You need a private browsing window, but every browser names the button differently. Chrome says Incognito, Edge says InPrivate, Firefox and Safari say private browsing, Opera says private mode, and Samsung Internet says Secret mode. Use the browser you have below and follow the current path for desktop or mobile.
1. Open an Incognito tab in Chrome on a computer
This fixes the standard Chrome desktop route on Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS.
Open Chrome.
Select More.
Choose New Incognito window.
For the shortcut, press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS, or Command + Shift + N on Mac.
2. Start Chrome Incognito on Android iPhone or iPad
On Android, open Chrome, tap More, then tap Open in a new Incognito window.
On an Android tablet, use the same menu and choose New Incognito window when that label appears.
To open a link directly on Android, touch and hold the link, then tap Open link in new Incognito window.
On Android launchers with app shortcuts, press and hold the Chrome app, then choose the Incognito tab shortcut.
On iPhone or iPad, open Chrome, tap More, then tap New Incognito Tab.
For links from other apps on iPhone or iPad, turn on More > Settings > Privacy and security > Ask to open links from other apps in Incognito, then tap Open in Chrome Incognito when Chrome asks.
Chrome on mobile gives you both a fresh private tab path and direct-link options, so use the one that matches where the link starts.
3. Use private browsing in Safari
This fixes the Safari path on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
On Mac, open Safari, choose File, then choose New Private Window.
To make Safari on Mac open privately by default, go to Safari > Settings > General > Safari opens with > A new private window.
If A new private window is missing on Mac, go to Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock, then turn on Close windows when quitting an application.
On iPhone, open Safari, tap the More button, then tap New Private Tab.
On iPad, open Safari, touch and hold the Tabs button, then tap New Private Tab. Apple’s iPad User Guide also documents a sidebar route on current iPadOS: tap Show Sidebar, then tap Private, and tap Back at the top of the sidebar first if Private is not showing.
4. Open an InPrivate tab in Microsoft Edge
On desktop, open Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more, then choose New InPrivate window.
Use the keyboard shortcut instead by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows, or Command + Shift + N on Mac.
On Windows, right-click or select and hold the Microsoft Edge logo in the taskbar, then choose New InPrivate window.
To open a link directly on desktop, right-click or select and hold the link, then choose Open link in InPrivate window.
On Android, iPhone, or iPad, tap the menu button, then tap New InPrivate tab.
From the mobile tab switcher, tap the numbered square icon, tap InPrivate, then tap the plus icon.
Edge uses InPrivate as its incognito-style name, so look for that label in menus and tab views.
5. Switch to private browsing in Firefox
On Firefox desktop, use menu button > New private window, or press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Linux and Command + Shift + P on Mac.
To open a link privately, right-click the link, or hold Control while clicking it, then choose Open Link in New Private Window.
On Android, tap the mask button from the Firefox home screen, or use numeric tab icon > mask icon > plus button.
On iPhone or iPad, switch to private browsing mode and tap the plus button; for a link, tap and hold it, then choose Open in a Private Tab.
6. Try private mode in Opera Brave or Samsung Internet
This fixes private browsing in browsers that do not use the Incognito label.
In Opera on Windows or Linux, open Menu, then choose New private window.
In Opera on Mac, choose File, then choose New Private Window.
In Opera for iOS, tap the three-dot menu, then tap Private mode.
In Opera for iOS, long-press the Tab icon, then choose New Private Tab.
In Brave on desktop, open the Menu icon, then choose New Private Window.
For Brave on desktop, press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + N on Mac.
In Samsung Internet, open the Samsung Browser app, tap the All tab icon, then tap the Secret mode icon.
7. Make private browsing faster next time
In Firefox for Windows, open New Private Window, then right-click the Firefox in Private Browsing mode taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar.
In Firefox for Android, open the three-dot menu, tap Settings, tap Private browsing under Privacy and security, then tap Add private browsing shortcut.
In Firefox for Android, press and hold the Firefox app icon on your home screen, then open a private tab.
In Firefox for Android, go to three-dot menu > Settings > Private browsing under Privacy and security, then enable Open links in a private tab.
In Firefox desktop, go to Firefox > Settings, or menu button > Settings, then Privacy & Security > History > Use custom settings for history > Always use private browsing mode, and restart Firefox.
Firefox for iOS does not support launching in private browsing mode by default, so switch to private browsing manually when you need it.
8. Lock private tabs on Safari
On iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17, open Settings, tap Safari, scroll to Privacy & Security, then turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing or Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing.
On current iPhone and iPad software, use Settings > Apps > Safari > Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing, Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing, or Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing.
On Mac, open Safari > Settings > Privacy, then select Require password to view locked tabs next to Private Browsing. If your Mac or Apple keyboard has Touch ID, select Require Touch ID to view locked tabs instead.
To lock Safari private windows manually on Mac, choose Window > Lock All Private Windows.
9. Check restrictions on work school or child devices
On a managed Chrome browser or ChromeOS device, an organization can set Incognito to allowed, disabled, or forced through IncognitoModeAvailability.
On a managed Microsoft Edge device, an organization can set InPrivate to allowed, disabled, or forced through InPrivateModeAvailability.
On managed Firefox or Firefox ESR, an organization can set private browsing to available, unavailable, or forced through PrivateBrowsingModeAvailability, using 0, 1, or 2, in Firefox 130 and Firefox ESR 128.3 and later. That policy supersedes the older DisablePrivateBrowsing setting.
On managed Brave desktop, an organization can disable private browsing windows through IncognitoModeAvailability.
On iPhone or iPad with Screen Time, a parent or organizer can open Settings > Screen Time > child’s name > Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web, & Games > Web Content, then choose Unrestricted, Limit Adult Websites, or Only Approved Websites.
On Mac with Screen Time, go to Apple menu > System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > App Store, Media, Web, & Games > Safari, then choose Unrestricted Access or Limit Adult Websites.
In Samsung Internet, a disabled Secret mode icon means you should confirm the Samsung account is not a child account.
For Safari on iPhone, current Apple guidance uses More > New Private Tab, not the older iOS 17-and-earlier private tab-group path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Incognito the same name in every browser?
No. Chrome uses Incognito, Microsoft Edge uses InPrivate, Safari and Firefox use private browsing, Opera uses private mode, and Samsung Internet uses Secret mode.
What is the fastest keyboard shortcut for an incognito-style window?
Chrome, Edge, and Brave use Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Linux. On Mac, Chrome, Edge, and Brave use Command + Shift + N. Firefox uses Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Linux and Command + Shift + P on Mac.
Can I open a link directly in a private tab?
Yes. Chrome for Android can open a held link in a new Incognito window, Edge desktop can open a link in an InPrivate window, Firefox desktop can open a link in a new private window, and Firefox for iPhone and iPad can open a held link in a private tab.
Why is the private or incognito option missing?
On work or school devices, an organization can disable private browsing in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Brave. In Samsung Internet, Samsung says a disabled Secret mode icon can be tied to a child account.