How to go incognito on Mac and iPhone

Asya Karapetyan
Content marketer, who specializes in Mac how-to guides
May 10, 2024

If you want to keep your online activities hidden from prying eyes, this article is for you. We`ll delve into the steps and tips on how to open an incognito tab on Mac and iPhone devices, helping you safeguard your browsing history and personal information.

Incognito on Mac and iPhone

Contents:

  1. What is a private search?
  2. How to go incognito on Mac
  3. How to go incognito on iPhone

Before we start

Below, we’ll explain all about private browsing in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. But first, we want to introduce a must-have application for every Mac – MacCleaner Pro.

MacCleaner Pro will help you keep your system always clean from junk files, run smoothly and prevent any system issues. It lets you remove caches, clear leftovers of removed apps, find duplicates, uninstall unused apps, optimize RAM usage, find hidden files, and more. It offers a free trial, so you can try it right now.

“MacCleaner

MacCleaner Pro

Free Download

What is an incognito search?

Before diving into the specifics of using incognito mode on Mac and iPhone, let’s first have a clear understanding of what exactly private mode is.

Incognito mode, commonly known as private browsing, is a feature available on most web browsers that allows you to explore the internet without saving their browsing history, cookies, or other site data. This means that once you close the incognito window, all your browsing information is automatically erased, leaving no trace on the device.

You might want to use incognito mode on your Mac or iPhone for several reasons. Here are a few:

  • If you don’t want anyone to see your browsing history. Private mode prevents your browsing history, cookies, and other site data from being saved on your device.
  • To protect you from potential security threats. When you use private mode, your browser won’t save any login information or autofill data.
  • For testing websites without any cached data or cookies interfering with your results.
  • To prevent tracking your browsing behavior and showing targeted ads. Also, by using incognito mode, you can get better deals on products or services.

How to go incognito on Mac

One important aspect to note is that while incognito mode prevents your browsing history from being stored locally, it does not guarantee complete anonymity online. Your internet service provider (ISP), employer, or visited websites may still track your online activity. If it suits you, let’s explore how to go incognito mode on Mac.

Steps to go incognito on Mac Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner.
  3. Choose New Incognito Window from the drop-down list. Chrome window showing how to open a new incognito window
  4. A new window will open in incognito mode, indicated by a dark-colored window. You can now browse privately without your browsing history being saved. Chrome incognito window

Alternatively, you can go to private mode on Chrome by clicking on File in the Chrome menu and selecting New Incognito window from the drop-down menu. Also, you can use the Shift+Cmd+N shortcut to open an incognito window.

Steps to go incognito mode on Safari on Mac:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Click on “File” in the menu bar.
  3. Select New Private Window from drop-down options.
Opening Safari Private mode

Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Shift+Cmd+N to open a new Safari incognito window. The search panel will be colored grey, so that you can be sure that your’e in Safari private browsing mode and your Internet activity won’t be stored.

Safari private mode window

Steps to open private browsing mode in Firefox:

  1. Launch Firefox.
  2. Click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner.
  3. From the menu, select “New Private Window” or use the shortcut Shift+Cmd+P.
Firefox private mode

How to use private browsing on iPhone

Going incognito on an iPhone is slightly different from doing it on a Mac. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open Safari on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the tabs icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Select Private.
  4. A new window will open, and you can start private search on your iPhone without leaving a trace.
Screens showing iPhone private browsing

Alternatives to incognito mode on your device

While incognito mode can help protect your online privacy, it’s not a foolproof solution. Here are a few alternatives you can use to browse the internet anonymously:

  • Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address, making it difficult for anyone to track your online activities.
  • Tor Browser – free and open-source web browser that uses a network of servers to hide your IP address and encrypt your internet connection.
  • DuckDuckGo – a privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track your online activities or store your search history.

Conclusion

By utilizing incognito mode, users can enjoy a more private and secure browsing experience, especially when accessing sensitive information or conducting research on topics they prefer to keep confidential. If you still have questions about this mode, feel free to write them in the discussion section below. Enjoy your private browsing experience!



Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top