How to Go Incognito on iPad: A Step-by-Step Privacy Guide

Want to keep your browsing history private on your iPad? Going incognito is the way to go. This quick guide will show you how to activate private browsing mode on your iPad. It’s simple and only takes a few steps. By the end, you’ll be surfing the web without leaving a trace.

How to Go Incognito on iPad

In this section, you’ll learn how to enable incognito mode on your iPad, ensuring that your browsing history, cookies, and site data are not saved. Follow these easy steps to keep your online activities private.

Step 1: Open Safari

Launch the Safari browser on your iPad.

You’ll see the familiar Safari icon on your home screen. It’s a blue compass on a white background. Tap it to get started.

Step 2: Access the Tabs View

Tap the tabs button in the lower-right corner of the screen.

This button looks like two overlapping rectangles. Tapping it will show you all the open tabs.

Step 3: Switch to Private Mode

Tap the “Private” button in the lower-left corner.

This action will switch your current browsing session to Private mode. You’ll notice the interface changes to a darker color, indicating that you’re now browsing privately.

Step 4: Open a New Private Tab

Tap the “+” button to open a new private tab.

This new tab will be in Private mode, ensuring that your browsing activity is not recorded.

Step 5: Start Browsing

Enter a URL or search term in the address bar and start browsing privately.

Now, you can surf the web without leaving any traces on your iPad.

After completing these steps, you will be browsing in incognito mode. Your history, cookies, and other browsing data won’t be saved, ensuring your privacy.

Tips for How to Go Incognito on iPad

Clear Existing Data : Before switching to incognito mode, clear your existing browsing history and cookies for a fresh start.

Close Private Tabs : When done, always remember to close private tabs to maintain your privacy.

Switch Browsers : Consider using other browsers like Chrome or Firefox, which also have incognito modes.

Use VPN : For added privacy, using a VPN can hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic.

Regular Check : Make it a habit to regularly check if you’re still in private mode, especially if you share your iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is incognito mode.

Incognito mode is a private browsing feature that does not save your history, cookies, or site data.

Does incognito mode hide my IP address?

No, incognito mode does not hide your IP address. For that, you will need a VPN.

Can I use incognito mode on other browsers?

Yes, most browsers like Chrome and Firefox offer a private browsing mode.

Will my downloads be saved in incognito mode?

Yes, files you download will still be saved to your device, even in incognito mode.

Does incognito mode protect me from tracking?

Incognito mode prevents local data from being saved, but websites can still track you using your IP address.

  • Open Safari
  • Access the Tabs View
  • Switch to Private Mode
  • Open a New Private Tab
  • Start Browsing

Going incognito on your iPad is a simple yet effective way to keep your browsing activities private. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily switch to private browsing mode in Safari. While incognito mode helps protect your privacy by not saving your history or cookies, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t make you completely anonymous online. For added privacy, consider using a VPN and regularly clearing your browsing data.

If you find this guide useful, you might want to explore other privacy-enhancing features available on your iPad. Staying informed and vigilant is key to maintaining your online privacy. Happy browsing!

Matthew Burleigh Solve Your Tech

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

Share this:

Join our free newsletter.

Featured guides and deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Related posts:

  • Safari History iPhone: How to See It [2023 Guide]
  • How to Get Out of Incognito Mode on iPhone 14
  • Why Can’t I Create a Private Browsing Tab in Safari on My iPhone?
  • How to Clear Cookies on iPhone
  • How to Go Incognito in YouTube on an iPhone
  • How to Get Out of Incognito Mode on iPhone 14: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • 15 Ways to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone in 2023
  • How to Get Out of Incognito Mode on iPad: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Get Out of Incognito Mode on iPhone 15: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Do Private Browsing on iPhone 15: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Incognito Mode iPhone: How to Browse Privately on Your Device
  • How to Turn Off Private Browsing Mode on Your iPad: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to See Incognito History on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • iOS 17: How to Close All Private Tabs on iPhone Quickly
  • How Can I Remove Safari Cookies on an iPhone 14?: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Turn on Safari Private Browsing on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Can I Quickly Close All of My Private Tabs in Safari on My iPhone?
  • iOS 17: How to Go Incognito in YouTube on iPhone
  • How to Disable Incognito Mode on Android: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Go Incognito in Safari on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

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.

No alt supplied for Image

Swipe to the Private tab group button, then tap the tab that you want to open.

An iPhone showing the Safari app with the Private tab group selected.

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.

An iPhone showing the Safari app in a Private Browsing tab with the Tabs button magnified.

Swipe to the [number] Tabs tab group button, then tap the tab that you want to open.

An iPhone showing the Safari app with the Tabs tab group selected.

Tap Private to show the Tab Groups list.

Tap [number] Tabs, then tap Done.

Learn how to use Private Browsing on your iPad .

how to go incognito safari ipad

Explore Apple Support Community

Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

how to go incognito safari ipad

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

  • Killer Prime Day Apple Deals Available Now!
  • Are Solar Chargers Worth It?

How to Turn on Private Browsing on Your iPad

Keep others from finding out who you and your iPad visited on the web

how to go incognito safari ipad

  • University of Texas at Arlington

What Does Private Browsing Do?

  • Step-by-Step: Use Private Browsing Mode on iPad
  • Things to Remember

Other Ways to Stay Private While Browsing

Private Browsing Mode for iPad turns off web history in the Safari browser. When you're done using Safari and exit the private tabs, nobody can return to the Safari browser to see what you were doing.

These instructions apply to all iPads running iOS 5 or newer. However, with old versions of iOS, the instructions and images might differ slightly than how they're presented below in iOS 12 or in iPadOS 13.

However, these three things happen after you enable Private Browsing Mode for iPad:

  • The iPad doesn't keep track of the websites you visit or the searches you perform in the search bar.
  • Safari blocks certain types of cookies from external websites.
  • The border of the Safari app turns black to indicate that you're browsing privately.

Web browsing in private mode is limited when it comes to maintaining privacy. All this feature does is prevent others who access your iPad from viewing what you've browsed on the web. It does not make you "private" to the sites you visit.

How to Use Private Browsing Mode on iPad

Safari has a dedicated area just for private tabs that you can access by choosing Private . Tap the Private button to put Safari in incognito mode.

Tap the Tabs button.

Select Private .

Tap the Plus sign.

Use Safari as you normally would. It won't remember the pages you visit. Search the web or access a URL just like you can in regular mode.

Things to Remember About Private Browsing Mode

Private tabs on an iPad do not close automatically when you exit Safari. Tap the X in the upper-left side of the tabs to close them completely.

Switch between private and regular tabs at any time without either of them shutting down. To do that, tap the Tabs icon, then tap Private . This step toggles private mode on and off so that you can see the regular tabs but not close the private ones, and vice versa.

If you accidentally opened a tab in regular mode that you wanted to open privately, delete the iPad web history to clear it.

Private Browsing Mode is one method to browse the web anonymously . This special private mode has limits in that it only prevents search and web history from staying on an iPad.

Using private tabs in Safari, Chrome, or any browser isn't the same as using a VPN or hiding your IP address. Private browsing like this doesn't necessarily stop your ISP from monitoring you or prevent hackers from sniffing out your traffic .

To remain anonymously online—like when browsing the web, downloading files, and using torrents—requires a bit more work, such as using the Tor browser or connecting through a VPN service .

Something else you can do in Safari to help keep yourself from being tracked online is to delete cookies regularly, or completely block cookies . Websites use cookies to track your web habits and target you with specific ads.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • How to Turn Off Private Browsing on iPad
  • How to Use Firefox Private Browsing
  • How to Turn on Incognito Mode in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Opera
  • How to Turn On Private Browsing in Safari for iOS
  • How to Close All Tabs in Safari on the iPhone or iPad
  • How to Manage Your Browsing History in Safari
  • How to Use Private Browsing on iPhone
  • How to Use Safari Extensions on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
  • How to Change the Default Search Engine in Chrome for iOS
  • Managing History and Other Private Data in Safari for macOS
  • Can An iPad Get Infected With a Virus?
  • How to Increase Web Browser Security
  • How to Clear Cache on an iPad
  • How to Use the Safari Web Browser on iPhone
  • How to Turn off Incognito Mode
  • What Is Safari?

How-To Geek

How to use safari private browsing on an iphone or ipad.

4

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Apple Watch Not Tracking Sleep? Here's How I Fixed Mine

You can (almost) use circle to search on your iphone with this shortcut, i thought sleep tracking was pointless until i tried 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!

  • iPhone & iPad

How to Do Private Browsing on Your iPad: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want to keep your browsing history under wraps on your iPad? Private browsing is the way to go. It’s a nifty feature that keeps your online activities away from prying eyes. In just a few taps, you can surf the web without leaving a trace. Ready to learn how? Keep reading to become a private browsing pro on your iPad.

Step by Step Tutorial: Private Browsing on Your iPad

Private browsing on your iPad is like going undercover. It’s perfect for when you want to buy a surprise gift or explore sensitive topics without leaving a digital footprint. Let’s dive into how you can activate this feature.

Step 1: Open Safari

Open the Safari app on your iPad to get started with private browsing. Once you’ve launched Safari, you’re one step closer to private browsing bliss. Safari is the default web browser on iPads, and it’s where all the magic happens.

Step 2: Tap the Tabs icon

Look for the Tabs icon, which looks like two overlapping squares, and tap it. The Tabs icon is your gateway to managing your browsing sessions. It’s where you can switch between normal and private browsing modes.

Step 3: Select ‘Private’

Once the Tabs interface is open, find and select the ‘Private’ option to switch modes. After tapping ‘Private,’ you’ll notice the interface changes to a darker color scheme. This visual cue lets you know that you’re now in private browsing mode.

Step 4: Tap ‘+’ to open a new tab

With private browsing active, tap the ‘+’ button to open a new private tab. When you hit the ‘+’ button, a fresh private tab springs to life, ready for your undercover online adventures.

After completing these steps, your browsing won’t be saved in your history, and cookies won’t track you across the web. It’s like you were never there—digital ghost mode activated!

Tips for Private Browsing on Your iPad

  • Remember, private browsing doesn’t make you invisible on the internet. Your internet service provider and websites can still track your activity.
  • Private browsing isn’t just for secret shopping—it’s great for logging into accounts on shared devices without leaving your info behind.
  • When you’re done with a private session, close all private tabs to ensure the next person using the iPad doesn’t stumble upon your activity.
  • Private browsing can also help with troubleshooting website issues, as it doesn’t use cached data.
  • If you’re a fan of shortcuts, holding down the Tabs icon gives you a quick option to jump straight into private browsing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does private browsing on my ipad hide my activity from everyone.

Private browsing on your iPad keeps your activity hidden from other users of your device, but it doesn’t make you completely anonymous online.

Can I set Safari to always open in private browsing mode?

Unfortunately, Safari on the iPad doesn’t have an option to always open in private browsing mode. You’ll have to switch manually each time.

Will private browsing protect me from malware and viruses?

Private browsing doesn’t protect you from malware or viruses. It’s essential to use reliable security software for that.

Can I use bookmarks in private browsing mode?

Yes, you can use bookmarks in private browsing mode, but remember that adding new bookmarks will be saved and visible outside of private browsing.

Does private browsing affect my auto-fill information?

Private browsing doesn’t save auto-fill information during your session, so you’ll have to enter details manually each time.

  • Open Safari on your iPad.
  • Tap the Tabs icon.
  • Select ‘Private’ to switch modes.
  • Tap ‘+’ to open a new private tab.

Private browsing on your iPad serves as your personal cloak of invisibility in the digital world. It’s a simple yet effective tool for maintaining your privacy while browsing the web. Whether you’re planning a surprise or you’re just conscious about your digital footprint, knowing how to go incognito with private browsing can come in handy.

Remember, while private browsing can keep your local browsing history clean, it’s not a silver bullet for online anonymity. Be mindful of other ways your online activity can be tracked and consider additional privacy measures if necessary.

Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of private browsing on your iPad, it’s time to put it into practice. Enjoy the freedom and peace of mind that comes with a more private browsing experience. And if you ever find yourself needing a refresher, this article will always be here to guide you through the steps. Happy browsing!

Matt Jacobs Support Your Tech

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

  • How to Close All Private Tabs on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Use Private Browsing on the iPhone 5: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Why Can’t I Create a Private Browsing Tab in Safari on iPhone?
  • How to Exit Private Browsing on an iPhone 12: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Close All Private Tabs on iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Turn Off Private Browsing on the iPhone 5: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How Can I Tell If I Am In Private Browsing Mode on iPhone?
  • How to Do Private Browsing on iPhone 15: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Enable Firefox Private Browsing on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • iOS 17: How to Close All Private Tabs on iPhone Quickly
  • How to Start a Private Browsing Session in iOS 17 on Your iPhone
  • How to Delete Tabs on iPhone 14
  • How to Return to Private Browsing in iOS 17: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Clear Browsing History on iPhone 14
  • How to View Safari History on iPhone
  • How to Put an iPad in Sleep Mode: Quick and Easy Steps
  • iPhone Guide: How to Close All Safari Tabs
  • iPhone 15: How to Clear Safari History in Just a Few Steps
  • How to Close All iPhone 14 Tabs
  • How to Close All Open Tabs at Once in Safari on iPhone 12

Get Our Free Newsletter

How-to guides and tech deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

  • Trending Now
  • Foundational Courses
  • Data Science
  • Practice Problem
  • Machine Learning
  • System Design
  • DevOps Tutorial

How to Go Incognito in Safari on Mac, iPhone, or iPad?

