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What Does Incognito or InPrivate Browsing Actually Do?

Understand what private browsing does and does not hide.

Quick Answer

Private browsing generally avoids retaining local history/cookies after the session, but it does not make your activity invisible to websites, networks, employers, or internet providers.

Step by Step

  1. Open the browser and the relevant page or Settings section.
  2. Private browsing generally avoids retaining local history/cookies after the session, but it does not make your activity invisible to websites, networks, employers, or internet providers.
  3. Test the result before clearing additional data or resetting more settings.
  4. If troubleshooting, try a private window or another browser to help determine whether the problem is browser-specific.

If That Doesn't Work

  • Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and mobile browsers use different menu names and layouts.
  • Clearing cookies, resetting settings, or removing saved passwords can sign you out or remove conveniences, so review the selected options first.