This wikiHow teaches you how to enable "incognito" mode in a web browser, which allows you to browse the internet without saving history. Some kind of incognito mode is a built-in feature in almost all modern browsers, both on computers and mobile devices. If your computer administrator disables incognito mode in your web browser, you will not be able to enable (or get the option to enable) incognito mode.
Step
Method 1 of 9: Chrome on Desktop Computer
Step 1. Run Google Chrome
Double-click the Chrome icon, which is a yellow, green, red and blue circle.
Step 2. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window, below the sign X.
Step 3. Click New incognito window at the top of the drop-down menu here
A new Chrome window in incognito mode will open.
- If you don't see this option, you may have set incognito mode so you can't use it in the Chrome browser.
- Once the incognito tab is closed, all private browsing and download history will be deleted.
Step 4. Use keyboard shortcuts
You can run Chrome in incognito mode by pressing Command+⇧ Shift+N (Mac) or Ctrl+⇧ Shift+N (Windows) any time you're in a Chrome window.
Method 2 of 9: Chrome on Mobile
Step 1. Run Google Chrome
Tap the yellow, green, red and blue circle of Chrome icon.
Step 2. Tap which is in the top right corner
Step 3. Tap on New Incognito Tab
A new incognito window will open, which can be used to surf the internet without saving history. When the browser window is closed, all history of pages you have visited or downloaded files will be deleted from Google Chrome.
- The window for incognito mode has a darker color than regular Google Chrome.
- You can switch from regular Chrome to incognito mode by tapping the numbered square at the top of the screen and swiping right or left.
Method 3 of 9: Firefox on Desktop Komputer
Step 1. Launch Firefox browser
Double-click the Firefox icon, which looks like an orange fox wrapped around a blue ball.
Step 2. Click which is located in the upper right corner of the Firefox window
A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click New Private Window
A private browsing window will open, which can be used to browse the internet and download files without saving history.
Step 4. Use keyboard shortcuts
Press Command+⇧ Shift+P (Mac) or Ctrl+⇧ Shift+P (Windows) if you want to open a new private browsing window from any page in the Firefox browser.
Method 4 of 9: Firefox on iPhone
Step 1. Start Firefox
Tap the Firefox icon, which looks like an orange fox wrapped around a blue ball.
Step 2. Tap on the “Tab” icon
This numbered box is at the bottom of the screen. A list of all open tabs will be displayed.
Step 3. Tap the mask-shaped icon in the lower-left corner of the screen
The mask will turn purple, indicating that you are now in private browsing mode.
Step 4. Tap which is in the bottom right corner
A new tab in private browsing mode will be opened. Search history will not be saved if you use this tab.
- You can switch back to regular browsing by tapping the numbered square, then tapping the mask icon to turn it off.
- Open private browsing tabs will be deleted if you close Firefox.
Method 5 of 9: Firefox on Android Device
Step 1. Start Firefox
Tap the Firefox icon, which looks like an orange fox wrapped around a blue ball.
Step 2. Tap in the top right corner
A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Tap on New private tab
It's at the top of the drop-down menu. A new tab in private browsing mode will be opened. When using this tab, the search history will not be saved.
You can switch back to the regular browsing tab by tapping the numbered square in the top right of the screen, then tapping the hat-shaped icon in the top left of the screen
Method 6 of 9: Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Run Microsoft Edge
Single-click or double-click the Edge icon, which is a white (or dark blue) "e" on a dark blue background.
Step 2. Click in the top right corner
A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click New InPrivate Window
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu. A new browsing window will open which can be used to visit web pages and download files without saving history.
You can return to normal browsing by closing the InPrivate window
Step 4. Use keyboard shortcuts
Press Ctrl and Shift, then tap P to open a private browsing window when Microsoft Edge is open.
Method 7 of 9: Internet Explorer
Step 1. Start Internet Explorer
Double-click the Internet Explorer icon, which is a light blue "e".
Step 2. Open Settings
Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Internet Explorer window. This will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 3. Select Safety
This option is at the top of the drop-down menu. A pop-out window will be displayed.
Step 4. Click InPrivate Browsing at the top of the Safety pop-out menu
The InPrivate Browsing Internet Explorer window will open. You can use it to browse the internet without saving a history of searches or downloads made.
You can return to normal browsing by closing the InPrivate Browsing window
Step 5. Use keyboard shortcuts
Press Ctrl and Shift, then tap P to open a private browsing window when Internet Explorer is open.
Method 8 of 9: Safari on Desktop Komputer
Step 1. Start Safari
Click the blue compass-shaped Safari icon in your Mac's dock.
Step 2. Click File in the upper left corner
A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click New Private Window
This will open Safari in an incognito mode where you can browse the internet without saving the sites you visit or files you download.
The Private Window in the Safari browser has a darker color than the regular browsing window
Step 4. Use keyboard shortcuts
To open a new private window, press Command+⇧ Shift+N while Safari is open.
Method 9 of 9: Safari on Mobile
Step 1. Start Safari
Tap the Safari icon, which looks like a blue compass on a white background.
Step 2. Tap the button in the shape of two squares that are stacked on top of each other
It's in the lower-right corner.
Step 3. Tap on Private in the bottom left corner
Step 4. Tap + which is at the bottom of the screen
This will open a new window in Private mode which can be used to browse the internet without saving history.
- You can return to the regular browsing window by tapping the overlapping squares, tapping Private again, and knock Done.
- Private browsing sessions will not be closed even if you have closed the Safari application. To do so, you'll need to swipe left on the page you want to close.