Today we will learn how to turn on incognito/private mode in Safari browser on iPad, Mac and iPhone. Follow the simple steps below to open stored prescriptions and search the web without deleting history.

To open Incognito mode we just find another tab/window option in Safari, select Private Browsing and click OK and we can browse as we normally would in Safari but with Private Browsing turned on.

What is Incognito/private mode?

Private mode (incognito) is where the browser doesn’t save any data about your session. Now open Safari private mode, here’s how to do it:

Methods To Go Incognito on MAC:

  • Launch Safari from your Mac.

Screenshot-2024-05-27-151953-(1)

private window opening

  • Click on File in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
  • Select New Private Window. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Shift + Command + N.
  • A new window will open with a dark address bar, indicating that we are in Private Browsing mode & now we can search in incognito mode.

Screenshot-2024-05-27-152007

private browsing mode

Turn on Private Browsing on iPhone:

  • Open the Safari app on your iphone.

Screenshot-2024-05-27-152209-imageonlineco-merged-(1)

private browsing in iPhone

  • Now just tap on the tabs button (two overlapping squares) at the bottom right of the screen.
  • Now tap on the Private at the bottom left of the screen.
  • Then on the ‘+’ button to open a new private tab.
  • Now the interface will turn dark, indicating that we are in Private Browsing mode and you are done.

How to Go Incognito on iPad:

  • Now firstly open the Safari app in your iPad.

Screenshot-2024-05-27-152336-(5)

  • Now just tap the tabs group button (two overlapping squares) at the top right of the screen.
  • Then on the Private option as shown in the above screenshot.
  • Now finally on the ‘ +’ button on the top right to open a new private tab.

image-(1)

private browsing on iPad

  • Now, the interface will show private browsing, indicating that we are in Private Browsing mode.

How To Turn off Private Browsing?

  • On Mac: Close the Private Window by clicking the red close button in the top left corner.
  • On iPhone or iPad: Tap the Tabs button, then tap Private again to exit private browsing mode and return to normal browsing.

How to Go Incognito in Safari on Mac, iPhone, or iPad – FAQs

What is private browsing.

Private browsing is a mode in web browsers that doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data. It provides more privacy.

Which browsers support private browsing on Mac, iPhone, and iPad?

All Popular browsers like Safari, Google Chrome, and Firefox support private browsing on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

How can I tell if I’m in a private browsing window in Safari?

The private browsing window will have a dark or black address bar, and Safari will indicate that you are in private browsing mode.

Does private browsing in Safari on Mac save my download history?

No, files you download while using private browsing won’t appear in the downloads list but but the files themselves will remain on your Mac so be careful.

Does private browsing mode affect all tabs on Safari?

No, private browsing mode only affects the tabs opened within the private browsing session. Regular tabs will continue to store history and cookies as they usually do.

Please Login to comment...

Similar reads.

  • Apple Safari

Improve your Coding Skills with Practice

 alt=

What kind of Experience do you want to share?

Your Guide to Private Browsing in Safari

4

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Quick Links

What private browsing does in safari, how to use safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to use safari private browsing on a mac, how to disable safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to disable safari private browsing on a mac, key takeaways.

  • Private Browsing in Safari hides browsing history, autofill details, downloads, and locks tabs after inactivity.
  • Safari on Mac groups private and non-private tabs, while on iPhone it shows all tabs regardless of mode.
  • To use Private Browsing in Safari, identify it by a dark address bar, "Private" indicator, or "Private" next to the site URL.

Most browsers offer a private browsing mode that aims to keep the websites you view off the record. But what exactly does it do in Safari and how do you get the best out of it?

First and foremost, Private Browsing keeps the website pages you visit out of your History . The aim is to prevent someone else from seeing which pages you have visited if they have access to your phone or computer.

In Safari, Private Browsing does a lot more than just hide URLs. It also:

  • Prevents recent searches from showing up in your history.
  • Stops remembering details you enter in forms for autofill.
  • Keeps downloaded items from appearing in your Downloads list.
  • Locks private tabs after a period of inactivity.
  • Adds tracking and fingerprinting protection.

However, it’s important to note that Private Browsing does not stop you from being tracked altogether. Websites you visit will still be able to use various methods to track you, and will still have access to all data that you send them.

On macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, Safari groups private tabs together, and separates them from non-private tabs. On Mac, each Safari window is either private or non-private, and can have as many tabs as you want.

On iPhone, you can switch between private and non-private modes, each of which shows all tabs belonging to that mode.

You can spot when you’re viewing a private tab with these signs:

  • The address bar has a dark background. This may be less noticeable if you’re using Dark Mode .
  • On Mac, you’ll see a prominent Private indicator in the title bar.
  • On iPhone, you’ll see Private alongside the site URL at the bottom of your screen.

The steps to enter Private Browsing mode are nearly identical on an iPhone and iPad. The only difference is that the tab icon is at the bottom of the screen on iOS and the top on iPadOS.

  • Long-press the tab icon (two overlapping pages) on the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (iPad) of your screen.
  • Tap the New Private Tab menu item.
  • If locked, enter your passcode to unlock Private Browsing.

You can enter Private Browsing mode on macOS using either a menu item or a keyboard shortcut:

  • Open the File menu and choose New Private Window .
  • Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd + n .
  • Use the browser as you normally would. Any tabs you open from this window will open in the same window, in private mode.

You may want to prevent users of an iPhone or iPad from using Private Browsing mode at all. To do so:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap on Screen Time .
  • Under RESTRICTIONS , click on Content & Privacy Restrictions .
  • If not already enabled, press the toggle next to Content & Privacy Restrictions to enable.
  • Tap Content Restrictions .
  • Change the Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

The option to enter private mode will now be gone.

On macOS, the wording of certain options differs slightly, but the overall process is near-identical to iOS:

  • Open System Settings via the Apple menu.
  • Click on Screen Time in the left panel.
  • Under the Restrictions section, click on Content & Privacy .
  • Click Content Restrictions .
  • Change the Access to Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

Private Browsing will now be unavailable in Safari, although any existing private windows will stay open.

Of course, anyone can re-enable Private Browsing using the same process, in reverse. However, you can use Screen Time’s Lock Screen Time Settings option to set a passcode and enforce the setting permanently.

  • Private Browsing

How to Enable Incognito Mode in Safari for iOS 15, iPadOS

Use incognito mode in iOS 15 Safari and iPadOS

We will show you how you can use Safari in incognito mode in iOS 15 and iPadOS running iPhone and iPad, respectively.

Learn to Enable Incognito Mode (Private Browsing) in Safari for iOS 15 and iPadOS in a Few Easy Steps

If you are absolutely brand new to the iPhone or iPad, then things might look a different compared to the platform you're coming from. And if you are getting yourself acquainted with Safari for iOS 15 and iPadOS, then you are obviously wondering how you can turn on incognito mode for a private browsing session.

Related Story Apple Supplier TSMC Will Begin Trial Production Of 2nm Chips Next Week, Aiming To Secure A Stable Yield Before Mass Production

In today's tutorial we will walk you through how you can enable the feature and even turn it off so you can return browsing back to normal.

There are two ways you can jump into incognito mode. Either you can open up a tab quickly right from the Home Screen or by opening up a new private browsing session from inside Safari. Let's start with the Home Screen method.

Find the Safari icon and then tap and hold on it until you see a list of options. Simply tap on New Private Tab and you'll jump straight into a new tab and browse completely privately.

how to go incognito safari ipad

Second method involves going into incognito mode from inside Safari. Here's how it goes:

Step 1. Launch the Safari app from the Home Screen.

Step 2. Now tap on the tabs icon as shown below. The icon can be found on the top right if you're using iPadOS.

how to go incognito safari ipad

Step 3. You'll see an option that says Start Page . Tap on it to open.

how to go incognito safari ipad

Step 4. Tap on Private .

how to go incognito safari ipad

Step 5. Now tap on the + sign to open a new private browsing tab.

how to go incognito safari ipad

Once you're done with incognito mode, tap on the tabs button , tap on Private and then select Start Page . Remember, Safari will keep your private tabs in memory if you do not close them. But of course, it won't record anything in history. Therefore it is highly recommended that you close all your private tabs before ending your private browsing session.

If you're coming from Chrome in Android to Safari then you have to re-learn a few things to get into incognito browsing mode in iOS 15 and iPadOS. But interestingly, Chrome for iOS and iPadOS works in the same way as its Android counterpart.

Which browser you end up using it entirely your choice though. Both offer similar functionality but you get more cross-platform syncing features especially if you stick with Chrome.

For more helpful guides and tutorials, head over to this section .

Deal of the Day

how to go incognito safari ipad

Further Reading

how to go incognito safari ipad

Apple Trumps Microsoft To Become World’s Most Valuable Company

Apple has released iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 beta 3 to developers

Download: Apple Releases iOS 18 And iPadOS 18 Beta 3 To Developers For Testing

Siri experience in iOS 18 will release next year with Apple Intelligence

iOS 18 Release Will Not Include New Siri Features With Apple Intelligence, You Will Have To Wait Until Spring Of Next Year

Apple Watch SE made of hard plastic in the works

Apple To Launch A New Variant Of The Apple Watch SE Made From Hard Plastic, Retaining The Same Design But With Reduced Cost

Trending stories, apple has reportedly hit ‘major milestones’ with blood glucose monitoring, but no word if the feature will arrive for its smartwatches this year, xbox series x|s could run playstation 3 games before the playstation 5, thanks to new dev mode update, huawei reaches another milestone with its mate 60, as all models have cumulatively shipped 10 million units in china, amd ryzen 9 9950x es cpu is faster than ryzen 9 5950x at just 90w, ryzen 9 9900x, ryzen 7 9700x, ryzen 5 9600x tested at default tdp, amd ryzen 7 9700x 8-core “zen 5” desktop cpu performance leaked – faster in single-core versus 14900ks, beats 7700x by 14%.

how to go incognito safari ipad

Popular Discussions

Amd rdna 4 “radeon rx 8000” gpus reportedly debut in 2025: navi 48 at ces & navi 44 in q2, amd ryzen 9 9900x 12-core cpu benchmark leak, beats intel core i9-14900ks in single-core & matches 14900k in multi-thread test, intel pushes out new linux patches for lunar lake & arrow lake, focusing on next-gen performance monitoring capabilities, amd ryzen 9 9900x 12-core “zen 5” cpu performance in cinebench r23 leaks, 20% uplift over 7900x with pbo, intel 800-series chipsets detailed: z890 with ia, bclk & memory oc, w880, q870, b860 & h810 without cpu overclocking.

How To Use Incognito Mode On Your iPhone And iPad

Apple iPhone private browsing

Whether you're trying to get an undercover edge on  holiday shopping  or just looking to cover the tracks of your internet history, knowing how to use Private Browsing on your iPhone or iPad makes it easier to protect your digital privacy. You may know this feature as the Incognito Mode if you're a frequent user of Google Chrome. Apple refers to the feature as Private Browsing on Safari, but the concept is the same. During a private browsing session, your browser will not save your history, cache, or cookies — thus, leaving your public browsing data completely untouched. That makes the feature useful, though many consumers remain confused about how data is handled in this mode.

Turning Private Browsing on and off is very simple on the iPad and iPhone. While it is a smart way to protect your browsing privacy from those around you who might share your device, it also prevents activity performed while in private mode from influencing targeted ads once the tab is closed (via AdBlock ). No matter what reason you have for protecting your digital privacy, Private Browsing is a good tool in your digital arsenal.

How to use Private Browsing on an iPhone and iPad

Apple's mobile devices offer its web browser Safari, which features the Private Browsing option. If you're using a browser other than Safari, it may offer a similar feature under a name like "incognito," and the steps used to access it will likely vary. As well, turning Private Browsing on and off varies slightly between the iPhone and iPad.

  • Tap the Safari app on your device's home screen.
  • On an iPhone, tap the Tabs button in the bottom right corner of Safari. On an iPad, hold the Tabs button on the top right of Safari.
  • On the very bottom of your screen, tap the button indicating the # of tabs opened. iPad users can skip this step.
  • Tap the button that says Private, then select done.

Once turned on, Private Browsing will prevent Safari from tracking and logging your browsing data. This means that your public browser will not add the history of websites you visit during your Private Browsing session. However, you should know that internet service providers, government agencies, and other parties can still see and access your activity.

How to turn off Private Browsing on an iPhone and iPad

When you've finished your Private Browsing session, you should head back to your public browser — otherwise, any browsing data you wish to be tracked will not be logged. This can be particularly frustrating when using autofill passwords and other cached details, so if you want this data to be saved, be sure you have Private Browsing turned off.

