Open an incognito tab with a keyboard shortcut or menu option
An incognito tab (also called private browsing) is a window where your browser does not save your browsing history, cookies, or search history. When you close the tab, the browser forgets you were there. The fastest way to open one is a keyboard shortcut — the same shortcut works across Chrome, Edge, and Opera.
On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + N to open a new incognito window in Chrome, Edge, or Opera. On Mac, press Command + Shift + N. Firefox uses Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows and Command + Shift + P on Mac. If you forget the shortcut, you can also use the menu — we cover that below for each browser.
A new window will open with a different appearance than your normal browsing window. Chrome and Edge show a spy icon or "InPrivate" label. Firefox shows a purple mask icon. This visual difference reminds you that you are in private mode.
Key Takeaways
- Incognito tabs do not save your browsing history, cookies, search history, or login information after you close them.
- The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (Mac) opens an incognito window in Chrome, Edge, and Opera.
- Firefox uses Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Command + Shift + P (Mac) for private browsing.
- Incognito mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, employer, or the websites you visit — it only hides it from your own browser.
Chrome: Open incognito with the menu
If the keyboard shortcut does not work or you prefer using the menu, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. This opens the main menu.
Look for the option that says "New incognito window" and click it. A new window will open with a spy icon in the top left corner and the words "You are in incognito mode" displayed on the new tab page. You can now browse without saving history.
You can open as many incognito windows as you want at the same time. Each one is separate from your normal browsing and from other incognito windows. When you close an incognito window, everything you did in it is deleted.
Edge: Open InPrivate browsing
Microsoft Edge calls incognito mode InPrivate browsing. Click the three dots menu in the top right corner of Edge.
Select "New InPrivate window" from the menu. A new window will open with a blue and white icon in the top left that says "InPrivate". The new tab page will also display "You are browsing InPrivate" to confirm you are in private mode.
InPrivate works the same way as Chrome's incognito mode — your history, cookies, and cached files are not saved when you close the window. You can open multiple InPrivate windows at once.
Firefox: Open a private window
Firefox calls private browsing mode a private window. Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of Firefox.
Select "New Private Window" from the menu. A new window will open with a purple mask icon in the top left corner. Firefox will display "You are in a private window" on the new tab page.
Firefox private windows work the same as other browsers — nothing is saved to your history or cookies after you close the window. You can open multiple private windows at the same time, and each one is separate from your normal browsing.
Safari: Open a private window on Mac or iPhone
On a Mac, open Safari and click "File" in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select "New Private Window" from the dropdown menu. A new Safari window will open with a darker appearance and a message saying "Private" in the address bar area.
On an iPhone or iPad, open Safari and tap the tabs icon (two overlapping squares) in the bottom right corner. Tap "Private" at the bottom of the screen, then tap the plus icon to open a new private tab. Private tabs appear with a dark background to show you are in private mode.
Safari private windows do not save history, cookies, or search history. When you close a private window or tab, that activity is deleted from your device.
What incognito mode does and does not do
Incognito tabs are useful for several reasons. They do not save your browsing history, so if you search for something private, it will not appear in your browser's history dropdown. They do not store cookies, which means websites cannot track you across visits using stored login information. They do not save passwords or autofill data. If you log into a website in an incognito tab and then close it, you will have to log in again next time.
However, incognito mode has limits. It does not hide your activity from your internet service provider — they can still see which websites you visit. It does not hide your activity from your employer if you are using a work computer or work network. It does not hide your activity from the websites themselves — they still know you visited and can track you while you are on their site. It does not protect you from viruses or malware. Incognito is useful for privacy from your own device, not for hiding from the internet itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does incognito mode hide my activity from my internet service provider?
No. Your internet service provider can see which websites you visit even in incognito mode. Incognito only hides your activity from your own browser and device. If you want to hide your activity from your ISP, you would need to use a VPN (virtual private network), which is a separate tool.
Will websites know I am using incognito mode?
Websites cannot detect that you are in incognito mode. However, they can still see that you visited them and can track your activity while you are on their site. Incognito mode prevents your browser from saving that information locally, but it does not prevent the website from collecting data about you in real time.
Can I save bookmarks in an incognito tab?
Yes. Bookmarks you create in an incognito tab are saved to your browser permanently, just like bookmarks created in normal mode. Only your history, cookies, and cached files are deleted when you close the incognito window.
What happens to downloads in incognito mode?
Files you download in an incognito tab are saved to your computer normally and are not deleted when you close the tab. Only your browser history of the download is not saved. The file itself remains on your device.
Can I use incognito mode on my phone?
Yes. All major browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge — have private or incognito modes on phones and tablets. The process is slightly different on each phone, but the result is the same: your browsing history, cookies, and search history are not saved.