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) is a browsing mode that does not save your browsing history, cookies, or search history to your device. When you close the private tab, the browser forgets the sites you visited and any information you entered into forms.

This is useful if you are shopping for a gift on a shared computer, checking your bank account on a public WiFi network, or simply do not want your browser to remember a particular search. It does not make you anonymous to websites or your internet provider — they still see your real IP address — but it does prevent your local device from keeping a record.

Key Takeaways

  • Private tabs in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all work the same way: they do not save your browsing history, cookies, or form data after you close them.
  • Opening a private tab takes one keyboard shortcut or a right-click menu option, and you can use private and regular tabs at the same time in the same browser.
  • Private tabs do not hide your activity from your internet provider, your employer's network, or the websites you visit — they only hide it from your device's history.
  • Websites may still track you in a private tab if you log into an account, because your login proves who you are regardless of browsing mode.

How to open a private tab in Chrome

In Google Chrome, 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 message saying "You've gone incognito." Any tabs you open in this window will not be saved to your history.

You can also right-click the Chrome icon in your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac) and select "New incognito window" from the menu. If you already have Chrome open, you can click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "New incognito window," or use the keyboard shortcut instead.

How to open a private tab in Firefox

In Mozilla Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + P on Mac. A new window will open labeled "Private Browsing" with a purple mask icon. Anything you do in this window stays off your device's history.

You can also click the three-line menu (hamburger menu) in the top right corner, select "New Private Window," or right-click a link and choose "Open Link in New Private Window" to open just that one page privately without opening a whole new window.

How to open a private tab in Safari

In Safari on Mac, press Command + Shift + N to open a new private window. On iPhone or iPad, tap the tabs icon (two overlapping squares) at the bottom right, then tap "Private" and tap the plus sign to add a new private tab.

You can also go to File menu > New Private Window on Mac. Safari's private tabs look the same as regular tabs but have a dark background in the address bar to remind you that you are browsing privately.

How to open a private tab in Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. A new window will open with a blue icon and the message "You're browsing InPrivate." Tabs opened in this window will not appear in your history.

You can also click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "New InPrivate window," or right-click a link and choose "Open link in new InPrivate window." Edge lets you open multiple InPrivate windows at the same time, just like regular windows.

What private tabs do and do not protect

Private tabs protect your local browsing history — the record stored on your device. They do not protect you from your internet service provider (ISP), your employer's network administrator, or the websites you visit. All of these can still see what sites you go to because they see your network traffic, not just your browser history.

If you log into an account — your email, social media, or banking — websites can still identify you and track your activity, even in a private tab. The private tab only hides the record from your device. If you want actual anonymity online, you would need a tool like a VPN (virtual private network), which is a separate tool that encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address.

Common reasons private tabs do not work as expected

If you open a private tab and your history still appears to be saved, check whether you are actually in a private tab. Look for the incognito icon (Chrome), the purple mask (Firefox), the dark address bar (Safari), or the InPrivate label (Edge). If you see these, the tab is private and working correctly.

If you close a private tab and then reopen your browser, you will not see that tab in your history — that is the correct behavior. However, if you download a file in a private tab, the file itself stays on your device (the download is saved, but the fact that you downloaded it is not recorded in your browser history). If you bookmark a page in a private tab, the bookmark stays in your browser because you explicitly saved it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see my private browsing if they have access to my computer?

No, not after you close the private tab. Once you close it, the browser deletes the history. However, if someone is watching your screen while you browse, or if they have installed monitoring software on your device, they can see what you are doing in real time. Private tabs only hide the record after you close them.

Does a private tab hide my activity from my WiFi provider?

No. Your WiFi provider can see which websites you visit because they see your network traffic. A private tab only hides your history from your device. If you want to hide your activity from your WiFi provider, you need a VPN, which encrypts your traffic so the provider cannot see the websites you visit.

Will websites know I am using a private tab?

Websites cannot tell whether you are in a private tab or a regular tab. They see the same information either way — your IP address, the pages you visit, and any information you enter. The private tab only affects what your device remembers, not what the website sees.

Can I use private tabs and regular tabs at the same time?

Yes. You can have private tabs and regular tabs open in the same browser window (in Firefox and Safari) or in separate windows (in Chrome and Edge). Switching between them does not affect how they work — private tabs still do not save history, and regular tabs still do.

What happens to passwords I enter in a private tab?

If you save a password in a private tab, most browsers will not remember it after you close the tab. However, if you were already logged into a password manager (like Bitwarden or 1Password), it may still fill in passwords for you. The private tab does not log you out of services you are already using.