  • Tap the Tabs button in the bottom right corner of Safari.
  • For both devices, tap the button that says Private on the bottom of the screen to bring up the Tab Groups lists.
  • On an iPhone, tap the button that shows how many tabs are open in your browser. On an iPad, tap the Tabs button at the very top of the Tabs Groups list.

Each time you exit Private Browsing, Safari will completely clear the cookies and cache you accrued during the session (via Apple ). This is handy for covering your digital tracks and denying advertisers your personal information, but not so much for saving things like bookmarks. The good news is that after you leave Private Browsing, all of your saved data will still be waiting for you in your public browser.

When you should use Private Browsing on an iPhone or iPad

There are many reasons you should have Private Browsing turned on. For starters, it can be a very helpful tool when shopping for birthday and holiday gifts. If you share your iPad or iPhone with others, they can easily see your browsing history on accident (or on purpose) and spoil whatever surprise you had in mind. Using a private tab will prevent your search history and browsing activity from being recorded, making it much harder for someone to snoop.

Another reason you should have Private Browsing turned on relates to online privacy and targeted advertisements . Namely, the browsing activity you conduct while in a private tab won't have any influence on the targeted ads you see later on. So, for example, if you search for a particular product to give as a gift that you don't have any interest in yourself, you won't have to worry about it popping up in targeted advertisements later on.

On the other hand, if you use your device for work or school purposes, you'll probably want to have Private Browsing toggled off. This is because your usernames, passwords, and bookmarks will not be available when it is toggled on, forcing you to manually enter them every time and reducing your overall online efficiency. As well, if you close a web page you wanted to read later on, you won't be able to scroll through your history to find it once the private tab is closed.

  • Generative AI
  • Office Suites
  • Collaboration Software
  • Productivity Software
  • Augmented Reality
  • Emerging Technology
  • Remote Work
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Operating Systems
  • IT Leadership
  • IT Management
  • IT Operations
  • Cloud Computing
  • Computers and Peripherals
  • Data Center
  • Enterprise Applications
  • Vendors and Providers
  • Enterprise Buyer’s Guides
  • United States
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
  • New Zealand
  • Newsletters
  • Foundry Careers
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • Member Preferences
  • About AdChoices
  • E-commerce Affiliate Relationships
  • Your California Privacy Rights

Our Network

  • Network World

gregg keizer

How to go incognito in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari

While incognito mode in any of the big four web browsers offers a measure of privacy, it doesn’t completely hide your tracks online. here’s how the feature works in each browser, and how to use it..

face superimposed on keyboard privacy hacker

Private browsing. Incognito . Privacy mode.

Web browser functions like those trace their roots back more than a decade, and the feature — first found in a top browser in 2005 — spread quickly as one copied another, made tweaks and minor improvements.

But privacy-promising labels can be treacherous. Simply put, going “ incognito ” is as effective in guarding online privacy as witchcraft is in warding off a common cold.

That’s because private browsing is intended to wipe local traces of where you’ve been, what you’ve searched for, the contents of forms you’ve filled. It’s meant to hide, and not always conclusively at that, your tracks from others with access to the personal computer. That’s it.

How to keep web browsing private

Google chrome’s incognito mode, microsoft edge’s private browsing, mozilla firefox’s private browsing mode, apple’s safari private windows.

At their most basic, these features promise that they won’t record visited sites to the browsing history, save cookies that show you’ve been to and logged into sites, or remember credentials like passwords used during sessions. But your traipses through the web are still traceable by Internet providers – and the authorities who serve subpoenas to those entities – employers who control the company network and advertisers who follow your every footstep.

To end that cognitive dissonance, most browsers have added more advanced privacy tools , generically known as “anti-trackers,” which block various kinds of bite-sized chunks of code that advertisers and websites use to trace where people go in attempts to compile digital dossiers or serve targeted advertisements.

Although it might seem reasonable that a browser’s end game would be to craft a system that blends incognito modes with anti-tracking, it’s highly unlikely. Using either private browsing or anti-tracking carries a cost: site passwords aren’t saved for the next visit or sites break under the tracker scrubbing. Nor are those costs equal. It’s much easier to turn on some level of anti-tracking by default than it would be to do the same for private sessions, as evidenced by the number of browsers that do the former without complaint while none do the latter.

Private browsing will, by necessity, always be a niche, as long as sites rely on cookies for mundane things like log-ins and cart contents.

But the mode remains a useful tool whenever the browser — and the computer it’s on — are shared. To prove that, we’ve assembled instructions and insights on using the incognito features — and anti-tracking tools — offered by the top four browsers: Google Chrome , Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge , Mozilla’s Firefox and Apple’s Safari.

How to go incognito in Google Chrome

Although incognito may be a synonym to some users for any browser’s private mode, Google gets credit for grabbing the word as the feature’s snappiest name when it launched the tool in late 2008, just months after Chrome debuted.

The easiest way to open an Incognito window is with the keyboard shortcut combination Ctrl-Shift-N (Windows) or Command-Shift-N (macOS).

Another way is to click on the menu on the upper right – it’s the three vertical dots – and select New Incognito Window from the list.

incognito 1

Open a new Incognito window in Chrome using keyboard shortcuts or from the menu (1) by choosing New Incognito window (2).

The new Incognito window can be recognized by the dark background and the stylized “spy” icon just to the left of the three-dots menu. Chrome also reminds users of just what Incognito does and doesn’t do each time a new window is opened. The message may get tiresome for regular Incognito users, but it may also save a job or reputation; it’s important that users remember Incognito doesn’t prevent ISPs, businesses, schools and organizations from knowing where customers, workers, students, and others went on the web or what they searched for.

incognito 2

Each time a new Incognito window is opened, Chrome reminds users what Incognito doesn’t save. As of Chrome 83, it also puts a toggle on the screen for blocking third-party cookies.

Incognito’s introductory screen also displays a toggle — it’s on by default — along with text that states third-party cookies will be blocked while in the privacy mode. Although cookies are never saved locally as long as the user stays in Incognito, websites have been able to track user movements from site to site while within Incognito . Such tracking might be used, for example, to display ads to a user visiting multiple sites in Incognito. This third-party cookie blocking, which halts such behavior, debuted in Chrome 83 in May 2020.

Google has been experimenting with new language on Chrome’s Incognito introductory page, but it’s yet to make it to the desktop browser. In the Canary build of Chrome on Android, however, the intro now outlines “What Incognito does” and “What Incognito doesn’t do,” to make the mode’s capabilities somewhat clearer to the user. (Some have speculated that the changes were made in reaction to a still-ongoing class-action lawsuit file in 2020 that alleged Google continued to track users’ online behavior and movements in Incognito.)

Once a tab in Incognito has been filled with a website, Chrome continues to remind users that they’re in Incognito by the dark background of the address bar and window title.

A link on an existing page can be opened directly into Incognito by right-clicking the link, then choosing Open Link in Incognito Window from the resulting menu.

incognito 3

What Incognito looks like after pulling up a website. Note the “spy” icon at the right of the address bar.

To close an Incognito window, shutter it like any other Chrome window by clicking the X in the upper right corner (Windows) or the red dot in the upper left (macOS).

Pro tip: Google has been working on locking Incognito mode tabs on mobile devices — the tabs unlocked with built-in biometric features — so that others can’t get a look at the privacy mode’s content simply by picking up another’s phone or tablet. Google is currently rolling out this feature in Chrome 92 on iOS, and still testing it in preview builds of Chrome for Android. No word on whether desktop Chrome will get something similar.

How to privately browse in Microsoft Edge

borrowed the name of its private browsing mode, InPrivate, from Internet Explorer (IE), the finally-being-retired legacy browser. InPrivate appeared in IE in March 2009, about three months after Chrome’s Incognito and three months before Firefox’s privacy mode. When Edge was first released in 2015 and then relaunched as a clone of Chrome in January 2020, InPrivate was part of the package, too.

At the keyboard, the combination of Ctrl-Shift-N (Windows) or Command-Shift-N (macOS) opens an InPrivate window.

A slower way to get there is to click on the menu at the upper right — it’s three dots arranged horizontally — and choose New InPrivate Window from the menu.

incognito 10

Like other browser, Edge will take you incognito from the menu (1) when you pick New InPrivate window (2).

Edge does a more thorough job of explaining what its private browsing mode does and doesn’t do than any of its rivals, with on-screen paragraphs dedicated to describing what data the browser collects in InPrivate and how the strictest additional anti-tracking setting can be called on from within the mode. In addition, Edge 92 — the current version as of this writing — uses the more informal “What Incognito does” and “What Incognito doesn’t do” language on its InPrivate introductory screen, something desktop Chrome hasn’t yet gotten to.

Microsoft’s browser also well marks InPrivate when the mode is operating: a blue-colored oval marked “In Private” to the right of the address bar combines with a full-black screen to make sure users know where they’re at.

incognito 11

The white-on-blue oval at the upper right tells you Edge is in InPrivate mode.

It’s also possible to launch an InPrivate session by right-clicking a link within Edge and selecting Open in InPrivate Window . That option is grayed out when already in a private browsing session but using Open Link in New Tab does just that within the current InPrivate frame.

To end InPrivate browsing, simply shut the window by clicking the X in the upper right corner (Windows) or click the red dot at the upper left (macOS).

Although Microsoft based the relaunched Edge on Chromium, the same open-source project that comes up with the code to power Chrome, the Redmond, Wash. company has integrated anti-tracking into its browser, something Chrome has yet to do. Dubbed “Tracking Prevention,” it works both in Edge’s standard and InPrivate modes.

To set Tracking Prevention, choose Settings from the three-ellipses menu at the right, then at the next page, pick Privacy, Search and Services . Choose one of the three options — Basic, Balanced or Strict — and make sure the toggle for Tracking prevention is in the “on” position. If you want InPrivate to always default to the harshest anti-tracking — not a bad idea — toggle Always use “Strict” tracking prevention when browsing InPrivate to “on.”

incognito 12

Toggle Always use Strict to the ‘on’ position and InPrivate will apply the most stringent anti-tracking even though Edge’s standard mode is set to, say, Balanced.

Pro tip: To open Edge with InPrivate — rather than first opening Edge in standard mode, then launching InPrivate — right-click the Edge icon in the Windows taskbar and select New InPrivate Window from the list. There is no similar one-step way to do this in macOS.

How to do private browsing in Mozilla Firefox

After Chrome trumpeted Incognito, browsers without something similar hustled to catch up. Mozilla added its take — dubbed Private Browsing — about six months after Google, in June 2009, with Firefox 3.5.

From the keyboard, a private browsing session can be called up using the combination Ctrl-Shift-P (Windows) or Command-Shift-P (macOS).

Alternately, a private window will open from the menu at the upper right of Firefox — three short horizontal lines — after selecting New private window .

incognito 4

Opening a private browsing window is as simple as choosing New Private Window (2) from the Firefox menu (1).

A private session window is marked by the purple “mask” icon in the title bar of the Firefox frame. In Windows, the icon is to the left of the minimize/maximize/close buttons; on a Mac, the mask squats at the far right of the title bar. Unlike Chrome and Edge, Firefox does not color-code the top components of the browser window to signify the user is in privacy mode.

Like other browsers, Firefox warns users that private browsing is no cure-all for privacy ills but is limited in what it blocks from being saved during a session. “While this doesn’t make you anonymous to websites or your internet service provider, it makes it easier to keep what you do online private from anyone else who uses this computer,” the caution reads.

Firefox 2021

Firefox reminds users that while a private session doesn’t save searches or browsing histories, it doesn’t cloak them in complete anonymity.

(Firefox also uses the Private Browsing introductory screen to shill the Mozilla VPN service, a $5 to $10 per month virtual private network that can, like other VPNs, hide your actual IP address from destination servers.)

A link can be opened into a Firefox Private Window by right-clicking the link, then choosing Open Link in New Private Window from the menu.

To close a Private Window, shut it down just as one would any Firefox window by clicking the X in the upper right corner (Windows) or the red dot in the upper left (macOS).

Notable is that Firefox’s private browsing mode is accompanied by the browser’s superb “Enhanced Tracking Protection,” a suite of tracker blocking tools that stymie all sorts of ad-and-site methods for identifying users, then watching and recording their online behavior. While the earliest version of this was offered only inside Private Windows, the expanded technologies also work within standard mode.

Because Enhanced Tracking Protection is enabled by default within Firefox, it doesn’t matter which of its settings — Standard, Strict or Custom — is selected as far as private browsing goes; everything that can be blocked will be blocked.

incognito 6

The shield appears in the address bar to note what trackers were blocked by Firefox in a Private Window. Clicking on the icon brings up an accounting of what was barred.

Pro tip: As of Firefox 91, Private Browsing sessions take place over the more secure HTTPS, not the once-standard HTTP protocol. Users don’t need to do anything: The new HTTPS-only policy is on by default. (If the destination site doesn’t support HTPPS, Firefox will recognize this and go into fallback mode, connecting via HTTP instead.)

