Tip Of The Day: How To Use Private Tabs In Safari

To use private tabs in Safari on your iPhone, open the Safari app and tap the tab switcher button. In iOS 17, swipe to the Private tab group and tap the tab you want to open; in iOS 16 or earlier, tap the tab groups list, tap Private, then tap Done.

How to use private tabs in Safari on iPhone

On Android, the documented private-tab feature is Google Chrome Incognito, not Safari. To open a link privately in Chrome on Android, touch and hold the link, then choose Open link in new Incognito window. Google's help says guest mode is not available on mobile devices; to browse privately on a phone, use Incognito mode.

Open a private tab on iOS 17

1. Open the Safari app.
2. Tap the tab switcher button.
3. Swipe to the Private tab group.
4. Tap the tab you want to open.

Open a private tab on iOS 16 or earlier

1. Open the Safari app.
2. Tap the tab switcher button.
3. Tap the tab groups list.
4. Tap Private, then tap Done.

What private tabs hide and what they don't

Private tabs in Safari do not save your browsing history, cookies, or other browsing data on your device. They also do not sync to other Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account. However, private tabs do not hide your activity from websites you visit or from your internet service provider (ISP), which can still track your online behavior.

How to exit private browsing and close private tabs

Exit Private Browsing on iOS 17

1. Tap the tab switcher button.
2. Swipe to a non-private tab group.
3. Choose a tab.

Exit Private Browsing on iOS 16 or earlier

1. Tap the tab switcher button.
2. Tap Private to show the tab groups list.
3. Tap [number] Tabs and Done.

Private tabs stay open when you exit Private Browsing. To close an individual private tab, tap the tab switcher, then tap the close button on the tab. To close all private tabs at once, long-press the tab switcher button and select Close All [x] Private Tabs. Tabs remain open until you manually close them.

Lock private tabs with Face ID or Touch ID

To lock private tabs when you switch away from Safari, go to Settings > Apps > Safari. Turn on Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing, Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing, or Require Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing (where supported). Private Browsing locks if your iPhone has a passcode set. Note that Private Browsing may not lock immediately. In Chrome on Android, go to More > Settings > Privacy and security, then turn on Lock Incognito windows when you leave Chrome.

Set a different search engine for private browsing

To use a separate search engine in private tabs, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Private Search Engine and choose your preferred option. If you do not want the regular search engine reused in Private Browsing, turn off the Also Use in Private Browsing toggle in the same settings menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch between private and regular tabs in Safari?

Yes. Tap the tab switcher button to see both your private tabs and regular tabs listed. Tap the tab you want to switch to, and your private browsing activity stays separate from regular browsing.

Are private tabs in Safari completely secure?

No. Private tabs prevent Safari from saving your history, cookies, or form data on your device, but they do not encrypt your internet traffic or hide your IP address from websites or your ISP.

What happens to private tabs when I close Safari?

Private tabs remain open when you close Safari. They stay open until you manually close them using the tab switcher, even if you exit Private Browsing mode first.

Do private tabs sync between my iPhone and other Apple devices?

No. Private Browsing tabs are not shared with other Apple devices, even when you are signed in to the same Apple Account.

How do I change the search engine used in private tabs?

You can also turn off the Also Use in Private Browsing toggle to prevent the regular search engine from being reused.

For the wider topic, see display and home screen settings.