Turn off private browsing on iPhone and iPad in 4 easy steps

Need to turn off private browsing on your iPhone or iPad? We’ll show you how to do it quickly and share privacy-boosting alternatives.

While Apple’s private browsing mode keeps your browsing history hidden from others using your iOS device, it doesn’t protect you from online tracking. We’ll guide you through disabling private browsing on iPhone and iPad, explain its benefits and drawbacks, and explore better privacy solutions.

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What is private browsing on iPhone and iPad?

Private browsing mode on iPhone and iPad is a handy feature to keep your web activity under wraps. It prevents your device from saving cookies, browsing history, or autofill data. This means that any websites you visit won’t be tracked, and you won’t see personalized ads based on your online behavior. Essentially, it provides a more anonymous browsing experience.

This mode is beneficial if you share your device with others, like family or friends. It allows you to explore the web without leaving traces of your browsing habits, ensuring your privacy remains intact. 

Are private browsing and Incognito mode the same?

Both private browsing and Incognito mode prevent your device from saving browsing history, cookies, and site data, helping you stay more anonymous. However, they’re not the same thing.

While private browsing on iOS focuses solely on local data storage, Incognito mode can be linked to your Google account if you're signed in. This means that while your local browsing activity won't be saved, Google may still collect some data related to your account. Apple’s private browsing mode keeps your web activity away from prying eyes without any association with an account. 

Pros and cons of using private browsing on iPhone and other Apple devices

Private browsing on your iPhone or iPad has its perks but also a few downsides worth noting:

Pros of private browsing

• Keeps your activity private: Stops your device from saving browsing history, cookies, and autofill data. This helps keep your browsing private when you share your device with others.
• Use multiple accounts easily: Log into different accounts without confusion. For example, you can have one Gmail account open in a regular window and another in private mode.
• Great for price tracking: Prevents booking sites from using cookies to hike prices after multiple searches, which is handy for flights and hotels.

Cons of private browsing

• No syncing across devices: Open tabs and browsing history won’t sync through iCloud. This makes it harder to pick up where you left off between your iPhone and iPad.
• May disrupt site performance: Some pages might load slowly or behave strangely when private browsing is on, making for a less smooth experience.
• Limited extension support: Most browser extensions, like ad blockers or productivity tools, don’t work while in private mode.

How to turn off private browsing on iPhone or iPad

Turning off private browsing for Safari is easy. Follow our step-by-step instructions for your iPhone and iPad.

1. Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad. If you’re in private browsing mode, the screen will appear darker. It should say Private Browsing at the top of the screen.
2. Press the tab icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. This looks like two overlapping squares.

3. If you hold the tabs icon, it brings up a control panel. Click on Start Page to exit private mode and move to regular search.

4. You can also press the tabs icon once and scroll right to exit the private search and start a new search page.

How to turn private browsing on (iPhone and iPad)

If you’ve turned off private browsing but want to use it again, re-enabling it on your iPhone or iPad is simple. Here’s how you can quickly switch back:

1. Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad. Launch the Safari app from your home screen.
2. Tap the tabs icon. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the tabs icon, which looks like two overlapping squares. Tap it.
3. Select ‘Private.’ In the tab overview screen, you’ll see an option labeled ‘Private’ at the bottom of the screen (or in the tab switcher menu). Tap this to enable private browsing mode again.
4. Start browsing privately. Once activated, your screen will darken slightly to indicate private browsing is on. You can now surf the web without your browsing history, cookies, or autofill data being saved to your device.

Switching to private browsing mode is quick and gives you flexibility to browse without leaving a trail, while still being easy to turn off when you need features like syncing or extensions.

Is private browsing mode really private?

Private browsing mode can help keep your activity hidden from others who have access to your device, but it has limitations. While your browsing history, cookies, and form data aren’t saved locally, this doesn’t mean your online activity is completely private. Websites, advertisers, and other third parties can still track you. Even with Safari’s private mode, your ISP can monitor what you do online.

Your ISP and network administrators—like those on public Wi-Fi—can still see your activity. Private mode prevents your device from storing data, but it doesn’t stop your ISP or third parties from recording your browsing.

Looking for better privacy? Here’s how you can strengthen your online protection:

Use a private browser

Consider switching to a private browser like DuckDuckGo. Unlike standard private browsing modes, DuckDuckGo actively blocks hidden trackers and doesn’t store your search history or personal data. This makes it harder for advertisers and other third parties to build a profile on you. To start, download the DuckDuckGo app or set it as your default search engine.

Enable a privacy extension for Safari

Safari’s private browsing prevents local data storage, but it doesn’t stop online trackers. You can enhance your privacy by using extensions like AdBlock Plus or Privacy Badger. These tools block unwanted ads and trackers, reducing the amount of data websites collect about you.

Use a VPN

A VPN for iOS goes a step further by encrypting your internet connection. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it much harder for ISPs, network administrators, and other third parties to monitor your activity. It also masks your IP address, so websites see only the VPN server’s IP, not yours. This makes it more challenging to trace your online actions back to you. ExpressVPN operates with a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that even we don’t track or store your data. You can try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Can iPhone private browsing mode be tracked?

Yes, your activity can still be tracked while using private browsing on an iPhone. Even in private mode, your Wi-Fi network administrator and ISP can see your online activity. If you log into websites, those sites and their advertisers can associate your actions with your account, regardless of whether you’re in private mode.

Using a VPN can help, but it has its own limitations. While a VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address, logging into an account reveals your identity to that website. To maximize anonymity, consider staying logged out of accounts when using a VPN or private browsing.

Private browsing clears your history and cookies once you close the window, but it doesn’t hide everything. DNS requests—which translate website addresses—are still logged. This means your activity can potentially be traced through these logs.

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