Most of us have used the browser Incognito mode at some point. You open it, and voilà — the browser stops saving your history, passwords, and cookies. It's perfect for visiting a site without leaving traces on your device.
In Google Chrome, it’s called Incognito mode. Microsoft Edge uses InPrivate browsing. Safari refers to it as private browsing mode. In Firefox, it's simply a private window or Firefox Incognito mode.
But while the Incognito mode looks reassuring, its powers are often overestimated. Many believe it makes them fully anonymous online — that’s a myth. So let’s unpack how it works and what it doesn’t hide.
The main goal of the browser Incognito mode is to hide your activity from others who use the same device. It stops your browser from saving visited pages, search queries, form inputs, and login data. Handy if you’re using someone else’s phone or computer — like at a café or while visiting friends. Once you turn off browser Incognito mode, all local traces disappear.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re invisible online. Your external IP address stays exposed, meaning websites, search engines, and advertisers can still identify your general location, device type, and more.
And if you sign into an account — like your Gmail or a social network — during your session, the site will instantly recognize you and keep tracking what you do, even though you're technically in browser Incognito mode.
So, does Incognito work for total anonymity? Nope. It only hides local activity. To the outside world — websites, network admins, and ISPs — your browsing looks almost the same.
Short answer: yes, they can.
Browser Incognito mode doesn’t hide your traffic from your internet service provider or network administrator. Your browser doesn’t encrypt your data or hide your IP, so your provider can still see which websites you visit and when. DNS queries, especially, reveal domain names even if the site uses HTTPS.
Here’s a real-world example: even if you're using browser Incognito mode and visit example.com at 10:30 PM, your ISP can log that you went there and how long you stayed. They can share this data with third parties or use it for internal tracking if needed.
In Incognito mode, Chrome displays a clear message: websites, employers, schools, and internet providers may still monitor your activity. So it’s best not to rely on Incognito as an online invisibility cloak.
Same story.
Whether you're at a coffee shop, airport, or office using browser Incognito mode, admins can still monitor what sites you visit. That’s because Incognito doesn’t secure or encrypt your traffic; it only avoids saving your browsing locally.
If the network uses content filters (like blocking adult sites), browser Incognito mode won’t bypass them. Some workplaces even install certificates that allow them to decrypt HTTPS traffic — known as SSL inspection — and Incognito mode can't do a thing about it.
So, does Incognito work to keep your activity private on shared or monitored networks? It’s practically useless in that context. You’ll need something stronger — like a VPN or proxy — and we’ll talk more about those soon.
At first glance, browser Incognito mode works the same across all browsers — no saved history, no cookies, no autofill. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll notice key differences: some browsers block trackers better, some let you lock private tabs, and others simply word their warnings differently.
For many users, browser Incognito mode is synonymous with Chrome. When you open it through “New Incognito Window,” you see the spy icon and a message that says your activity won’t be saved on this device. However, it also clearly warns that websites, Google services, and your downloads won’t be hidden from the wider web.
Here’s what Incognito mode Chrome does:
In Safari, it’s called Private Browsing. The core idea is the same — no local history, no stored data. But Safari adds a few extras:
Safari is great at local privacy, but not so much at transparency. Unlike Chrome or Firefox, it doesn’t explicitly tell you that websites and providers can still see your online activity.
So, does Incognito work better in Safari? It’s more private on your device, but not anonymous online. You’ll need some extra tools, like a proxy.
Perfect proxies for accessing valuable data from around the world.
Firefox has always championed user privacy. Even in regular mode, it blocks many trackers. But its browser Incognito mode (aka Private Window) turns it up a notch:
Importantly, Firefox clearly says: Incognito ≠ anonymity. Your ISP, network admin, and visited websites can still track your activity. Firefox doesn’t hide your IP or encrypt your traffic; it just keeps your session from being remembered or followed by ads.
Does Incognito work for privacy in Firefox? It does a great job at blocking tracking tools, but it’s still not a full privacy solution.