How to browse privately using Apple’s Safari

Chrome may get far more attention for its Incognito than any other browser — no surprise, since it’s by far the most popular browser on the planet — but Apple’s Safari was actually the first to introduce private browsing. The term private browsing was first bandied in 2005 to describe Safari 2.0 features that limited what was saved by the browser.

Side note: Early in private browsing, the label porn mode was often used as a synonym to describe what many writers and reporters assumed was the primary application of the feature. The term has fallen out of favor.

To open what Safari calls a Private Window on a Mac, users can do a three-key combination of Command-Shift-N , the same shortcut Chrome adopted. Otherwise, a window can be called up by selecting the File menu and clicking on New Private Window.

safari incognito 1

From the File menu (1), New Private Window (2) gets you started.

Safari tags each Private Window by darkening the address bar. It also issues a reminder of what it does — or more accurately — what it doesn’t do. “Safari will keep your browsing history private for all tabs of this window. After you close this window, Safari won’t remember the pages you visited, your search history or your AutoFill information,” the top-of-the-page note reads. The warning is more terse than those of other browsers and omits cautions about still-visible online activity.

incognito 8

The darkened address bar up at the top is the signal that this Safari window is for private browsing.

Like Firefox, Safari automatically engages additional privacy technologies, whether the user browses in standard or private mode. Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Protection (ITP), which kicked off in 2017 and has been repeatedly upgraded since, now blocks all third-party cookies, among other components advertisers and services use to track people as they bounce from one site to another. ITP is controlled by a single on-off switch — on is the default — found in Preferences under the Privacy icon. If the Website tracking: box is checked to mark Prevent cross-site tracking , ITP is on.

incognito 9

Switching on cross-site tracking enables Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Protection, which blocks a wide variety of bits advertisers try to use to follow you around the web while you’re using a Private Window

A link can be opened directly to a Private Window by right-clicking, then selecting Open Link in New Private Window . Close a Private Window just as any Safari window, by clicking the red dot in the upper left corner of the browser frame.

Pro tip: Once in a Safari Private Window, opening a new tab — either by clicking the + icon at the upper right or by using the Command-T key combo — omits the Private Browsing Enabled notice. (The darkened address bar remains as the sole indicator of a private browsing session.) Other browsers, such as Firefox, repeat their cautionary messages each time a tab is opened in an incognito session.

Related content

Open ai has developed a scale to assess how close we are to agi, now microsoft copilot can understand your handwriting, zoom adds workflow automation to save time on routine tasks, download our android smartphones enterprise buyer’s guide, from our editors straight to your inbox.

gregg keizer

Gregg Keizer covers Windows, Office, Apple/enterprise, web browsers, and web apps for Computerworld.

More from this author

What’s in the latest firefox update 93 improves smartblock, debuts sponsored search suggestions, microsoft lets windows 11 loose on the world, microsoft sets perpetual-license office 2021 prices, reveals new-feature list, chrome, edge kick off faster release cadence; enterprises can skip versions, how windows 10 ends up a lot like windows 7, microsoft releases new perpetual office for enterprise, apple hits the alarm with multi-os emergency update to patch zero-click flaw, fast forward: what’s coming in future chrome updates, most popular authors.

how to go incognito safari ipad

  • Gyana Swain

Show me more

Will apple stop at messages via satellite.

Image

What to do when Windows won’t boot

Image

What is UEM? Unified endpoint management explained

Image

Podcast: Why a TikTok ban makes sense

Image

Podcast: Are audio AI companies infringing on musicians' rights?

Image

Podcast: What skills will future tech leaders need?

Image

What will spatial computing look like in 2030?

Image

Why a TikTok ban makes sense

Image

Music companies strike back against audio AI

Image

Sponsored Links

  • Get Cisco UCS X-Series Chassis and Fabric Interconnects offer.

how to go incognito safari ipad

How To : Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

Private Browsing mode finally lives up to its name in Apple's huge Safari 17 update for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. So whether you search for things you don't want anybody to know about or want to ensure websites and trackers aren't eavesdropping on your activity, you'll want to update your devices pronto.

By default, each tab in Safari's Private Browsing mode on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS is its own environment, isolated from your other tabs, so websites can't track your activity from the current tab to another session. You also won't see any recent private searches suggested when performing new searches in other tabs.

  • Don't Miss: 15+ New Apple Notes Features for iPhone and iPad That Will Finally Make It Your Go-To Notes App

Private tabs do not sync with iCloud, so they won't show up on your other Apple devices, and they won't work with Handoff or show downloaded files in Safari's downloads list. Once you close a Private Browsing tab, Safari forgets the pages you visited, your search history, your AutoFill information, and any new cookies or website data from the session.

But incognito browsing in Safari has even more protection available with the iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 , and macOS 14 Sonoma software updates. Here's everything you get with the new for-you-eyes-only browsing experience:

1. Face ID, Touch ID, or Password Protection

Safari's Private Browsing mode is now protected behind biometric authentication or your device passcode or password. So whenever you switch to Private Browsing from regular browsing or return to it from another app or window, you'll need to authenticate yourself using Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

If the biometrics scan doesn't work or your device is not equipped with biometric protection, you can use your device's passcode or password instead.

While it's more useful on iPad and Mac, devices frequently shared between family members or housemates, it can also ensure no one can access your locked incognito tabs on your iPhone whenever someone borrows it or hacks into it.

Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

If Private Browsing is not locked on your device or you want to disable it, you can quickly turn it on or off.

  • On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings –> Safari –> Privacy & Security, toggle on or off "Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing" or "Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing," and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. ( Shown below. )
  • On Mac: Go to Safari –> Settings –> Privacy, then check or uncheck "Require Touch ID to view locked tabs" or "Require password to view locked tabs."

Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

2. A Separate Search Engine

You could already change Safari's search engine on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but now you can choose separate search engines for regular and private browsing.

For example, you may like Google as your regular search engine, but you may want something like DuckDuckGo, which does not build user profiles and aims to prevent online tracking, as your search engine for Private Browsing mode. This can make Private Browsing even more private.

  • On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings –> Safari –> Private Search Engine, then choose the one you want. ( Shown below. )
  • On Mac: Go to Safari –> Settings –> Search, click the browser next to "Private Browsing search engine," and choose the one you want.

You can choose between "Use Default Search Engine" or any available search engine, including Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuck Go, and Ecosia. If you have additional languages installed on your device, you may see other options, such as Baidu, Sogou, Yandex, and 360 Search.

Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

3. Protection Against Extensions That Access Page Content

Before, any Safari extensions you had turned on for regular browsing also applied to Private Browsing mode. Now, "extensions that inject scripts or can read information about the pages [you visit]" are disabled by default in Private Browsing mode on iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14 Sonoma, according to Apple.

In contrast, content blockers and other extensions that don't access any content on webpages are allowed in Private Browsing mode by default. This is because they don't pose any additional privacy or security concerns.

4. Customization Options for Extensions

As you could probably guess from the previous section, Safari 17 now lets you toggle extensions on or off for Private Browsing mode without affecting their status in regular browsing mode. So if you ever want to turn on an extension that Safari automatically disabled for Private Browsing, you can do that. And you can turn off any extension in Private Browsing you don't want or need when searching incognito.

  • On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings –> Safari –> Extensions, tap an extension, and toggle the "Private Browsing" switch on or off. ( Shown below. )
  • On Mac: Go to Safari –> Settings –> Extensions, click on an extension, and toggle "Private Browsing" on or off.

When an extension is completely disabled, you won't be able to turn it on for Private Browsing alone. But when enabled on your "Personal" profile , you can turn it on or off for Private Browsing and any of your other profiles .

Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

5. Automatic Tracker Blocking on Websites

Safari 17 has more advanced tracking and fingerprinting protection. In Private Browsing mode, it completely blocks known trackers from loading on pages.

6. Automatic Removal of Tracking IDs in Links

Safari 17 also includes Link Tracking Protection automatically for Private Browsing. Link Tracking Protection disables known tracking parameters appended to URLs that websites use to monitor your movements across the web and build profiles on you. For example, it may turn this:

To ensure it's enabled for Private Browsing, follow the applicable instructions below.

  • On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings –> Safari –> Advanced –> Advanced Tracking and Fingerprint Protection, then choose either "All Browsing" or "Private Browsing." ( Shown below. )
  • On Mac: Go to Safari –> Settings –> Advanced, click "in Private Browsing" next to "Use advanced tracking and fingerprinting protection," and change it to "in all browsing" or "in Private Browsing."

Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More Private on iOS 17

Link Tracking Protection is an improvement in privacy, for sure, but it's not going to stop all marketing companies as there are ways to bypass parameter removals.

Other New Safari Features Also Work in Private Browsing

While the above features improve privacy when using Private Browsing mode, you can also use many of the other new features Safari has to offer when browsing incognito. Features that work in regular browsing that also work in Private Browsing include speedier Tab Group switching, faster and more relevant search suggestions, the new screen reader, and more.

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new features for Podcasts, News, Books, and TV, as well as important security improvements and fresh wallpapers. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.5 update.

Be the First to Comment

Share your thoughts, how to : dial these secret codes to see if someone is hijacking calls & texts on your iphone, warning : sensitive info you black out in images can be revealed with a few quick edits on your iphone, how to : 16 harry potter spells for siri that turn your iphone into a magical elder wand, how to : 100+ secret dialer codes for your iphone, how to : clear your frequently used and recent emoji from your iphone's keyboard, how to : if 'messages' consumes too much iphone or icloud storage, don't delete your conversations just yet, how to : make siri run google assistant commands on your iphone, how to : 20 hidden calculator tricks for your iphone, how to : set a custom contact poster on your iphone others will see when you call them, how to : download and install ios 17.6 beta on your iphone — and try new features before everyone else, how to : add android, linux & windows users to facetime calls in ios 15, how to : the ultimate guide to customizing your iphone, how to : keep your night vision sharp with the iphone's hidden red screen, how to : the easiest way to secretly record someone's conversation with your iphone, how to : turn any website into a full-screen app on your iphone, how to : trigger imessage effects with just a keyword, how to : see your iphone's actual signal strength for cellular reception, how to : 15 hidden imessage features for iphone you probably didn't know about, how to : use any animated gif as your iphone's lock screen wallpaper, how to : you can run shortcuts right from your iphone's lock screen & here are 6 ways to do it.

  • All Features
  • All Hot Posts

How to Go Incognito on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

In this article you will find the following:

When looking to stop websites from tracking you, activating incognito mode on Safari is a popular starting point. Sites won’t be able to use cookies to learn more about you, and you can also avoid having data you fill in forms being stored.

In addition to your Mac, you can go incognito on your iPhone and iPad. You can use third-party solutions to add extra protection, but we’ll largely discuss how to browse privately below.  

Before we begin   Besides using incognito mode, you can maximize your online security by security tools and a VPN. MacKeeper offers a VPN to keep your data private, and you can use its antivirus and adware cleaner tools when you download MacKeeper .  

How to Go Incognito on Mac  

Incognito mode on Safari is easy to activate on a Mac, and you can use more than one method to do so. Holding the Shift , Command , and N keys simultaneously is the simplest way to open a new window.  

Alternatively, you can launch Safari and follow the instructions listed below to open a private Safari window on your Mac.

1. Go to File in the top left-hand corner

how to go incognito safari ipad

2. Click on New Private Window

how to go incognito safari ipad

Once you’ve carried out the two above actions, you will see a new incognito window appear separate from the one you’ve already got open. You can easily identify private browsers on a Mac by the black web address bar and message appearing at the top of your screen.  

How to Exit Private Browsing Mode on Mac

Despite the benefits of incognito mode on Mac, you might want to return to a normal web browser. If you haven’t set private browsing as the default, you can simply close the incognito window.  

Another alternative is to follow the instructions below.  

1. When on the private browsing Safari window, go to File in the top left of your toolbar

2. Go to New Window

how to go incognito safari ipad

Once you’ve selected the New Window option, you can browse as normal on Safari.

To continue browsing on a specific website, you’ll need to copy and paste the address from your private browser. As such, you should wait until you’ve opened the non-private browser before closing that particular window.  

How to Go Incognito on Chrome on Mac  

Having read this far, you know how to open a private browser on your Mac via Safari. However, Safari isn’t the only Mac browser with incognito capabilities. If you use Google Chrome, you can similarly surf the web using incognito mode.  

Follow the steps listed below to activate incognito mode in Chrome on Mac.  

1. Go to the three vertical dots icon on the right-hand side of your browser  

Three dots icon for Chrome

2. When the dropdown menu appears, select New Incognito Window  

new private window on Mac

When you choose to open a new incognito window on Chrome, you will notice that your browser is black. On the start page, you can also choose whether you want to block third-party cookies or not. Toggle the option on or off depending on your preferences.  

how to block third-party cookies on Chrome

  • How to Go Incognito in Safari on an iPhone

What is incognito mode on iPhone, we hear you ask?  

The mode is identical to Safari on your Mac . When activated, you'll enjoy all the same benefits as you would on your computer – such as not having cookies track your activity.  

If you want to use incognito mode on your iPhone, activating it is straightforward. The steps differ compared to if you did on a Mac.

