Enabling Private Browsing in Web Browsers

Owned by June Miller (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jan 24, 2025 by A.J. Newman
1 min read

Private browsing windows are privacy features that most browsers provide to allow users to use the web without the browser storing browsing history and web cache. These windows can also be used to determine if a browser issue is cache-related.

Private browsing does not mask your internet activity from your internet service provider or network administrators. Private browsing windows are ideal for accessing web services on public computers.

Google Chrome instructions

  1. Launch Chrome.

  2. Click on the menu button (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner of the window.

  3. Select New Incognito Window. 

  4. A new gray window will open that says "You've gone incognito." Another way to open an incognito window in Chrome is to use the key combination Ctrl + Shift + N.

Mozilla Firefox instructions

  1. Launch Firefox.

  2. At the top right hand corner of the browser, click the menu button, and then select New Private Window.

  3. The private window will open and you will see a purple mask at the top right corner.

Safari instructions

  1. Launch Safari.

  2. Click File.

  3. Click New Private Window.

Microsoft Edge instructions

  1. Launch Edge.

  2. Click on the menu button (three horizontal dots) in the top-right corner of the window.

  3. Select New InPrivate Window. 

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