How to turn off private mode iphone

When Private Browsing is on in iOS 7 Safari, no data is being stored on your iPhone. You lose any evidence of the websites you're visiting as you browse the Internet and you can't access them via your history later. This is especially problematic if you accidentally close a tab or if the browser shuts down. If you want a record of your browsing, turn off Private Browsing.

Switching Back and Forth

  1. When you're browsing in Safari, swipe up on any Web page to bring up the icons across the bottom of the screen. Tap the icon in the lower right corner to bring up all open pages, then tap "Private" in the lower left corner. Doing so will turn off private mode because you'll be deselecting the option. When you want to turn it back on, just tap "Private" again and follow the prompts to close or keep open all tabs. If you aren't sure whether you were in private mode while browsing, delete your saved data in the Safari settings menu.

You’re in control of what information you share with Google when you search. To browse the web privately, you can use private browsing, sign out of your account, change your custom results settings, or delete past activity.

If you want to search the web without saving your search activity to your account, you can use private browsing mode in a browser (like Chrome or Safari).

How private browsing works

Private browsing works differently depending on which browser you use. Browsing in private usually means:

  • The searches you do or sites you visit won't be saved to your device or browsing history.
  • Files you download or bookmarks you create might be kept on your device.
  • Cookies are deleted after you close your private browsing window or tab.
  • You might see search results and suggestions based on your location or other searches you've done during your current browsing session.

Important: If you sign in to your Google Account to use a web service like Gmail, your searches and browsing activity might be saved to your account.

Open private browsing mode

Turn on Incognito mode

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google app
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    .
  2. Tap the Search bar.
  3. Above the keyboard, turn on Incognito mode.

Turn off Incognito mode

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google app
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    .
  2. Tap the Search bar.
  3. Above the keyboard, turn off Incognito mode.

Sign out of your Google Account

Secure your browsing with Face ID or Touch ID

You can turn on Face ID or Touch ID for Incognito mode to make your browsing session more secure.

Turn on Face ID or Touch ID

If asked whether to stay in Incognito mode

If you have Face ID or Touch ID turned on, close the app, and then return after more than 15 minutes, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to stay in Incognito mode.

  • To go back to regular browsing, tap Exit Incognito.
  • To continue private browsing, tap Continue. You’ll be asked to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to re-enter your session.

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If you don’t want Google Chrome to remember your activity, you can browse the web privately in Incognito mode. 

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Chrome app .
  2. Tap More
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    New Incognito Tab
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    . A new Incognito tab opens.

To check if you're in Incognito mode, tap Switch tabs

How to turn off private mode iphone
. Swipe right to see if you have any open Incognito tabs. At the top, look for the Incognito icon .

You'll only browse in private when you're using an Incognito tab.

You can switch between Incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs:

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Chrome app .
  2. At the bottom, tap Switch tabs
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    . Swipe right or left to switch between Incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs.

Tip:

On your iPhone, you can find:

On your iPad, you can find:

Lock Incognito tabs when you switch between apps

Anyone who uses your device can access Incognito tabs that you leave open. To leave Incognito tabs open and keep them private, you can lock your Incognito tabs.

Close Incognito mode to stop private browsing

Incognito mode runs in a separate tab from your normal Chrome tabs.

If you have an Incognito tab open and you open another one, your private browsing session will continue in the new tab. To exit Incognito mode, close all Incognito tabs.

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Chrome app .
  2. At the bottom, tap Switch tabs
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    . Swipe right to see your open Incognito tabs.
  3. Find the tab you want to close. At the top right of the tab, tap Close
    How to turn off private mode iphone
    .

What happens when you browse privately

  • Chrome won't save your browsing history, cookies and site data, or information entered in forms.
  • Files you download and bookmarks you create will be kept.
  • Your activity isn’t hidden from websites you visit, your employer or school, or your internet service provider.

Learn more about how private browsing works.

  • How private browsing works
  • Let others browse Chrome as a guest
  • Clear Chrome browsing data

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