What Is Incognito Mode on iPhone and How to Use It?
Elsa Updated on Apr 7, 2025 Filed to: iOS Parental
Incognito mode on an iPhone refers to private browsing. When using this mode, your browsing data such as search history and cookies will not be saved.
If you're interested in learning how to use this feature, you've come to the right place. This article will provide detailed instructions on how to turn on and turn off Incognito mode on common iPhone browsers, such as Safari and Chrome.
Step 2. Tap the "two overlapping squares" in the bottom-right corner.
Step 3. Tap "≡" at the bottom center or long click start page then swipe left to click "private."
After enabling private browsing, the address bar color will change to a darker color.
How to Turn on Locked Incognito Browsing on Safari?
You can easily unlock the Private tab mode on Safari by simply opening its "Settings" > scroll down to find "Safari" > click "Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing."
Or turn it off, if you don't want your private windows to lock.
Turn on Incognito Mode in Chrome
Open Chrome > tap the "three dots menu" in the bottom-right corner of the screen > Select "New Incognito Tab" from the menu.
How to Turn off Incognito Mode on iPhone?
Exiting Incognito Mode on Safari
Step 1.Launch the Safari app on your iPhone.
Step 2.At the bottom-right corner of the screen, you will see two overlapping squares that are basically the tab icon; click on it.
💡Note:The steps here get different for iOS 16 or earlier and iOS 17+.
iOS 17+
For iOS 17+, at the bottom, if you see the "Private" and "XX tabs" options, you are in incognito mode on Safari.
Step 3.Close the private tabs by tapping the "X" or swiping them away to exit the Private Browsing mode iPhone.
Step 4.Tap on the "XX tabs" button to switch to the normal browsing mode. Finally, ensure the label at the bottom of the tabs view indicates that you are now in normal browsing mode.
For iOS 16 or Earlier
Step 1.Repeat above step 1 and step 2, then you will see a "Private" option with a drop-down arrow at the bottom of the screen; click on it.
Step 2.Choose the "XX tab" option to enter the normal browsing mode. You can also close the private tabs by simply clicking on the "X" button top of each tab.
Turning off Incognito Mode on Chrome iPhone
Step 1.Launch the Chrome app on your iPhone.
Step 2.At the bottom-right of the screen, you will see a square icon with a number inside or a stack of squares; click on it.
Now, look at the top of the screen; at the top left side, you will see an icon with glasses & a hat, basically like a spy, which symbolizes incognito mode. Next to it will be the normal browsing mode.
Step 3.To close incognito tabs, click on the spy guy icon and close the tabs one by one either by tapping the "X" or swiping them away. After closing all Incognito tabs, you'll be back in normal browsing mode.
Difference Between Incognito and Normal Browsing Mode
Functions
Incognito Mode
Normal Browsing Mode
No Browsing History
No Cookies or Site Data
No Form Data
Information filled in forms will not be saved.
Information used for forms is usually saved for the future.
Session Isolation
Need to log in separately(normal mode log-in identity will not work).
Temporary Downloads
Downloaded files are saved but not shown in the history.
Downloads shown in history.
Privacy from Websites
Complete Anonymity
Your ISP, employer, or network administrator can still see your browsing activity.
Only the user with the same device will not see your history.
Even less secure than incognito mode.
Bonus: Is It Possible to Monitor Kids Online Browsing Activities?
With the advancement of technology, children can easily access the Internet using their mobile phones. They may use incognito mode to access inappropriate content like adult websites, anonymous chat groups, and the dark web, which can expose them to various risks. As parents, we typically do not have access to our children's browsing history when they are in private mode.
Luckily, Airdroid Parental Control provides a solution. Whether your kids' iPhone browsers are in incognito mode or not, Airdroid's parental control allows you to manage and monitor their online activity.
AirDroid Parental Control
Easy to Monitor Kids Online Browsing Activities.
Airdroid's parental control feature allows you to view your kids' online browsing history, even if they are using incognito mode. You can also block inappropriate URLs, receive sync notifications, and get alerts when your kids try to access a URL that you've added to the blacklist.
Conclusion
The functions of turning on and off incognito mode are different, but the process is very simple. We hope that after reading our article, you can fully master how to use incognito mode in Safari and Chrome browser on iPhone.
FAQs About Incognito Mode on iPhone
Why Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing Greyed Out?
Elsa
If the option "Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing" is greyed out on your iPhone, it may be due to one of the following reasons:
1. Screen Time Restrictions
Solution: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and see if any restrictions are affecting Safari or privacy settings.
2. Not Using Face ID/Touch ID
Solution: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode, and set it up if it’s not already enabled.
3. Outdated iOS Version
Solution: Update your iPhone to iOS 17 or later.
After resolving any of these potential issues, the option to require a passcode for unlocking Private Browsing should become available.
Can I Permanently Disable Incognito Mode?
Elsa
Yes, you can disable incognito mode on your iPhone.
For that, simply open "Settings" > "Screen time" > switch on "Content & Restriction Settings" > go to "Content Restriction Option" > scroll down and click on "Web Content" > choose "Limit adult websites".
Elsa has worked on a number of iOS & Android solutions, she can always find her way around almost any application. She is an accomplished, skilled and versatile writer with more than 7 years of technical article writing experience.
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