1. Open Safari on your device and go to the two overlapping squares icon in the bottom right  

how to select two square icon on Safari on iPhone

2. Select the Start Page tab at the bottom of the next window  

Start page option on Safari on iOS

3. When the list of options appears, tap on the Private tab

private browsing option on iOS Safari

4. Hit Done on the next window  

how to go incognito safari ipad

When you activate private mode on Safari on your iPhone, your web address bar will go black. At the top, you will see a message noting that you're now using incognito browsing.  

How to Exit Incognito Browsing on Safari on iPhone  

If you later want to stop browsing in private mode on your iPhone, you don't need to do too much. Follow the instructions below to achieve your desired result.

1. Go to the two squares icon and click on it  

two squares icon on Safari when in private mode on iOS

2. Close the window you're currently browsing in by hitting the x symbol

close icon for private tab on Safari iOS

3. Go to the Private tab at the bottom of your screen  

4. After expanding, click on Start Page  

Start page option for Safari iOS

You should see non-private browsing mode appear straight after following these steps.  

How to Make Incognito Default Mode on Your Phone (iOS)

You can't make incognito the default mode on Safari for iOS, but you can stop cookies from tracking you – even if you don't use private browsing. To do that, follow the instructions below.  

1. Open Settings and go to Safari  

Safari tab in settings on iphone

2. Scroll down to Privacy & Security

3. Toggle the Block All Cookies option on  

toggle block all cookies button for ios

As you can see above, you can also hide your IP address in a separate tab. Above Block All Cookies , you'll see a tab titled Hide IP Address . Open this and select From Trackers .  

At the top of the Privacy & Security section, you can also turn on the Prevent Cross-Site Tracking feature .

  • How to Access Incognito Mode on an iPad

If you want to use incognito mode on your iPad, the steps are similar to doing so on an iPhone. To open your device's private browsing window on Safari, follow the steps listed beneath this paragraph.  

1. Open Safari on your iPad and go to the four squares icon in the top right  

home screen on ipad

2. Go to the Start Page tab and tap on it to expand the dropdown menu

start page option on ipad

3. Select Private  

option for private browser on ipad

4. Click Done in the top right-hand corner  

press done on ipad private browsing

When you've followed these instructions, your iPad will open a private browsing window on Safari. You can close your incognito tabs to exit private browsing mode and go to the Private option. From there, select Start Page.  

How Confidential Is Private Browsing on a Mac or iPhone?  

While incognito offers more privacy than ordinary browsing on your device, many users commonly believe they're completely anonymous. If you want to hide cookies and delete your login details after using a website, private browsing will offer you an ideal layer of protection.

However, using private browsing does not mean that your internet service provider (ISP) cannot see what you do. And if you're at work, your employer might still have access to the websites you visit while on the company's Wi-Fi network. The same goes for educational institutions.

You should also note that if location settings are switched on, browsing incognito will not stop others from seeing where you are. Moreover, others can still see your IP address.

If you want more confidentiality when browsing online, you should strongly consider using a VPN. VPNs will mask your IP address, meaning that ISPs and advertisers will have a harder time detecting you. When you download MacKeeper ’s VPN, for example, offers you both of these – plus encryption for online payments and protection for your Wi-Fi data.  

Going Incognito Is Easy Across All Apple Devices  

Having read to the end of this article, you now know how to open an incognito tab on Mac using Safari and Chrome. You also know how to do likewise with your iPhone or iPad.

But while incognito can offer basic protection, it's not the same as having a full-scale privacy app. Moreover, it doesn't stop viruses or spyware. If you use MacKeeper, however, you can access a VPN and various antivirus tools.

You’ll love exploring your Mac with us.

Oops, something went wrong.

Try again or reload a page.

  • How to Go Incognito on Mac  
  • How Confidential Is Private Browsing on a Mac or iPhone?  
  • Going Incognito Is Easy Across All Apple Devices  

icon

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

Secure your browsing with MacKeeper.

PC

MacKeeper - your all-in-one solution for more space and maximum security.

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password From Any Device

We respect your privacy and use cookies for the best site experience.

Privacy Preferences Center

We use cookies along with other tools to give you the best possible experience while using the MacKeeper website. Cookies are small text files that help the website load faster. The cookies we use don’t contain any type of personal data meaning they never store information such as your location, email address, or IP address.

Help us improve how you interact with our website by accepting the use of cookies. You can change your privacy settings whenever you like.

Manage consent

All cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for enabling basic website functionality (including page navigation, form submission, language detection, post commenting), downloading and purchasing software. The website might malfunction without these cookies.

Download MacKeeper when you're back at your Mac

Please enter your email so we can send you a download link

Check your email on your Mac

Install MacKeeper on your Mac computer to rediscover its true power.

arrow

Run Application

step_1

Click Continue

step_2

Click Install

step_1

Your macOS version is lower than OS 10.11. We’d like to offer you MacKeeper 4 to solve the cleaning, privacy, and security issues of your macOS.

AVG

  • Security Tips
  • Social Media
  • Privacy Tips
  • Performance Tips

AVG

How to Use Private Browsing in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

Private Browsing in Safari automatically removes temporary files from your device, such as browsing history, cookies, and form data. This prevents others who use your device from seeing your online activity. Learn how to turn on Private Browsing on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Then, level up your browser security by using a dedicated secure and private browser.

Get it for PC , Mac , iOS

Get it for Android , iOS , Mac

Get it for iOS , Android , PC

Get it for Mac , PC , Android

Signal-How-to-Use-Private-Browsing-in-Safari-Hero

How to turn on Private Browsing on an iPhone or iPad

Turning on Safari Private Browsing on your iOS device is a simple matter of opening a Private Browsing tab in the Safari app. While in Private Browsing mode, Safari won’t store your search history or autosave your personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers.

Here’s how to turn on Private Browsing on an iPhone and iPad:

Open Safari on your device and tap the Tabs icon at the bottom-right corner.

Navigating to the Safari Tabs icon on iPad.

Swipe to Private at the bottom of the screen and select Private to open a Private Browsing tab.

Opening a new Private Browsing tab in Safari for iOS.

Remember that enabling Private Browsing won’t apply it to the tabs you already have open. You can only browse privately on tabs you open with Private Browsing. This is similar to Google Chrome’s incognito mode for iPhone.

Also, bear in mind that Private Browsing doesn’t automatically prevent pop-ups, but there are other ways to allow or disable pop-ups for smoother browsing.

How to exit private mode in the Safari App

If you no longer need to keep your browsing history private , simply turn off Private Browsing in Safari by closing the private tab you’re using. This will enable cookies and temporary files, making it easier to access your favorite websites and fill in forms automatically. You can always go back and delete your cache and browsing history later.

Here’s how to turn off Safari Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad:

Tap the Tabs icon at the bottom-right corner of Safari and swipe left on a private tab or tap the X in the top-right corner to close it.

Finding and swiping a Safari for iOS Private tab to close it.

At the bottom of the screen, swipe to X Tabs (X being the number of open tabs) to resume non-private browsing. If no tabs are currently open, swipe to Start Page at the bottom of the screen to open a new tab.

Click the Tabs icon at the bottom of the screen

How to open a private browser on a Mac

To launch a Safari private window on your desktop or MacBook, all you have to do is press Command + Shift + N on your keyboard. Or you can open and manage Private Browsing within the Safari app itself.

To turn on Private Browsing mode within the Safari browser app:

Open Safari from your Dock or Launchpad.

Opening the Safari browser app from a Mac Dock or Launchpad.

Click File in the top-left corner of your screen and select New Private Window from the dropdown menu.

Opening a new Private Window in Safari for Mac.

How to set private mode as your default browsing option

If you want to surf Safari incognito every time you browse, you can make private tabs on Safari your default option. By doing this, you can prevent Safari from ever storing your cookies or history locally. This is only recommended if you are using a public computer or if others use your Mac regularly.

To make Private Browsing your default browsing setting, visit your Safari privacy settings and follow these steps.

Open Safari in your Dock or Launchpad.

Click the Safari icon

Select the Safari menu in the top-left of the screen and click Preferences (or click Command + "," ).

Select Preferences from the Safari menu at the top of the screen

Click the General tab, find Safari opens with , and click the dropdown menu. Select A new private window from the dropdown.

Select “A new private window” from the dropdown menu beside “Safari opens with”

In some cases, Safari may open automatically, like when you click a link. To browse incognito in Safari when clicking a link, right-click on the link and select Open link in new private window . This only works if Safari is your default browser.

How to exit private mode on Mac

To go back to normal browsing on your Mac, you need to exit Safari incognito mode. If you’re concerned about managing your browsing history, you can still manually clear your browsing and search history when browsing with non-private tabs.

Follow these steps to turn off private browsing in Safari:

Close the Private Browsing window by clicking the X in the top-left corner.

Clicking the red X in the top-left corner of the Safari window

Click the Safari icon in your Dock or Launchpad to open a new non-private Safari window.

Click the Safari icon

If you’ve set Private Browsing as your default option, you need to update your settings in the Safari Preferences menu before following the steps above.

What is incognito mode on iPhone, iPad & Mac?

Incognito mode on Apple devices, such as Macs and iPhones, is known as “Private Browsing” or “private mode.” Most devices and browsers have private browsing functions. Google’s name for it is “incognito mode,” and Apple’s is “private browsing.” Both do the same thing, which is prevent your browsing activity data from being stored on your device.

If you have an Apple device, your default browser is Safari. But you can browse incognito with a different browser if you’d like, such as Google Chrome, Edge, or AVG Secure Browser. Chrome and Edge offer the same private browsing benefits as Safari. AVG Secure Browser offers advanced safety features such as malware protection, ad blocking, and customizable privacy settings.

Like Google Chrome’s incognito mode, Private Browsing mode on Safari removes temporary files, including cookies and form data. It also clears your search history automatically. It’s a bit like covering your tracks as you search, but it only hides your activity from others who use your physical device. iPhone private browsing does not hide your IP address or let you browse safely protected from online threats.

What’s the difference between private and normal Safari?

The difference between private and normal Safari relates to what your device remembers about your browsing activity. In normal mode, Safari saves cookies to help load websites faster, remember personal information, and save your accounts’ login credentials. It also records your search history so you can view all the sites you’ve visited recently.

When you enable Private Browsing on Safari, none of that data is saved on your device. If someone were to find your phone and open Safari, they would find no trace of your online activity. Private mode also limits iCloud sync between Apple devices, search suggestions, and website tracking, offering a more secure browsing experience.

Is Safari private mode really private?

Private browsing only protects your privacy from others accessing your physical device. It does nothing to hide your browsing data from advertisers, hackers, and other third parties like your ISP. Incognito mode in Safari still lets websites and other third parties track your online activity, and unless you’re using a private search engine , your searches will still be logged.

Unlike a VPN , Safari Private Browsing doesn’t block your IP address or allow you to surf the web anonymously. To keep your web activity safer from local and online privacy threats, use AVG Secure VPN to encrypt your connection and help protect the data you send and receive online.

Troubleshooting issues with Safari’s private mode

There are some well-known quirks to how Safari private mode works, so if you encounter any issues, rest assured you’re not the only one. Here’s a look at the most common problems that users have with Private Browsing and how to resolve them.

Private Browsing option is gone or grayed out

If you can’t turn on Private Browsing, it’s likely because you have Screen Time restrictions active on your device. Here’s how to turn them off:

On iPhone and iPad

On your home screen, click the Settings icon and select Screen Time from the menu. In the Screen Time menu, click Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Accessing the Content Restrictions in the iOS Content & Privacy Restrictions menu

Select Content Restrictions followed by Web Content . Then tap Unrestricted on the Web Content menu.

Selecting Unrestricted Web Content in the iOS Content & Privacy Restrictions menu.

Click the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences .

Open System Preferences from the Apple menu

Click the Screen Time icon.

Click the Screen Time icon in the System Preferences menu

On the sidebar, click Content & Privacy .

Select Content & Privacy from the Screen Time sidebar

Next to Web Content , select Unrestricted Access .

Select Unrestricted Access beside Web Content

Private Browsing on Safari is slow

If you’re having performance issues with Private Browsing, you may need to close your non-private Safari tabs. Your device uses memory and processing power to maintain your private browsing separately from your normal browsing. So, you’re putting a lot of strain on your device when you have private and non-private tabs open at the same time.

Elevate your privacy with AVG Secure Browser

Enabling Private Browsing in Safari is an effective way to hide your online activity from other people who may use your device. But for a safer browsing experience, download a dedicated private browser. AVG Secure Browser provides built-in safety features like ad blocking and anti-malware protection. Plus you can customize your privacy settings according to your needs.

Browse in Private Automatically

Install free AVG Secure Browser to browse the web privately. Get built-in ad blocking, anti-tracking protection, and more.

Download free AVG Secure Browser to browse the web privately. Get built-in ad blocking, anti-tracking protection, and more.

More helpful tips...

The latest privacy articles.

