What a private tab does and why you might use one

A private tab (also called an incognito tab or private window, depending on your browser) stops your browser from storing a record of the websites you visit, the searches you make, or the passwords you enter. When you close the tab or window, that history disappears — it is not saved to your browser's history, it does not appear in your search suggestions, and it does not stay in your cache.

This is useful when you are using a shared computer and do not want your activity to show up in the browser history. It is also useful when you want to search for something without your browser learning your preferences and changing what ads or results it shows you later. Private tabs do not make you invisible to your internet service provider, your employer's network, or the websites you visit — they only hide your activity from the browser itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Private tabs work the same way as regular tabs but do not save your history, searches, or passwords when you close them.
  • Every major browser has a private mode, but the keyboard shortcut and menu location differ between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
  • Websites can still see that you visited them, and your internet service provider can still see your traffic — private tabs only hide activity from your browser.
  • You can open multiple private tabs in the same window, and you can mix private and regular tabs in the same browser session.

Opening a private tab in Chrome

In Google Chrome, a private tab is called an incognito tab. The fastest way to open one is to press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + N on Mac. A new window will open with a dark theme and a small incognito icon (a spy hat) in the top left corner.

If you prefer using the menu, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then select "New incognito window" from the dropdown. You can also right-click on any link and choose "Open link in incognito window" to jump directly to that page in a private tab without opening a new window first.

Opening a private tab in Firefox

Firefox calls its private mode a private window. Press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + P on Mac to open one. A new window will appear with a purple mask icon in the top left, indicating that you are in private browsing mode.

You can also open a private window through the menu by clicking the three horizontal lines in the top right, then selecting "New Private Window." If you want to open a link in a private window without leaving your current page, right-click the link and choose "Open Link in New Private Window."

Opening a private tab in Safari

Safari's private mode is called Private Browsing. Press Command + Shift + N on Mac to open a new private window. The address bar will turn dark gray to show you are in private mode. On iPad or iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe left from the right edge on older models), then tap "Private" in the bottom left corner before opening a new tab.

You can also go to the File menu at the top of the screen and select "New Private Window." Once you are in a private window, every tab you open in that window stays private until you close it.

Opening a private tab in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge calls its private mode InPrivate browsing. Press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows to open a new InPrivate window. The window will show a blue icon in the top left corner with the word "InPrivate" next to it. On Mac, press Command + Shift + P instead.

You can also click the three dots in the top right corner and select "New InPrivate window." Like other browsers, you can right-click any link and choose "Open link in InPrivate window" to go directly to that page without opening a new window first.

What happens when you close a private tab

When you close a private tab or private window, your browser when ready deletes everything it collected while that tab was open. This includes your browsing history for that session, any searches you performed, cookies that websites tried to store, and autofill data. If you entered a password in a private tab, that password is not saved to your browser's password manager.

However, files you downloaded in a private tab will still be on your computer — private mode only affects what the browser remembers, not what you save to disk. If you want to remove those files, you will need to delete them manually from your Downloads folder or wherever you saved them.

Mixing private and regular tabs in the same session

You do not have to choose between private and regular browsing for your entire session. Most browsers let you keep both private and regular tabs open at the same time. In Chrome and Edge, you can open a regular tab and an incognito tab side by side. In Firefox and Safari, private windows are separate from regular windows, so you would have both a regular window and a private window open on your screen.

This is useful when you want to stay logged into your email or social media in a regular tab while searching for something privately in another tab. Just remember that anything you do in the regular tab will still be saved to your history when you close it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does private mode hide me from websites I visit?

No. Websites can still see that you visited them, and they can still track your activity on their site. Private mode only hides your activity from your browser and the device you are using. Your internet service provider and your network administrator can still see the websites you visit.

Can I save bookmarks in a private tab?

Yes. Bookmarks you create in a private tab are saved permanently to your browser, just like bookmarks created in a regular tab. Only your history, searches, and temporary data are deleted when you close the private tab.

Will my passwords be saved if I enter them in a private tab?

No. Private tabs do not save passwords to your browser's password manager. If you need to log into an account in a private tab, you will have to enter your password each time. Some browsers will offer to save the password, but if you confirm, it will be saved to your regular browser data, not kept private.

Can someone see that I opened a private tab if they check my computer later?

No. Private tabs leave no trace in your browser history. However, your internet service provider, network administrator, or anyone monitoring your network traffic can still see which websites you connected to, even if your browser does not remember them.

What is the difference between private mode and a VPN?

Private mode hides your activity from your browser and the device you are using. A VPN (virtual private network) hides your activity from your internet service provider and the websites you visit by routing your traffic through an encrypted tunnel. They serve different purposes and can be used together.