How to open a private or incognito browser window

You can open a private or incognito browser window to browse without saved history interfering with your browsing session. Here's how in the most popular browsers, on both computer and mobile.

On a Personal Computer

Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner.
3. Select New Incognito Window.
4. Or use the keyboard shortcut:
   • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + N
   • Mac: Command + Shift + N

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the three-line menu (≡) in the top-right corner.
3. Select New Private Window.
4. Or use the keyboard shortcut:
   • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + P
   • Mac: Command + Shift + P

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner.
3. Select New InPrivate Window.
4. Or use the keyboard shortcut:
   • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + N
   • Mac: Command + Shift + N

Safari (Mac Only)

1. Open Safari.
2. Click File in the top menu bar.
3. Select New Private Window.
4. Or use the keyboard shortcut: Command + Shift + N

Opera

1. Open Opera.
2. Click the red "O" menu in the top-left corner.
3. Select New Private Window.
4. Or use the keyboard shortcut:
   • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + N
   • Mac: Command + Shift + N

On a Mobile Device

iPhone & iPad

Safari (iOS/iPadOS)

1. Open Safari.
2. Tap the tabs button (two overlapping squares).
3. Tap [1 Tab] or the tab group name at the bottom center.
4. Select Private, then Done.
5. To exit, repeat the steps and switch back to [Your Tabs].

Tip: In iOS 17+, you can also tap the three dots (…) in the tab view and select Private.

Chrome (iOS)

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap the three dots (…), then New Incognito Tab.
3. To exit, tap the tabs icon and switch back to regular (non-Incognito) tabs.

Firefox (iOS)

1. Open Firefox.
2. Tap the mask icon, or tap tabs, then Private, then + to open a private tab.
3. To exit, switch back to Non-Private tabs.

Android

Chrome (Android)

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap the three dots (⋮), then New incognito tab.
3. To exit, tap the tabs icon and switch back to regular tabs (incognito tabs show the hat and glasses icon).

Samsung Internet

1. Open Samsung Internet.
2. Tap Menu (≡), then Turn on Secret mode.
3. To exit, go back to Menu (≡), then Turn off Secret mode.

Firefox (Android)

1. Open Firefox.
2. Tap the mask icon, or tap tabs, then Private, then +.
3. To exit, switch back to Normal tabs.

Troubleshooting

If you're having persistent issues, try clearing your cache and cookies in your browser settings, or use a different browser.