  • A Guide to Tor Web Browser: Is It Safe?
  • How to Fix the “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error
  • How to Clear Your Search and Browser History
  • How to Stop Pop-Up Ads from appearing on your Android Phone
  • What Is Incognito Mode, Is It Safe, and Should You Use It?
  • How to Set Your Default Browser on Any Device
  • Private Browsing: What Is It and How to Use It on Any Browser
  • How to Allow or Block Pop-Ups in Safari
  • How to Allow and Block Pop-Ups in Edge or IE on Windows 10
  • What Is the about:blank Page?
  • How to Disable Cookies in Your Browser
  • What Are Internet Cookies?
  • How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Your Browser
  • Firefox Pop-Ups: How to Block and How to Allow Them
  • The Best Browsers for Security and Privacy in 2024
  • How to Block or Allow Pop-Ups in Chrome
  • How to Remove Extensions (Add-ons) from Firefox
  • How to Manage and Remove Chrome Extensions
  • Best Chrome Extensions for Security and Privacy
  • How to Speed Up Chrome, Firefox, and IE
  • What Is Ad Tracking?
  • Are Cookies Bad? Good vs. Bad Cookies
  • 5 Quick Tips For a Safer Browsing Experience
  • The Catch in the Cache: Why Cleaning Your Browser Makes It Safer
  • Chrome Battery Life vs Edge, Firefox and Opera
  • What Is a VPN and What Does It Do?
  • Proxy, VPN, Tor: Differences and When You Should Use Them
  • How to Unblock Websites & Access Restricted Content (13 Easy Ways)
  • Geo-Blocking: What Is It and How to Bypass It
  • What Is a Proxy Server and How Does It Work?
  • VPN Kill Switch: What Is It and How Does It Work?
  • How to Set Up a VPN on Mac
  • The Best VPN Server Countries to Connect Through
  • Should I use a VPN for gaming?
  • What Is ISP Throttling? Why It Happens & How to Stop It
  • Do I Need a VPN?
  • How to Stop Endless Buffering Now
  • How to Watch TV Shows and Episodes Online
  • What Is Data Encryption and How Does it Work?
  • How to Set Up a VPN on Windows
  • How to Set Up and Use a VPN on iPhone or Android
  • Smart DNS Proxy vs VPN. What’s the Difference? And Which Should You Choose?
  • How to Find Your IP Address on Windows, Mac, iPhone, & Android
  • Easy Ways to Change Your IP Address
  • Static vs. dynamic IP addresses
  • What Is an IP Address and How Does It Work?
  • What Is TCP/IP?
  • Private IP vs Public IP: What’s the Difference?
  • What Is the Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6?
  • Three Ways to Hide Your IP Address
  • Signs Your Amazon Account Has Been Hacked
  • Different Types of Hackers: White Hat, Black Hat, Gray Hat, and More
  • How Are Computers Hacked and What Can You Do to Stop It?
  • How to Tell If You’ve Been Hacked
  • The Most Dangerous & Famous Hackers Today
  • How to Tell If Your Email Has Been Hacked & How to Recover It
  • Is My Phone Hacked? Symptoms & Solutions to Phone Hacking
  • What Is Router Hacking and How to Prevent It
  • What Is Hacking? Everything You Need to Know
  • The Nasty Truth of Data Breaches
  • How to Prevent Your Car From Being Hacked
  • How to Protect Your Private Documents With Sensitive Data Shield
  • Equifax Hack: How to Protect Your Identity, Credit Cards, and More
  • 3 Reasons to Never Use Fingerprint Locks on Phones
  • Have You Ever Chatted With a Hacker Within a Virus?
  • Thomson Data Breach Exposes Passenger Details
  • What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?
  • Password Ideas: How to Create a Strong Password
  • How to Password Protect a File or Folder in Windows 10
  • Password Cracking Techniques Hackers Use and How to Avoid Them
  • How to Recover and Reset Your Lost Windows Password
  • How to Choose the Best Password Manager
  • How to Password Protect Excel Files, Word Docs, PowerPoints
  • Why You Should Use a Password Manager
  • What Is the Meaning of Clickbait and Is It Dangerous?
  • How to Delete Your X (Formerly Twitter) Account
  • How to Permanently Delete Your Snapchat Account
  • How to Permanently Delete Instagram or Deactivate Your Account
  • How to Delete or Deactivate Your TikTok Account
  • How to See Sensitive Content on Twitter: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Deactivate or Delete Your Facebook Account
  • Monkey Video Chat App: How Does It Work and Is It Safe?
  • How to Stop Ads on Facebook
  • What to Do If Your Instagram Account Is Hacked
  • Facebook Leak: Check if Your Data is Part of The Breach
  • Don't Let Your Old Social Media Accounts Come Back to Haunt You
  • How to Stay Sane on Social Media in the COVID-19 Age
  • Are You an Online Oversharer?
  • Is Facebook Listening to Our Private Conversations?
  • How to Stay Safe on Twitter: The Ultimate Guide
  • Is It Safe to Sign in with Facebook or Google?
  • Top Facebook Scams You Need to Know Aboutsignal_face
  • How to Unsubscribe From Emails
  • No Caller ID: How to Find Out Who Called You
  • How to Screen Record on Mac with Audio and Video: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Completely Disappear From the Internet
  • How to Turn Off Location Services on iPhone
  • What Is CAPTCHA and How Does It Work?
  • What Is a Digital Footprint and Why Does It Matter?
  • Email Encryption: What Is It and How Do You Encrypt Emails?
  • Is Coinbase Safe?
  • What Is Cyberstalking and How to Protect Yourself from Online Stalkers
  • SSL Certificates: What Are They and How Do They Work?
  • Doxxing: What Is It and How to Prevent It
  • What Are the Most Secure Messaging Apps?
  • How to Hide Apps on Android
  • App Permissions on Android & How to Control Them
  • Dark Web Scans: When and Why to Use One
  • How to Download Your Google Data with Google Takeout
  • What Does Google Do With My Data... and Should I Be Worried?
  • Data Brokers: Who They Are and How They Work
  • Contact Tracing Apps and Their Privacy Concerns
  • How to Hide Apps on an iPhone or iPad
  • The Pros and Cons of Video Chat Apps
  • Is Your Smartphone Tracking You?
  • The Uses and Abuses of Facial Recognition
  • The Privacy Implications of DNA Testing
  • 5 Steps to Stop Robocalls: The Ultimate Guide to Beating the Bots
  • A Day in Your Digital Life… and the Trail You Leave
  • 4 Ways to Avoid Spam
  • Stop Webcam Spying with Webcam Protection
  • Spy Game: The Dangers of Webcam Hacking and How to Avoid Them
  • Windows 10 Privacy: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Windows 10 from Spying on You
  • The Truth Behind the Webcam Cover-Up

 alt=

A Guide to Tor Web Browser: Is It Safe? A Guide to Tor Web Browser: Is It Safe?

how to go incognito safari ipad

How to Fix the “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error How to Fix the “Your Connection Is Not Private” Error

how to go incognito safari ipad

How to Clear Your Search and Browser History How to Clear Your Search and Browser History

You Might Also Like...

how to go incognito safari ipad

How to Stop Pop-Up Ads from appearing on your Android Phone How to Stop Pop-Up Ads from appearing on your Android Phone

Browse in private automatically with AVG Secure Browser

  • Media Center

Home Products

  • Free Antivirus Download
  • Internet Security
  • Android Antivirus
  • Free Mac Antivirus
  • Virus Scanning & Malware Removal
  • Installation Files
  • Beta Downloads
  • Driver Updater

Customer Area

  • Register Your License
  • Anti-Theft Login
  • Home Product Support
  • Security & Performance Tips
  • Online Research

Partners & Business

  • Business Antivirus Software
  • Partner Support
  • Business Support

Privacy | Report vulnerability | Contact security | License agreements | Modern Slavery Statement | Cookies | Accessibility Statement | Do not sell my info | | All third party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  

We use cookies and similar technologies to recognize your repeat visits and preferences, to measure the effectiveness of campaigns, and improve our websites. For settings and more information about cookies, view our Cookie Policy . By clicking “I accept” on this banner or using our site, you consent to the use of cookies.

HowToiSolve

Trending Story: Messages App Tips & Tricks | Spring Wallpapers | Easter Wallpapers | iOS 17.4 New Emojis

How to Enable Private Browsing On iPhone and iPad in iOS 18/17.5.1: Safari & Chrome

Here’s how to go incognito on phone with Safari, Chrome on the latest iOS. You can get here a tip for free from often manually delete history on your Safari Browser for iPhone, iPad, or iPad touch. To do that you’ve needed to surf in Private Safari Browser , if you may have no idea about how to start private browsing on your iPhone, iPad, or even the latest iOS devices. Okay, whatever now don’t miss this tip which I’m giving you on how to Turn On/Off Private Browsing On iPhone and iPad or iPod touch. You can use this tip to set the Safari default search engine .

Lot’s a closer look at Pros of Private Browsing ON iPhone,iPad or iPod touch –

IN THIS ARTICLE

  • Private browser protect your information
  • They can Block some websites from tracking your behavior
  • In private browsing, Safari won’t remember that pages which you’ve visited,
  • Auto-fill information and search history

Note: Private Browsing mode not showing or Grayed out then Here’s Remove Content Restrictions for Web Content in Safari Browser. Safari Private Browsing Not Working .

Guide to Turn On Private Browsing On Safari on iPhone

Turn on private browsing in safari on iphone using 3d touch.

For 3D touch iPhone users including iPhone 6S and later all Phones, iPad Pro 9.7” user being able to turn on Private browsing direction to the Home screen. Let’s get below how do you open safari private browsing without launch Safari.

First of all, you must have a 3D touch-enabled on your iPhone. Then force touch on the Safari icon , you will get an action menu. Now tap on New Private Tab.

Press on Safari icon and tap on New Private Tab on iPhone

Now you get a safari homepage in private mode. You guys, enjoy history less browsing experience.

To turn on Private Browsing on iPhone without 3D touch

Enable safari private browsing in ios 15 & later [method 1].

Here I explained two methods to start Private Browsing mode on iOS and iPadOS. First, let’s Quickly Enter and Exit Private mode on Safari Browser.

1. First, Open Safari Browser on your iPhone, iPad.

2. Next, Tap on Multi-Tab View icon from Bottom-Right Corner of the screen. and Tap on Switch Tab option and Tap on Private option. But, how to disable incognito mode on iphone – Repeat the same and Select Tabs option just above the Private option.

turn-on-private-browsing-on-iphone-safari-in-ios-15

3. Tap on Plus icon [+] to add new Private mode on Safari.

add-a-new-tab-in-private-browsing-mode-on-iphone-safari

  • That’s it.

Method 2 is to turn on Private Browsing mode from any page, without move to the startup page. follow the below steps,

Enable Safari Private Browsing in iOS 15 & Later [Method 2]

1. Open Safari Browser on iPhone or iPad. Touch & Hold on Tabs View icon from bottom-right corner of the screen. and see the private option. Now, we can directly search in to private browsing mode.

turn-on-private-browsing-mode-on-iphone-safari-from-tabs-view

2. To Turn off or Exit Private Browsing mode on Safari iPhone, Touch and Hold on Tabs icon and Select Start Page option .

exit-from-private-mode-on-safari-iphone

iPad Safari Browser UI is the same as Mac’s Safari Browser. So, Click on the Side panel icon to view all the Tab Groups and Private Browsing mode options .

1. Open Safari Browser on iPad and Click on the Tabs View icon next to the Address bar. And Tap on the Private option to View Browser into Private mode.

see-private-browsing-option-and-view-tab-groups-on-ipad-safari

Turn on Incognito Mode on Chrome iPhone, iPad

Private Browsing mode on Chrome browse is much easier than Safari. But sometimes, it’s quite confusing. Follow the below steps for Turn on Private Browsing on Chrome IOS Browser. Generally, All the Browser Support Private mode. If you cannot open Private mode on Safari Native Browser, try this one and Be Protected. Test or Use any website with Cache, and more secure way.

1. Open Chrome On iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap on the More button from the Bottom right corner of the screen.

turn-on-incognito-mode-on-chrome-iphone-ipad

Tap on the New incognito Tab.

Disable incognito mode chrome iphone

After Turn on Private mode or incognito mode on Chrome iPhone, Then it will stay and Start Always in Private mode. So, users have to manually change or Turn off Private mode on Chrome iPhone Browser.

1. First, Tap on the Tabs icon from the bottom side of the iPhone screen.

2. See the Browing mode switching option and Select the Normal mode Tab.

disable-incognito-mode-chrome-iphone

iOS 14 & Earlier

  • Step #1.  Open Safari browser on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
  • Step #2. Next, Tap on the dual square box  icon.

Tap on Tab Switcher button on iPhone safari

  • Step #3. Now, Tap Private button for Turn Private browsing Mode ON
  • Step #4: in the last tap on Done to save the change.

Tap on Done to Use Private mode on iPhone Safari App

That’s it. Whenever you’re surf on Private browsing mode at that time, Safari appears black or dark in color instead of standard color mode like white or Gray .

How to Turn Off Private browsing Safari on iPad and iPhone

Here’s a Video on How to turn off private browsing on Safari.