Yes, browser Incognito mode works on smartphones too — in Chrome for Android, Safari on iPhone, and other mobile browsers. The experience is nearly identical: no stored history, blocked trackers, and a clean slate after you close the tab.
But do you need it on your phone?
It helps, especially if you share your device or want to keep a specific session private. But like on desktop, it doesn't offer full privacy.
Wondering how to turn on Incognito mode? Good news: browser Incognito mode is easy to activate on any major desktop or mobile browser. Let’s go over the quickest ways to use it, how to switch back to normal browsing, and even how to turn off Incognito mode completely if needed (for parents or admins).
Each browser gives you access to browser Incognito mode via its main menu:
Once in browser Incognito mode, you can browse normally — type in URLs, make searches, and click links. Once you close the session, nothing will be stored locally.
Pro tip: right-click any link and select Open in New Private Window (or tab) for quick access.
Love keyboard shortcuts? Here’s how to go into Incognito mode instantly:
Even Microsoft Edge (not our main focus here) uses the same as Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows and ⌘ Command + Shift + N on Mac.
To close a private window:
It’s super simple: just close all your private tabs or windows.
When you exit, the browser wipes all local traces of that session — history, cookies, and login info. No special sign-out is required — closing the window is enough.
One note: if you downloaded files or bookmarked something while using Incognito mode, those won’t be deleted automatically. You’ll need to remove them manually if you want to keep things fully private.
Sometimes, you may want to restrict access to browser Incognito mode — for example, on a child’s computer or a work device. Browsers don’t have a simple switch for this, but there are workarounds.
Google Chrome (Desktop). A system admin can disable Incognito by setting a policy.
This removes the New Incognito Window option entirely.
Mozilla Firefox. There’s no checkbox to disable Incognito, but Mozilla provides policy templates for enterprise deployments. Admins can push a configuration file that blocks private windows.
Safari (Mac/iPhone/iPad). Use Screen Time settings to block private browsing.
Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Under web content, choose Limit Adult Websites — this disables private mode in Safari.
Third-party tools also help disable Incognito. For example, on Android, you can install an app like Disable Incognito Mode that auto-closes private tabs as soon as they’re opened.
When you browse the web through a proxy, your ISP no longer sees which websites you’re visiting. It only sees that you’re connected to one server — the proxy. If that proxy is encrypted, the contents of your requests will stay hidden, too.
On the other end, websites no longer see your real IP address or location. They see the proxy’s IP instead — and if you’re using an IP from a different country, that’s where they’ll think you are.
💡 For example, Froxy provides high-quality proxies that completely mask your identity. To the website, it looks like a regular user is visiting — just one located elsewhere in the world.
Does Incognito work this way? Not at all. It doesn’t hide your IP or change your location — proxies do.
Incognito + Proxy = Double Privacy
Here’s the deal: browser Incognito mode and proxies serve two different purposes:
Combine both, and you get the best of both worlds: nothing saved on your device, and nothing revealing on the internet. Win-win.
Of course, proxies aren’t magic either. If the proxy doesn’t encrypt your data, your ISP might still pick up on some traffic patterns. Websites can try to track you via browser fingerprinting, especially if you keep the same proxy for too long.
That’s why rotating proxies are key to maintaining privacy.
Even without basic settings, proxies already do a lot:
And if you use proxies from different countries, you can switch locations on demand — great for privacy and accessing content locked to a specific region.
If you’re ready to level up your privacy, good news — we’ve put together a simple guide on how to set up proxies in your browser.
Let’s be clear — browser Incognito mode isn’t useless. It does its job well: it doesn’t save your device browsing history, cookies, or login info. It’s still a great way to keep those surprise gift searches a secret from people you live with!
Proxies are essential to hide your identity and location on the web. The ideal combo looks like this:
Add HTTPS connections, tracker blockers, and some good digital hygiene — and suddenly your web activity becomes much harder to track.
So, does Incognito work as a full privacy solution? No, but it’s a great first layer. And when paired with the right tools, it helps you stay one step ahead in a visible online world.