What an incognito tab does

An incognito tab (called "private browsing" in some browsers) is a window that does not save your browsing history, cookies, or search history when you close it. Websites you visit still see your IP address, and your internet service provider can still see what sites you visit — incognito is not the same as a VPN or anonymity tool. It is useful when you share a computer, want to log into two accounts at once, or do not want the browser to remember what you looked up.

Each browser has a different name for this feature and a different keyboard shortcut to open it. The steps below cover the major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have incognito or private browsing modes, opened with a keyboard shortcut or a menu option.
  • Incognito tabs do not save your history, cookies, or autofill data, but websites and your internet provider can still see your activity.
  • You can have both regular and incognito tabs open at the same time in the same browser window.
  • Closing an incognito tab erases everything from that session, but files you read are saved to your computer unless you delete them manually.

Opening incognito in Google Chrome

Press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. A new window will open with a dark theme and an incognito icon (a spy hat) in the top left corner. You can also right-click any link and select "Open Link in Incognito Window" to jump straight there.

If you prefer the menu, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select "New Incognito Window." Chrome will open a separate window for incognito browsing, keeping your regular tabs in another window.

Opening private browsing in Mozilla Firefox

Press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Command + Shift + P on Mac. Firefox calls this "Private Browsing" and opens a new window with a purple mask icon in the top left. The address bar will show "Private Browsing" next to the home icon.

You can also click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, then select "New Private Window." Like Chrome, Firefox opens a separate window rather than a tab, so your private and regular browsing stay visually separate.

Opening private browsing in Safari

Press Command + Shift + N on Mac. Safari opens a new private window with a dark background. You will see "Private" in the address bar area. Safari does not have a private tab within the same window — private browsing always opens in a separate window.

You can also go to the File menu at the top and select "New Private Window." Safari's private mode works the same way as other browsers: it does not store history, cookies, or search data after you close the window.

Opening InPrivate in Microsoft Edge

Press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. Edge calls this "InPrivate Browsing" and opens a new window with a dark theme and an InPrivate icon in the top left corner.

You can also click the three-dot menu in the top right and select "New InPrivate Window." Like the other browsers, Edge opens a separate window to keep your private and regular browsing distinct.

What happens when you close an incognito tab or window

When you close an incognito window or tab, the browser deletes all history, cookies, and cached data from that session. You will not see those sites in your history dropdown, and the browser will not remember passwords you entered or forms you filled out.

Files you read in incognito mode are not deleted — they stay in your Downloads folder or wherever you saved them. If you want to remove a downloaded file, you have to delete it manually from your computer. Some browsers let you change this behavior in settings, but the default is to keep downloads.

Using multiple accounts at once

One common reason to use incognito is to log into two accounts on the same website at the same time. Open one account in a regular tab and another in an incognito tab — the browser treats them as separate sessions, so the website will not log you out of one when you switch to the other.

This works because incognito tabs do not share cookies with regular tabs. Cookies are how websites remember you are logged in, so keeping them separate lets you maintain two logins simultaneously. This is useful for managing work and personal email, testing a website as a user while logged in as an admin, or checking what a page looks like when you are not logged in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does incognito hide my activity from my internet provider?

No. Your internet provider can see every website you visit, whether you use incognito or not. Incognito only hides your activity from the browser and the computer itself. If you need to hide your activity from your internet provider, you need a VPN (virtual private network), which is a different tool.

Can websites see that I am using incognito?

Most websites cannot tell whether you are in incognito mode, but some can detect it using technical methods. Websites do not block incognito users, but some sites (like streaming services) may limit features or show warnings. The website still sees your IP address and can track you across visits if you log in.

What if I want to open an incognito tab instead of a window?

Chrome, Firefox, and Edge open incognito in a separate window by default. Safari does not offer incognito tabs at all. If you want multiple incognito windows open at once, you can use the keyboard shortcut multiple times, and each one will be a separate window you can arrange on your screen.

Do I lose my bookmarks in incognito mode?

No. Bookmarks are stored in your browser permanently and appear in incognito mode just like they do in regular browsing. Incognito only hides history, cookies, and cached data — it does not affect bookmarks, extensions, or settings.

Can someone see my incognito browsing if they use my computer later?

No. When you close an incognito window, the browser deletes all history and cookies from that session. The next person who uses the computer will not see any record of where you went. However, if you read files in incognito mode, those files remain on the computer unless you delete them.