For iOS 7 or earlier User ,

  • Open Safari Browser on iPhone , iPad or iPod touch

Tap plus icon to open private browser in iOS 7

  • Last Tap on Private to Turn Private Browsing Off.
  • in the last hit on Done that appears right-lower on the screen to save the change.

Private Browsing On iPhone

Approach to Turn Off Private Browsing On iPhone – iOS 13 and Earlier

  • Step 1. Open Safari browser on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
  • Step 2.   Then Tap on the double square box icon.

Exit from Private Browsing on iPhone Safari App

  • Step 3. Now, Tap Private to Turn Private browsing Mode Off
  • Step 4.  last, Tap on Done to save the change.

Tap on Done to Use Normal Browsing mode on iPhone safari app

Your Private browsing mode is off. If you are facing any error to go back in a general way, then text us in the comment. We’ll try to help you.

How to Turn on Private Browsing Safari on iPhone and iPad

Here’s a Video Tutorial on How to Enable Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad.

For iOS 8 or earlier User – How to Turn Off Private Browsing On iPhone

  • Open Safari Browser on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Tap on plus iCon to open private browser in iOS 7

  • Next click on Private to Turn Private Browsing Off.
  • last, Tap on Done to save the change.

Share your feedback with us on what happens after Turn On or Off Private Browsing On iPhone.

Also Read: – Guide to Clear Safari History and Cookies on iPhone

Photo of author

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

  • Helldivers 2
  • Dragon’s Dogma 2
  • Wuthering Waves
  • Genshin Impact
  • Counter Strike 2
  • Honkai Star Rail
  • Lego Fortnite
  • Stardew Valley
  • NYT Strands
  • NYT Connections
  • Apple Watch
  • Crunchyroll
  • Prime Video
  • Jujutsu Kaisen
  • Demon Slayer
  • Chainsaw Man
  • Solo Leveling
  • Beebom Gadgets

How to Turn On Dark Mode on iPhone and iPad

' src=

  • To enable Dark Mode in Settings on an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark Mode.
  • Another way is to go to Control Center, long-press the Brightness slider, and choose Dark Mode.
  • You can also set up a schedule to automatically activate Dark Mode on your iPhone.

Method 1: From Settings app

  • On your iPhone, open the Settings app and go to the Display & Brightness section.
  • Tap on the Dark check-box under “Appearance”.

How to enable Dark Mode in Settings

  • To turn off Dark Mode , simply tap on the Light check box.

Method 2: From Control Center

Control Center offers the most convenient and quick way to switch on/off Dark Mode on iPhone and iPad. You don’t have to mess around with any settings. Just a few taps and you’re sorted. Here’s how to enable dark Mode on iOS/iPadOS:

  • From the Lock or Home Screen, swipe down from the top-right corner to reveal the Control Center.
  • Here, long-press the Brightness slider and tap on Dark Mode from the bottom of the screen.

Dark Mode in Control Center

Method 3: Using Siri

Ask Siri to activate Dark Mode

How to Turn On Dark Mode Automatically on iPhone

Interestingly, you can also allow your iPhone to automatically turn on/off Dark Mode based on the time of day (Sunset or Sunrise). For instance, you can ask your iPhone to use Light Mode during the day and Dark Mode at night. Also, you can pick a custom schedule when your iPhone should enter and leave Dark Mode automatically. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn on the Automatic toggle.
  • By default, this option will schedule the Light theme until sunset and the Dark theme until sunrise.
  •  To set your own time for dark mode, select  Options and then tap on Custom Schedule.
  • Now, set different times to activate light and dark modes.

Set custom schedule

Kanika Gogia

Kanika has been a loyal iPhone user since 2014 and loves everything Apple. With a Master’s in Computer Applications, passion for technology, and over five years of experience in writing, she landed at Beebom as an Apple Ecosystem Writer. She specializes in writing How To’s, troubleshooting guides, App features, and roundups for Apple users to help them make the best use of their gadgets. When not writing, she loves to try out new recipes and enjoy some family time.

Add new comment

How to Connect PS4 Controller to iPhone or Android (2024)

OS X Daily

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, ios 18 beta 3 available to download now for iphone & ipad.

iOS 18 beta and iPadOS 18 beta

Apple has issued iOS 18 beta 3 for iPhone, along with iPadOS 18 beta 3 for iPad.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 include a variety of new features for iPhone and iPad, from new Dark Mode icon and widget themes for the Home Screen, color hued icon customizations, the ability to customize Control Center, improvements to Safari and Notes, significant changes to the Photos app GUI, tons of new AI ‘Apple Intelligence’ capabilities and features like ChatGPT being linked to Siri, and much more.   Beta 3 of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 are available as developer beta downloads for users enrolled in the Apple Developer programs. Because anyone can enroll to become a developer, this makes it possible for any adventurous user to install either iOS 18 beta or iPadOS 18 beta on their iPhone or iPad, respectively. Be aware that beta system software is much buggier than final versions, making this really only appropriate for advanced users, and with secondary devices.

Aside from iPhone and iPad, beta testers will also find tvoS 18 beta 3, watchOS 11 beta 3, and visionOS 2 beta 3. macOS Sequoia beta 3 is curiously absent, at the moment.

How to Download iOS 18 Beta 3 or iPadOS 18 Beta 3 onto iPhone or iPad

Before anything else, backup your iPhone or iPad to iCloud and locally to your computer with Finder or iTunes.

  • Open “Settings” app on the iPhone or iPad enrolled in the beta program
  • Go to “General”, and then choose “Software Update”
  • Select to “Update Now” to install iOS 18 beta 3 or iPadOS 18 beta 3 onto the device

iOS 18 beta 3 download

The iPhone or iPad will restart to complete installation.

If you’re not in the beta testing track, as most Apple device users are not, then you will find the latest available system software versions are instead iOS 17.5.1, iPadOS 17.5.1 , macOS Sonoma 14.5 , macOS Ventura 13.6.7, and macOS Monterey 12.7.5 , watchOS 10.5, tvOS 17.5, and iOS 16.7.8 and iPadOS 16.7.8 .

The final version of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be released this fall, according to Apple.

Enjoy this tip? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Get more of our great Apple tips, tricks, and important news delivered to your inbox with the OSXDaily newsletter. 

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Related articles:

  • How to Install iOS 13 or iPadOS Beta
  • How to Install iOS 12 Public Beta Now on iPhone or iPad
  • How to Install iOS 11 Public Beta on iPad
  • How to Install iPadOS 13 Public Beta on iPad

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

how to go incognito safari ipad

Subscribe to OSXDaily

Subscribe to RSS

  • - How to Run Ubuntu Linux on Apple Silicon Mac
  • - How to See Individual Core CPU Usage on Mac with powermetrics
  • - 2 of the Best Hex Editors for Mac: ImHex & Hex Fiend
  • - How to Update Node.js to Latest Version on Mac
  • - How to Summarize & Analyze PDF Documents with ChatGPT on Mac
  • - MacOS Sequoia 15 Beta 3 Available to Download
  • - Beta 3 of iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, & macOS Sonoma 14.6 Available for Beta Testing
  • - iOS 18 Beta 3 Available to Download Now for iPhone & iPad
  • - Beta 2 of iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, & macOS Sonoma 14.6 Released for Testing
  • - ChatGPT for Mac Now Available to All

iPhone / iPad

  • - Why Are iPhone Videos Low Quality & Blurry When Sent to Android Users?
  • - iOS 18 Beta 2 Download Available Now for iPhone & iPad
  • - How to Downgrade iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17
  • - How to Use Screen Distance on iPhone & iPad to Help Eye Health
  • - Fun: Forget to Empty Your Mac Trash? Have Buzzing Flies to Remind You
  • - Fix brew Error “The arm64 architecture is required for this software” on Apple Silicon Mac
  • - Fix “A software update is required to install macOS in a virtual machine” Error on Mac
  • - How to Fix iPhone “Charging on Hold” Message

Shop on Amazon to help support this site

About OSXDaily | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap

This website is unrelated to Apple Inc

All trademarks and copyrights on this website are property of their respective owners.

© 2024 OS X Daily. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited.

  • Apple Watch
  • Accessories
  • Digital Magazine – Subscribe
  • Digital Magazine – Info
  • Smart Answers
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Apple Watch 2024
  • 11th-gen iPad
  • New AirPods
  • Best Mac antivirus
  • Best Mac VPN

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence .

iPadOS 18 superguide: Everything you need to know about the next iPad update

Martyn Casserly

During the WWDC keynote in June, Apple announced iPadOS 18, which will arrive this fall along with iOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11. As always, many of the new features are also part of iOS 18, including Apple Intelligence, which will launch in beta and gradually add features throughout 2025. But there are also some exciting new things just for iPad users, including at long last a new Calculator app.

If you want to know what’s coming this fall, we’ve broken down all the things you need to know about iPadOS 18. This includes which models will be compatible with iPadOS 18, how you can get and install the beta releases to try the software out early, plus the new features you can expect when the full version launches later this year and any beta developments. So, stay tuned to this superguide for everything you need to know about iPadOS 18 for more information as the release date nears.

iPadOS 18: Release date

Apple has yet to officially confirm specifically when the iPadOS 18 launch date will be, but looking at past releases it seems very likely that it will arrive in mid-September, around the same time as when we expect to see the new iPhone 16 models.

As a reference, here’s when the last few generations of iPadOS have launched:

  • iPadOS 17: September 18, 2023
  • iPadOS 16:  October 24, 2022
  • iPadOS 15:  September 20, 2021
  • iPadOS 14:  September 16, 2020
  • iPadOS 13:  September 24, 2019

Updating to the new version will be a simple affair, but if you’re unsure how then you can look at the detailed instructions from last year’s guide on how to get iPadOS 17 on your iPad , as the steps should be exactly the same.

iPadOS 18: Beta releases

Apple released the third beta of iPadOS 18 on July 8. That follows the launch of the first beta on June 10 and the second beta on June 24. Several features have yet to arrive including the new Apple Intelligence features.

iPadOS 18: How to installl the beta

Beginning in mid-July, Apple will offer a beta testing program for members of the public who would like to try out new features before iPadOS 18 launches in September. The process is simple —just enroll your device and select the beta from the Software Update tab in Settings.

  • Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
  • Log in to the Beta Software Program.
  • Click Enroll your iOS device .
  • Open Settings, tap General , then Software Update .
  • In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta .

If you want to uninstall the beta and stop receiving beta updates read this: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone .

iPadOS 18: Compatiblity

Apple has revealed which iPad models will make the cut for iPadOS 18, so if you’re wondering whether you’ll be able to upgrade, here’s the list:

Which iPads will get iPadOS 18?

  • iPad Pro (M4)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later)
  • iPad Air (M2)
  • iPad Air (3rd gen and later)
  • iPad (7th gen and later)
  • iPad Mini (5th gen and later)

It should be noted though that not all models will be able to run the full range of new features, as some will rely on the latest hardware, most notably Apple Intelligence, which will only be available for M1-powered iPads and above, and then only if Siri is set to use U.S. English.

iPadOS 18: New features

Apple intelligence.

AI is all the rage at the moment, and Apple is getting on that hype train with its own AI named Apple Intelligence . It will bring a variety of new features to the iPad, including a new Siri experience, tools to help you improve your writing, summaries of emails and web pages, and much more, including powerful image generation tools to make your own emoji and illustrations.

iPadOS 18 AI

Most iPads won’t be able to install it, however. Apple Intelligence is restricted to M1-powered iPads and above, which leaves out everything but the iPad Air and iPad Pro. But if it’s as good as Apple says, it could be worth the upgade.

iPadOS 18 writing equation with Apple Pencil in Calculator

They said it couldn’t be done! Well, more accurately, no one ever understood why Apple just didn’t do it. But the new standalone Calculator app for the iPad might have been worth the wait . Along with the the standard and scientific layouts, Apple has also introduced a new features called Math Notes that lets you use your Apple Pencil to scribble formulas that are instantly solved as write. And if you go back to change something, it’ll even update your work in real time.

iPadOS 18 PHOTOS

The Photos app gets a serious makeover in iPadOS 18, with the top of the main page now showing a collage of your photo stream, Below, Apple has added Collections that automatically organizesyour library into topics such as Recent Days and People & Pets. You can also set Pinned Collections for quick access to your favorite collections and albums.

Customization

iPadOS 18 CUSTOMISE

One of the most eye-catching changes coming in iPadOS 18 is the ability to fully customize your Home Screen pages. Now you’ll be able to add a color tint to app icons, making them appear uniformly shaded in a hue that you can match to your wallpaper. There’s also the ability to place icons where you like without them immediately snapping back to the next open spot on the grid, as well as making them larger and removing the name beneath.

In iPadOS 18, tapping and and holding on an icon to bring up its options, which now include the ability to instantly turn an icon into a widget if one is available. If you want to keep an app private, iPadOS 18 brings the ability to lock certain apps or hide them from view, with Face ID or Touch ID the only way to gain access.

