Private browsing keeps a browser session separate from your regular windows and tabs. Chrome calls it Incognito, Edge calls it InPrivate, Safari and Firefox call it Private Browsing, and Samsung Internet calls it Secret mode. Here are the current ways to open it across the browsers people use most.
Use Incognito in Chrome
Use Chrome Incognito when Chrome is the browser you want to keep separate from your regular window. These steps apply to current Chrome on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iPhone, and iPad.
On desktop, open Chrome, select More at the top right, and choose New Incognito window.
For a keyboard shortcut, press Ctrl+Shift+n on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS. On Mac, press Command+Shift+n.
On Android, open Chrome, tap More, and choose Open in a new Incognito window. On Android tablets, you may find New Incognito window instead. To send a single link straight to a private window, touch and hold the link and choose Open link in new Incognito window.
On iPhone or iPad, open Chrome, tap More, and choose New Incognito Tab.
Open Private Browsing in Safari
Safari uses different entry points on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
- 1.On Mac, open Safari and choose File > New Private Window.
- 2.On iPhone, open Safari, tap the More button, then tap New Private Tab.
- 3.On iPad, open Safari, touch and hold the Tabs button, then tap New Private Tab.
- 4.On Apple Vision Pro, open Safari, tap the Show Sidebar button, then tap Private.
- 5.To exit Private Browsing on Apple Vision Pro, tap Show Sidebar again and switch to another Tab Group.
Start Microsoft Edge InPrivate
Edge calls private browsing InPrivate. On desktop, open Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more, then choose New InPrivate window.
To open a link directly in a private window, right-click or press and hold the link, then select Open link in InPrivate window.
On Windows, right-click or press and hold the Microsoft Edge logo in the taskbar, then choose New InPrivate window.
On Edge mobile, tap Tabs, tap InPrivate, then tap Open a new private tab.
Switch Firefox into a Private Window
This fixes private browsing in Firefox without changing your regular Firefox windows.
Open Firefox.
Click the menu button.
Click New private window.
For a link, right-click it, or hold Control while clicking on Mac.
Choose Open Link in New Private Window.
To end only the current private session, click the End Clear Private Session fire icon to the right of the address bar.
Confirm Clear private session.
Find Private Mode in Other Browsers
On Opera for Mac, choose File > New Private Window.
On Opera for Windows or Linux, choose O Menu > New private window.
On Opera for iPhone or iPad, tap the three-dot menu > Private mode.
On Vivaldi for Windows or Linux, choose Vivaldi menu > File > New Private Window.
For Vivaldi keyboard access, press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+N on macOS.
On Vivaldi for Android, open the Vivaldi menu on the right side of the address bar and choose New Private Tab.
In Samsung Internet, tap the All tab icon or Tabs icon, then tap the Secret mode icon.
On Brave desktop, use the browser's Private Window surface for private browsing.
Use Private Window with Tor Connectivity only when you specifically want Brave's Tor network connection; Brave says it is not a replacement for Tor Browser.
In DuckDuckGo for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, browse in the DuckDuckGo browser and use the Fire Button to erase recent on-device browsing traces when you are finished.
In Samsung Internet, the face mask in the address bar confirms that Secret mode is active.
Send Outside Links to Private Tabs
The most common cause is that links from other apps are still set to open in normal tabs.
In Chrome for iPhone or iPad, open Chrome and go to More > Settings > Privacy and security.
Turn Ask to open links from other apps in Incognito on.
When you open a link from another app, tap Open in Chrome Incognito.
In Firefox for Android, tap the three-dot menu > Settings > Private browsing.
Enable Open links in a private tab.
Lock Private Tabs Before Sharing
Chrome on iPhone and iPad can hide Incognito tabs when you leave the app. Open Chrome and go to More > Settings > Privacy and security > Hide Incognito tabs, then choose Lock immediately with device authentication, Hide after a few minutes, or Don’t hide.
Safari can lock Private Browsing too. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Safari, go to Privacy & Security, and turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing or Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing.
On Mac, open Safari, choose Safari > Settings > Privacy, and select Require Touch ID to view locked tabs. To lock private windows manually, choose Window > Lock All Private Windows.
Firefox for Android uses Settings > Private browsing > Use screen lock to hide tabs in private browsing. Vivaldi for Android uses Settings > Privacy and Security > Lock Private tabs when you leave Vivaldi.
If the lock option fails, set up a device screen lock first, then return to the browser's private-tab lock setting.
Make Private Browsing the Default
Firefox desktop can always use private browsing. Open Settings, select Privacy & Security, go to History, choose Use custom settings for history, check Always use private browsing mode, then restart Firefox.
You can also select Never remember history. Mozilla notes the purple mask is not shown when Firefox is set this way.
Safari on Mac can start with a private window from Safari > Settings > General > Safari opens with > A new private window. When the setting is missing, use Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock and turn on Close windows when quitting an application.
Brave for iOS has its private-only option at Menu > All Settings > Shields & Privacy. Under Other Privacy Settings, turn on Private Browsing Only.
Firefox for iPhone and iPad does not currently support launching in private browsing mode by default. If this method fails on iPhone or iPad, switch manually with the Private tab view each time.
Restore a Missing Private Option
The most common cause is a device restriction, school or work management, or a child account.
On managed Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Brave, private mode can be allowed, disabled, or forced by an administrator. The private option is controlled by the organization instead of the regular browser menu.
On iPhone and iPad, Screen Time web content restrictions can remove access as a restriction side effect. Check Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web, & Games > Web Content; Limit Adult Websites is the documented content restriction involved.
On Samsung Internet, Samsung says child Samsung accounts may have Secret mode disabled. Use an unrestricted account to browse privately on that device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is private browsing called in different browsers?
Chrome calls it Incognito, Microsoft Edge calls it InPrivate, Safari and Firefox call it Private Browsing, Samsung Internet calls it Secret mode, and Opera and Vivaldi use private tabs or private windows.
Can I open a private tab from a phone home screen?
Firefox for Android supports a private browsing home-screen shortcut. Tap the three-dot menu, open Settings, select Private browsing, then tap Add private browsing shortcut.
Why do my extensions disappear in Firefox private windows?
Firefox lets you choose which extensions can run privately. Open Add-ons and themes, select Extensions, choose the extension, then set Run in Private Windows to Allow or Don’t Allow.
Does DuckDuckGo have an Incognito mode?
DuckDuckGo does not use a separate incognito or private-window mode. Its browser has built-in private protections, and the Fire Button erases recent on-device browsing traces.