Safari Private Browsing creates a separate browsing area that does not add visited pages to Safari history and clears that private session’s cookies and site data when the private tabs or window close. It is useful for one-off searches, gift shopping, or logging into a second account without mixing cookies with your regular tabs.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Safari on current iPhone, iPad, and Mac versions. Private Browsing is about reducing what Safari saves locally on your device; it is not full online anonymity.
Turn on Private Browsing on iPhone or iPad
Private tabs live in their own tab group beside your normal tabs.
- Open Safari.
- Tap the tabs button, which looks like two overlapping squares.
- Tap the tab group name at the bottom center, such as Start Page or the number of open tabs.
- Choose Private.
- Tap plus to open a new private tab. The interface darkens and shows Private to confirm the mode.
- To return to normal browsing, open the tab group menu again and choose your regular tab group.
Turn on Private Browsing on Mac
Safari on Mac opens private browsing in a separate window.
- Open Safari.
- Click File in the menu bar.
- Choose New Private Window, or press Cmd+Shift+N.
- Use the window with the dark address bar labeled Private.
- Close the private window when finished. Its private tabs and typed form data are removed with it.
More control
What Safari does not save
Private pages are not added to Safari history, private searches are not reused in Safari suggestions, and AutoFill does not save new passwords or addresses from that session. Closing private tabs or windows also clears their cookies and site data.
What private browsing does not hide
Your internet provider, employer, school, network administrator, and the websites you visit can still see activity on their side. Safari Private Browsing hides less from the network than many people expect; it mainly limits the local trail on your device.
Lock private browsing on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings > Apps > Safari on newer iOS versions, or Settings > Safari on older versions. In Privacy & Security, turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing. After that, opening private tabs requires Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode.
Downloads still stay on the device
Files you download in a private tab are saved like normal downloads. Private Browsing clears browser history and site data, not files you intentionally save.
Sources
- Apple Support – Use Private Browsing in Safari (2025)
- Apple Support – Use Face ID or Touch ID for apps in Safari (2025)
- Apple Support – About Safari fraudulent website warnings and privacy (2025)