How to Turn on Incognito Mode in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Opera

This article explains how to open incognito mode for private browsing in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

How to Open Incognito Mode in Chrome

The easy way to go incognito in Chrome is to press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Command+Shift+N (Mac). Here's how to get there through the menu:

1. Select the Chrome Menu (three vertical dots) from the upper-right corner and then select New Incognito window.

2. A window opens, explaining Chrome's incognito mode.

3. To open a link in an incognito window, right-click it (or press Control+Click on a Mac), and then select Open link in incognito window.

To open a Chrome incognito tab on iOS or Android, tap the three dots and then choose New Incognito Tab.

How to Use InPrivate Browsing in Edge

Edge calls its incognito mode InPrivate browsing. Follow these steps to go incognito, or press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Command+Shift+N (Mac):

1. Select the three dots at the top right.

2. Select New InPrivate window.

3. A window opens, explaining InPrivate browsing.

4. To open a link in the Edge's incognito mode, right-click it (or press Control+Click on a Mac) and select Open link in InPrivate window.

The mobile app lets you open an incognito tab through the three-line menu at the bottom. Just choose New InPrivate tab.

How to Turn on Private Browsing in Firefox

Incognito mode in Firefox is called Private Browsing. Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Command+Shift+P (Mac) is the keyboard shortcut to go incognito in Firefox, but you can also use the program's menu:

1. Select the three lines at the top right of the browser, then select New private window.

2. An incognito tab opens.

3. To open a link in Private Browsing mode, right-click it (or press Control+Click on a Mac), then choose Open Link in New Private Window.

The mobile app lets you open a Firefox Private Browsing tab, but the directions differ from the desktop app. Tap the tabs button (it says 1 if you don't have any other tabs open) and then choose the mask icon followed by the plus sign.

How to Enter Private Browsing Mode in Safari

Like most browsers with an incognito mode, you can get to Safari's with the Shift+Command+N shortcut, but there is another way:

1. From the menu bar, select File > New Private Window.

2. A window opens with a darker search bar and a message that Private Browsing is enabled.

3. To open a link in a private window in Safari on a Mac, hold the Option key and right-click the link (or hold the Control and Option keys and select the link), then choose Open Link in New Private Window.

If you're using Safari on an iPhone or iPad, tap the tabs button and then swipe over to Private, or choose it from the three-line menu.

How to Open a Private Window in Opera

We like to go incognito in Opera with the keyboard shortcut, which is the same for most of these browsers: Ctrl+Shift+N for Windows or Command+Shift+N for Mac. Here's the other way to open a private tab:

1. Select the O at the top left to open Opera's menu.

2. Choose New private window from the list.
   

3. To open incognito for just one link, right-click it (or press Control+Click on a Mac) and select Open link in private window.

Using Opera from the mobile app? On Android, select the tabs button, swipe to Private, and then tap the plus sign. On iOS, tap the three lines to open the menu, then choose Private Mode.