Incognito mode on browsers is a norm these days. Like Chrome or Firefox, Safari has had a Private Browsing Mode for a few years. Some users were wondering if something changed on iOS 16, and we can say right away that it didn’t. You’ll find Private Browsing Mode in the same place. Learn how to use Private Browsing on iOS 16 below.
How do you go incognito on iOS 16?
You can use the Incognito mode or Private Browsing on iOS 16 the same way you used it on iOS 15. No changes were made in that department, although Apple made some additions to Safari (like the ability to change Safari background). Before we remind you how to enable Private browsing, let us explain what Private Browsing includes. When you enable Private mode, Safari doesn’t save your browsing history, search history, visited pages, or AutoFill information. So, this mode is for on-device privacy purposes. It stores cached data during browsing and deletes it as soon as you close Safari.
Websites can still profile you and track your online activity for advertising or other purposes. So, Private browsing is there to prevent someone who has access to your iPhone from checking your online activity, it won’t keep you safe from tracking. Fortunately, you can use other options to limit website tracking and make your browsing experience much more private. Using a VPN adds another layer.
Here’s how to use Safari Private Browsing on iOS 16:
- Open Safari.
- Tap on Tabs in the bottom right corner.
- Tap Tabs or Start Page in the middle of the bottom bar.
- Select Private.
If you want to leave Private Browsing Mode, repeat the steps and select Start Page or Tabs above Private. Now, we mentioned some other options you should consider enabling. You can find them in Settings > Safari. We suggest you enable the following options:
- Search Engine > DuckDuckGo (many will stick with Google)
- Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
- Hide IP Address > From Trackers
- Fraudulent Website Warning
- Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement
In addition, using a VPN client on your iPhone helps a lot. We won’t recommend a particular VPN — you’ve probably heard it enough. Find one that fits your needs and start browsing without worrying about ISP tracking your activity.
Thank you for reading and feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below. Any questions or suggestions? Share them with us below.