Control Center gets some customization options too, with several new pages of control. Users now are able to add more controls to the list, plus resize them to suit their tastes. And third-party developers will be able to make their own controls as well.

iPadOS 18 Smart Script spellcheck

One of the best Apple apps on the iPad is Notes. It’s been slowly building into something of a powerhouse over the year, and iPadOS 18 brings even more improvements. First up, you can now highlight text to quickly mark up important parts of your notes. You can also hide text with collapsible section headers to better organize longer writings.

That’s not all though, as Smart Script will turn Apple Pencil-written notes into more consistent versions, with the feature tidying up your messy writing so it looks more legible. A cool additional capability is that if you paste a text note into a handwritten notes, it will now be converted into the style of your handwriting to match the rest of the document. There’s also a Live Audio Transcription feature that will automatically transcribe any audio notes you make, giving you a text version when you’re done.

Password Manager

iPadOS 18 PASSWORDS

iCloud Keychain has been a feature of Apple devices for a long time, but in iPadOS 18 it will turn into a dedicated Passwords app. With this, you can manage all of your passwords, passkeys, and Wi-Fi codes, and securely share them with friends or family members. It’s all encrypted of course, and could be something that the entries in our best password manager chart will be very worried about.

iPadOS 18: Other features

iPadOs 18 overview

There are plenty of additional features coming in iPadOS 18 that will be available on your iPad this fall:

Floating Navigation Bar: The small and quick tab bar is now available on most of Apple’s apps, allowing you to stay in full-screen mode but have access to navigation tools.

Game Mode: Reduces the in-game response time, improving performance, while also reducing the latency of Bluetooth controllers. Audio latency is also reduced when wearing AirPods.

Messages: Text formatting comes to Messages in iPadOS 18, along with Tapbacks that allow you to respond to people with any emoji. There’s also a new feature that lets you schedule messages to be sent at a later time or date.

Safari updates: Quickly pull up the highlights on a webpage (most relevant information), and an improved Reader design that includes a summary of the page as well as a table of contents.

Shareplay updates: You can now share your screen and draw on it so that friends or family can follow the instructions that you’re giving them. If they want more direct assistance, then they can now allow you to remotely operate their device.

Freeform: The Freeform app now includes a Scenes feature which you can use to quickly move through various areas of the document.

Privacy: You can now decide which contacts an app can see, and the Privacy section layout has been improved to make it easier to navigate.

So, as you can see, there’s plenty to look forward to in iPad OS 18. If you want all the features mentioned above, then it may require upgrading to a new device. You can check out our best iPad deals and best iPad Pro deals to see if there’s a bargain on a new model that will allow you to get your hands on all the best bits Apple has in store for iPads when the full software update drops in September.

Author: Martyn Casserly , Contributor

how to go incognito safari ipad

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.

Recent stories by Martyn Casserly:

  • iOS versions: Every version of iOS from the oldest to the newest
  • Best iPad for kids: To go cheap or small, that is the question
  • How to join Apple’s beta program and test the new software coming at WWDC

how to go incognito safari ipad

  • a. Send us an email
  • b. Anonymous form
  • Buyer's Guide
  • Upcoming Products
  • Tips / Contact Us
  • Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Charger From Lululook

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Lululook to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and a Lululook 3-in-1 Charger to go along with it.

lululook 3 in 1 charger 1

If you only need to charge an ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch, Lululook also has a foldable 2-in-1 Wireless Charger for just $36. The 2-in-1 Charger has the same design as the 3-in-1 model, but with only two foldable platforms rather than three. It too is able to fast charge the Apple Watch and charge an ‌iPhone‌ at 7.5W.

lululook 2 in 1 charger 2

We have an ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ and 3-in-1 Charger for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter , subscribing to our YouTube channel , following us on Twitter , following us on Instagram , following us on Threads , or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page .

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter . All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section , as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

Lululook Giveaway The contest will run from today (July 12) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on July 19. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after July 19 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Popular Stories

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

iPhone 15 Pro Cameras

iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Be First Model to Feature Three 48MP Cameras

iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 3

iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 'Slim': Everything We Know So Far

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID

iPhone 16 Models Rumored to Have Face ID-Related Design Changes

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Beta Firmware With Support for iOS 18 Features

iPhone 16 Pro Front Update Blue

iPhone 16 Pro Rumored to Support 40W Fast Charging and 20W MagSafe

Top rated comments.

2fifty6 Avatar

Next Article

anker jackery blue

Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.

ios 17 5 sidebar square

Apple News+ improvements, cross-platform tracker alerts, website app downloads for the EU, and more.

iphone 15 series

Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.

sonoma icon upcoming square

A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.

ios 18 sidebar square

Updates to Mail, Photos, Messages, and more, with Apple Intelligence features throughout.

macos sequoia sidebar square

iPhone Mirroring, Safari improvements, new Passwords app, and Apple Intelligence features throughout.

ipados 18 sidebar square

Apple Intelligence features, Smart Script handwriting refinement, Calculator app, and more.

visionos 2 sidebar square

New hand gestures, rearrange apps in Home View, larger Mac Virtual Display, and more.

Other Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 hero feature blorange

3 days ago by Tim Hardwick

ios 18 siri apple intelligence

4 days ago by Tim Hardwick

iPhone 16 Pro Front Update Blue

IMAGES

  1. How to Go Incognito on Safari on Mac, iPhone and iPad

    how to go incognito safari ipad

  2. How to Go Incognito in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

    how to go incognito safari ipad

  3. How to Go Incognito in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

    how to go incognito safari ipad

  4. How to Go Incognito in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

    how to go incognito safari ipad

  5. How to Go Incognito in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

    how to go incognito safari ipad

  6. How To Go Incognito In Safari

    how to go incognito safari ipad

VIDEO

  1. How to Open Incognito Mode in MacBook

  2. How to open Google incognito search in Safari on iPhone iOS 17

  3. 3 Ways To Turn On Private Browsing Mode On Safari

  4. How to disable Incognito on Safari

  5. PSA for NameDrop Privacy Concerns! #iphonetipsandtricks

  6. How to Go Incognito on iPhone/iPad?

COMMENTS

  1. 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.

  2. Browse the web privately in Safari on iPad

    Open the Safari app on your iPad. Tap , then tap Private. Follow the directions onscreen to unlock Private Browsing. To exit Private Browsing, tap , then tap a Tab Group. The websites you have open in Private Browsing stay open, and Private Browsing locks. To prevent Private Browsing from locking, go to Settings > Safari, then turn off Require ...

  3. How to Go Incognito on iPad: A Step-by-Step Privacy Guide

    Step 5: Start Browsing. Enter a URL or search term in the address bar and start browsing privately. Now, you can surf the web without leaving any traces on your iPad. After completing these steps, you will be browsing in incognito mode. Your history, cookies, and other browsing data won't be saved, ensuring your privacy.

  4. How to Go Incognito in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

    Here's how to turn on incognito mode on your iPhone: 1. Open Safari and tap the Tabs icon at the bottom right. 2. Tap [Numbers] Tabs to see the Tab Groups. Then, tap the Private option. 3. Tap Done or the "+" button to open a new private tab in Safari. 4.

  5. Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone

    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. Tap Private to show the Tab Groups list. Tap [number] Tabs, then tap Done. Learn more. Learn how to use Private Browsing on your iPad.

  6. 4 Ways to Open a Private Safari Tab on iPhone and iPad

    Use the Pages Button on Safari's Toolbar. 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.

  7. How to Turn on Private Browsing on Your iPad

    How to Use Private Browsing Mode on iPad. Safari has a dedicated area just for private tabs that you can access by choosing Private. Tap the Private button to put Safari in incognito mode. Tap the Tabs button. Select Private . Tap the Plus sign. Use Safari as you normally would. It won't remember the pages you visit.

  8. How to Use Safari Private Browsing on an iPhone or iPad

    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 ...

  9. How to Do Private Browsing on Your iPad: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Step 4: Tap '+' to open a new tab. With private browsing active, tap the '+' button to open a new private tab. When you hit the '+' button, a fresh private tab springs to life, ready for your undercover online adventures. After completing these steps, your browsing won't be saved in your history, and cookies won't track you ...

  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. How to Go Incognito in Safari on Mac, iPhone, or iPad?

    How to Go Incognito on iPad: Now firstly open the Safari app in your iPad. Now just tap the tabs group button (two overlapping squares) at the top right of the screen. Then on the Private option as shown in the above screenshot. Now finally on the ' +' button on the top right to open a new private tab.

  13. How To Turn On Private Browsing On iPhone & iPad: Go Incognito

    Tap the pages icon (two overlapping squares) at the bottom right. Tap Private. You're now in private browsing mode (you can tell this because the URL bar is black). An alert tells you that ...

  14. How to Go Incognito on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

    To do this, follow the steps below. Launch Safari on your Mac. Click on File in the menu bar at the top. Select New Private Window from the options, and by doing so you will get a fresh tab for ...

  15. Your Guide to Private Browsing in Safari

    How to Use Safari Private Browsing on iPhone and iPad The steps to enter Private Browsing mode are nearly identical on an iPhone and iPad. The only difference is that the tab icon is at the bottom of the screen on iOS and the top on iPadOS. Long-press the tab icon (two overlapping pages) on the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (iPad) of your ...

  16. How to Enable Incognito Mode in Safari for iOS 15, iPadOS

    Here's how it goes: Step 1. Launch the Safari app from the Home Screen. Step 2. Now tap on the tabs icon as shown below. The icon can be found on the top right if you're using iPadOS. Step 3. You ...

  17. How To Use Incognito Mode On Your iPhone And iPad

    Tap the Safari app on your device's home screen. On an iPhone, tap the Tabs button in the bottom right corner of Safari. On an iPad, hold the Tabs button on the top right of Safari. On the very ...

  18. How to Quickly Switch Your Safari Browsing to Private in iOS 15

    In Safari, tap and hold the Tabs button in the bottom right. From here, you can use the " Private " option to switch over to the Private Browsing Mode. If you want to open a new private tab ...

  19. How to go incognito in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari

    The easiest way to open an Incognito window is with the keyboard shortcut combination Ctrl-Shift-N (Windows) or Command-Shift-N (macOS). Another way is to click on the menu on the upper right ...

  20. Safari's Private Browsing Mode Just Made Your Private Tabs Way More

    But incognito browsing in Safari has even more protection available with the iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14 Sonoma software updates. Here's everything you get with the new for-you-eyes-only browsing experience: ... On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings -> Safari -> Advanced -> Advanced Tracking and Fingerprint Protection, then choose either ...

  21. How to Go Incognito on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

    How to Access Incognito Mode on an iPad. If you want to use incognito mode on your iPad, the steps are similar to doing so on an iPhone. To open your device's private browsing window on Safari, follow the steps listed beneath this paragraph. 1. Open Safari on your iPad and go to the four squares icon in the top right . 2.

  22. Turn on Incognito Mode in Safari on iPhone, iPad & Mac

    Discover how to use incognito mode on iPhone, iPad, and Mac for secure browsing. Protect your privacy with incognito mode Safari.

  23. How to Enable Private Browsing On iPhone and iPad in iOS ...

    1. Open Safari Browser on iPhone or iPad. Touch & Hold on Tabs View icon from bottom-right corner of the screen. and see the private option. Now, we can directly search in to private browsing mode. 2. To Turn off or Exit Private Browsing mode on Safari iPhone, Touch and Hold on Tabs icon and Select Start Page option.

  24. How Secure Is Safari Private Browsing?

    Safari's private browsing vs. Google Chrome's Incognito Mode: Which is safer? In a nutshell, private browsing in Safari and incognito mode in Chrome are very similar in terms of their features and limitations. Both remove your data from the device when your browsing session is over while leaving your digital footprint traceable for third ...

  25. How to Turn On Dark Mode on iPhone and iPad

    Even better, you can also add a Dark Mode icon to the Control Center. For this, go to Settings > Control Center > More Controls and tap on the plus icon adjacent to "Dark Mode". This will add the Dark Mode tile to the Control Center. Going forward, you can use this tile to turn on/off Dark Mode in Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.

  26. iOS 18 Beta 3 Available to Download Now for iPhone & iPad

    Apple has issued iOS 18 beta 3 for iPhone, along with iPadOS 18 beta 3 for iPad. iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 include a variety of new features for iPhone and iPad, from new Dark Mode icon and widget themes for the Home Screen, color hued icon customizations, the ability to customize Control Center, improvements to Safari and Notes, significant changes to the Photos app GUI, tons of new AI 'Apple ...

  27. iPadOS 18 superguide: Features, beta release date

    Safari updates: Quickly pull up the highlights on a webpage (most relevant information), and an improved Reader design that includes a summary of the page as well as a table of contents.

  28. Unable to create shared bookings page

    I've ensured Bookings is turned on, turned access on and off in the admin back-end, I've tried Safari and Chrome and incognito browser in Chrome. Absolutely nothing is working to fix this. Labels:

  29. MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Charger From

    The Apple Watch charger is 5W so it can fast charge an Apple Watch, and there is an additional 5W charger for the AirPods and other devices. It also comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable for powering ...