Your Open Tabs
Look for the tabs button, which resembles two overlapping squares, and tap on it.
This button will show you all your currently open tabs. If you have many tabs open, you may have to swipe left or right to find the “Private” option.
Step 3: Enable Private Browsing
Find the “Private” option at the bottom left of the screen and tap it.
Once you tap “Private,” you’ll notice the color of the browser interface changes, indicating that you’re now in Private Browsing Mode.
Additional Information
Now that you’re all set with Private Browsing Mode on Safari, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, while your browsing activity isn’t saved on your iPhone, your internet service provider or employer can still track it. Also, if you download files while in Private Browsing, they’re saved to your phone and visible in the Downloads folder.
Moreover, not all Safari features are available in this mode; for example, you can’t use Handoff to pass browsing activity between devices. Lastly, remember to close all private tabs before returning to regular browsing to maintain your privacy.
- Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
- Tap the tabs button to view your open tabs.
- Tap “Private” to enter Private Browsing Mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does private browsing hide my activity from my employer or internet service provider.
No, Private Browsing only prevents Safari from saving your browsing data on your iPhone. Your activity can still be tracked by your internet service provider or employer.
Will downloads in Private Browsing show up in my regular downloads folder?
Yes, any files you download while in Private Browsing Mode will be saved to your iPhone and visible in the Downloads folder.
Can I use Handoff with Private Browsing?
No, Handoff does not work with Private Browsing tabs, as your browsing activity isn’t saved.
Can websites track me while I’m using Private Browsing?
Some websites may still track your activity using cookies during your Private Browsing session, but they will not be saved once you close the tabs.
How do I turn off Private Browsing?
To exit Private Browsing Mode, open the tabs view, tap “Private” again, and it will switch back to regular browsing.
Turning on Safari Private Browsing on your iPhone is a surefire way to maintain your online privacy. Whether it’s to shop for a surprise, handle sensitive work, or simply because you value your digital privacy, navigating this feature is a breeze. Just remember that while Private Browsing protects your data on your device, it doesn’t make you invisible online. Always exercise caution and use additional privacy tools if needed. Happy private browsing!
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How-To Geek
How to use safari private browsing on an iphone or ipad.
Browse the web without leaving a local record on your iPhone or iPad with Private Browsing mode. Here's how to use it.
Quick Links
What is private browsing mode, how to use private browsing mode on iphone, how to use private browsing mode on ipad.
Sometimes, you'd like to check a website without leaving a record of it on your iPhone or iPad. Luckily, Safari includes a Private Browsing mode just for this purpose. Here's how to use it.
While using Private Browsing mode on your iPhone or iPad, Safari will not save your your browsing history, AutoFill form information, changes to cookies, and recent searches when you close each Private Browsing window.
However, Private Browsing mode does not protect your browsing history from the host of your network (such as your business or school), your ISP, or websites that might use your IP address to track you across sites .
Related: The Many Ways Websites Track You Online
First, open Safari. If you don't see the toolbar at bottom of the screen, tap once to reveal it. Then tap the "New Window" button. It looks like two squares overlapping each other.
You'll see a window management screen with a list of thumbnails representing all your open browser windows. On this screen, tap the "Private" button in the lower -left corner.
Private Browsing Mode is now enabled. Tap on the plus (+) button at the bottom of the screen to open a new Private window.
From there, you can type in any address you want in the bar at the top or navigate by tapping on your favorites. In Private mode, you can use Safari as you usual, but it won't keep a local record of what you're doing.
When you're done and want to exit Private Browsing mode, tap the "New Window" button again, then tap the "Private" button in the lower-left corner. You will switch back to non-Private mode.
Keep in mind that switching back does not close your Private Browsing windows. To get rid of your Private Browsing windows, you will need to enable Private Browsing mode again and click the "X" on the upper left corner of each window thumbnail until they all disappear.
Private browsing on the iPad works the same as on the iPhone, but the buttons that enable it are in different locations on the screen. To activate Private Browsing, first launch Safari. If you don't see the toolbar at the top of the screen, tap anywhere once to reveal it. Then tap on the "New Window" button in the upper-right corner.
On Safari's window management screen, tap the "Private" button in the upper-right corner.
After Private Mode is enabled, tap the plus (+) button in the toolbar to add a new window. From there, you can operate Safari as usual.
If you want to exit Private Browsing on an iPad, just tap the new button window again (the two overlapping rectangles) and tap "Private."
But be aware: if you just switch out of Private mode, Safari will keep your Private windows open in the background until you launch Private Browsing mode again. If you want to get rid of all of your Private Browsing windows, switch back to Private mode, tap the New Window button, and close each window with the small "X" in the corner of each thumbnail. Happy browsing!
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How to Turn On Private Browsing in Safari for iOS
You don't have to store browsing data, history, or cookies on iOS
What to Know
- In the lower-right corner of Safari app, select Tabs icon > tap Private .
