Activate Safari’s private navigation

To navigate in private mode on Mac, just two clicks or a single keyboard shortcut. We will explain to you how to open a private navigation window on your Mac and how to leave private navigation once you have finished.

How to navigate incognito on Mac, iPhone or iPad

The incognito mode, which is called private navigation in Safari, allows you to navigate the Internet without your computer registering any trace of the sites you have consulted. Safari does not record your history or any cookie in private navigation sessions. Find out how to activate private navigation in Safari on MacOS and iOS and how to benefit from total online confidentiality with a safety specializing in safety.

Also available on Android, iOS, Mac

Also available on iOS, Android, PC

Also available on PC, Mac, iOS

Also available on Mac, PC, Android

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Written by Ivan Belcic
Posted December 18, 2020
Written by Sander Van Hezik

What is private navigation in Safari ?

Safari was the first great browser to offer a private navigation mode in 2005. Private navigation in Safari creates a session temporary navigation, that is to say a single-use session in your browser, which lasts as you open it when you close it.

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Safari’s private navigation creates a whole new session for each private tab, or new private window, whether you open. These temporary private sessions are completely insulated from each other, but they are also isolated from your main navigation window. Therefore :

• You will not be disconnected from your accounts.
• Safari will not record your navigation or your research history or the content of the forms you filled.
• Session data is deleted and cookies are deleted as soon as you close your private navigation window.

Private navigation masks your activities on the Internet At the local device : your computer therefore does not keep any trace of what you have done. And no one else using this same device will be able to know what you have consulted or what you have done. With the “incognito” mode of Safari, activities in your private navigation session are also not saved in your iCloud account or synchronized on the other devices you use.

Private navigation is therefore a simple way to connect and use a shared computer. You can also use private navigation to connect to a website with several accounts at the same time: an account in your main navigation window and other accounts in private navigation windows.

Mac private navigation mode

To navigate in private mode on Mac, just two clicks or a single keyboard shortcut. We will explain to you how to open a private navigation window on your Mac and how to leave private navigation once you have finished.

How to sail in private mode on a Mac

Here is how to activate the incognito mode on Safari if you use a Mac.

1. Open Safari on your Mac, select File in the menu bar at the top, then choose New private window. You can also use the keyboard shortcut MAJ + Command + N.
2. Safari opens a new private navigation window. The black background and the message that Safari shows you confirm that you are using private navigation.

All the tabs you open in this private navigation window work as separate private sessions. Safari does not share navigation data between private tabs.

How to systematically use private safari navigation for Mac

You can also make sure that Safari opens private navigation windows. Here’s how to proceed:

1. In the menu bar at the top, choose Safari, Then select Preferences. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + N.
2. In the tab General, Click on the drop -down menu Safari opens with and select A new private window. This parameter tells Safari that it must open a private navigation window as soon as you open the browser.

If this option is not available, here is how to do:

1. Click on the icon Apple in the upper left corner of the screen and open your System preferences.
2. Click on General.
3. Check that the box Close the windows when an app is closed is well checked.

You must now be able to configure safari so that it opens a private navigation window as described previously.

How to open a link in a private window

You may want to open a link directly in a private window. To do this, right -click on the link and select Open the link in a private navigation window.

How to disable incognito mode on Mac

Once you have finished private navigation, just close the window to leave the private navigation mode. Click on the small red circle at the top left to deactivate private navigation and return to normal navigation.

If you want to leave your private navigation window open, but normally navigate a new tab, simply go to a normal navigation window. If no window is currently open, click on File, Then select New window. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + N.

Why can’t I open private tabs in Safari ?

When you use private mode, Safari creates a whole new browser session with different parameters that prevent the recording of navigation data. This is why you need to open a whole new private navigation window. It is not possible to mix the private and normal tabs in the same navigation window, Because they work with different parameters.

However, you can open several private tabs in the same private window. Just press Command + T To open a new private tab when you are in a private window, as in a normal navigation window.

Private navigation on iPhone

The opening of a private navigation window or the “incognito mode” on an iPhone is as simple as on a Mac and offers you the same advantages. Safari does not record the local session data on your iPhone and does not synchronize anything of your private session on iCloud.

Here’s how to activate private safari navigation on iPhone.

How to launch private navigation on iPhone

1. Open Safari on your iPhone and press the icon new page In the bottom right corner.
2. Press on Private in the bottom left left.
3. Press the symbol + or press Display To start navigation in private mode.

Safari’s darker background tells you that you are using private navigation.

How to stop private navigation on iPhone

To deactivate private navigation, simply reproduce the same steps as those described in the previous section which explained how to activate private navigation. On the other hand, when you open a new page and press on Private, You now deactivate private navigation. Press on Display To normally browse the Internet.

Private navigation on iPad

To activate private safari navigation for iPad, follow the same procedure as that for private navigation on iPhone. The iPad and iPhone use the same iOS operating system, the use of private navigation is therefore the same on these two devices.

What is the level of confidentiality of private navigation on iPhone or Mac ?

When you use private navigation on an iPhone or Mac, your IP address remains visible by all the websites or services you use and your Internet access provider can see which sites you consult. It is the same as when you use private navigation at the office or at school: the private navigation session does not mask your activities on the Internet and your school or your employer can see them.

Private navigation mode preserves your privacy on your device, But it does not camouflage your digital behavior and do not protect you from identity theft, do not hide your IP address and do not prevent advertisers (or other) from following your activities online. And, more importantly, it does not prevent websites from using browser fingerprint techniques to identify you with a fairly high degree of precision. To benefit from total confidentiality when you are connected, you have two other possibilities: a secure browser and a VPN.

THE Secure browsers are browsers with specialized features to protect your privacy and strengthen your safety. Avast Secure Browser has an integrated password manager that helps you record and create passwords unique for all your accounts, while the Hack Check functionality alerts you if one of your passwords has been exposed or stolen.

In addition, Avast Secure Browser protects you from follow -up on the web: it blocks advertisements, cookies and other trackers, and also disrupts browser imprint techniques.

Also available on Android, iOS, Mac

Activate Safari’s private navigation

Open Safari, then click on “New private window:

The search bar is gray, so you can now surf completely confidential; If a person goes behind you, they will not be able to see the history of the sites you have visited:

Please note: the history is not recorded on the computer, but that does not make you anonymous on the internet: you are always identified with your IP address by your Internet access provider.

For those who have an “old mac”:

Open Safari. In the menu bar, click on Safari, private navigation.

A window will ask you for confirmation:

Now your history is no longer registered. To leave this private navigation mode, click the button Private In the Safari address bar.

Please note: the history is not recorded on the computer, but that does not make you anonymous on the internet: you are always identified with your IP address by your Internet access provider.