- Tap plus ( + ) to open a new tab. You're now in Private Browsing mode.
- To return to standard browsing, tap Done .
This article explains how to turn on private browsing in Safari for iOS to prevent the app from saving browsing history, cookies, or local user data. Instructions in this article apply to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices.
How to Enable Private Browsing in Safari for iOS
To browse incognito using the Safari mobile app:
Launch the Safari app and tap the Tabs icon, indicated by two overlapping boxes in the bottom-right corner.
Tap Private at the bottom of the screen.
Tap plus ( + ) to open a new tab. You are now in Private Browsing. Safari will not save any browsing history, cookies, or other user data during your session.
To return to standard browsing mode, tap Done at the bottom of the screen.
Pages that were visited during your private session close when you return to standard browsing mode, but any tabs left open will return the next time you open Private Browsing. To exit the pages permanently, tap the X in the top-left corner of the tab you want to close.
Private Browsing does not withhold data from your internet service provider or the websites that you visit. It only prevents information that is usually stored on your device from being saved.
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How to use Private Browsing with Safari on iPhone and iPad
Private Browsing is a useful feature built-in to Safari in iOS that limits what information is saved and shared as you browse the web. Let’s look at how to use Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad.
Here’s how Apple describes the feature for iPhone and iPad:
Private Browsing protects your private information and blocks some websites from tracking your search behavior. Safari won’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information.
Note: You may notice that some websites won’t function normally when using Private Browsing, so try turning it off if you’re running into issues.
How to use Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad
For iOS 15, read along here for how Private Browsing works
With iOS 14
- Open Safari and tap the two square-icon at the bottom of your screen (if you don’t see the icon, tap near the bottom of the screen)
- Tap Private
- Now tap the + icon to open a new site in a Private window (you’ll also see any existing Safari windows in Private Browsing)
- When you want to use a standard window, head back to the Safari page manager (two-square icon) and tap Private again to turn it off, then tap Done
If you turn on Private Browsing and haven’t used it before or don’t have any open windows this is what you’ll see:
You can quickly tell if you are using Private Browsing as the url/search bar will appear with a dark theme instead of white or gray for standard windows. Also, the white highlight around Private shown above on the right) means it is turned on.
Tap the + symbol at the bottom middle of the screen and start browsing. When you’re finished using Private Browsing, tap the double square-icon and tap Private and Done.
Your open Safari windows in Private Browsing and standard mode will remain open if you go back and forth between them without closing the windows.
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to utilize Handoff between your Private Browsing Safari windows and other Apple devices.
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Open the Safari app on your iPhone. On a website, tap on the left side of the URL field. Tap Show IP Address. Your IP address remains visible to that website until you leave the website or close its Safari tab. iCloud Private Relay remains on for other websites.
Open Safari on your iPhone. Tap the Tabs button. Swipe to the Private tab group button, then tap the tab that you want to open. For additional privacy, you can choose to lock Private Browsing when you're not using it. When you lock your device, your private tabs in Safari will also lock.
A quick way to open a private tab in Safari is to use the "Pages" button on the bottom toolbar on your iPhone. Fire up Safari. Long-press or hard-press the "Pages" button (cascading squares icon). Select the "New Private Tab" option with a hand icon next to it from the menu that pops up.
Open the Safari app, tap the tabs button (which looks like two overlapping squares), then tap “Private” to turn on Private Browsing Mode. Now, Safari won’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information. After you complete this action, your browsing activity will not be saved in Safari.
On this screen, tap the "Private" button in the lower -left corner. Private Browsing Mode is now enabled. Tap on the plus (+) button at the bottom of the screen to open a new Private window. From there, you can type in any address you want in the bar at the top or navigate by tapping on your favorites.
1.75M subscribers. 2.3K. 430K views 2 years ago. When you use Private Browsing, Safari won’t remember your search history, the pages you visit, or your AutoFill information. Private Browsing...
8 min read. Incognito mode is known as Private Browsing in Safari on Apple devices. You may want to use this mode as it gives you the freedom to browse the web privately without your browsing activity being recorded and stored on your device.
How to use private browsing in Safari on an iPhone or iPad. Older versions of iOS. How to use private browsing in Safari on a Mac. Older versions of macOS. More ways to improve your privacy in Safari. Prevent cross-site tracking. Disable cookies. Change your default search engine. Use a VPN to hide your IP address. What is private browsing?
Updated on July 18, 2022. What to Know. In the lower-right corner of Safari app, select Tabs icon > tap Private. Tap plus ( +) to open a new tab. You're now in Private Browsing mode. To return to standard browsing, tap Done.
Open Safari and tap the two square-icon at the bottom of your screen (if you don’t see the icon, tap near the bottom of the screen) Tap Private. Now tap the + icon to open a new site in...