Private Browsing

This document provides information on how to open a private browsing window for many common browsers you or your department may use. Private browsing is useful as a diagnostic troubleshooting tool as it does not store cookies, passwords, or cache files, it will prevent such information from being stored on the computer and it does not utilize any of these files that may have stored from previous regular browsing sessions. For specific instructions on how to open a private browsing window, select the browser you wish to use by clicking the labeled tab Note: Instructions may differ depending on your browser version.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. Select More edgemore.PNG from the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Alternatively you can use the keyboard shorcut Alt + X .
  3. In the drop-down menu that appears, select New InPrivate Window. Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P.

Once you have clicked New InPrivate Window or have used the keyboard shortcut a new window will appear. This window is the Inprivate browsing window, you can tell if a window is an InPrivate browsing window by looking at the upper left corner for edgeprivate.PNG

Internet Explorer

  1. Open the Internet Explorer browser.
  2. Click on the tools icon IEtools.PNG, alternatively use the keyboard shorcut Alt + X, and select Safety.
  3. A new drop-down menu will appear to the left or right, click on InPrivate Browsing. Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P.

Once you have clicked InPrivate Browsing or have used the keyboard shortcut a new window will appear. This window is the Inprivate browsing window, you can tell if a window is an InPrivate browsing window by looking at the upper left corner for ieprivate.PNG.

Firefox

  1. Open the Mozilla Firefox browser.
  2. In the upper right-hand corner of the browser window, click the Open Menu firefoxmenu.PNG icon
  3. From the drop-down menu that appears, select "New Private Window". Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P.

Once you have clicked New Private Window or have used the keyboard shortcut a new window will appear. In the new window you will see a dark purple background and a screen that states "Private Browsing" or "Private Browsing with Tracking Protection" on the window, you will also see this icon firefoxprivate.PNG on the upper right corner of the window.

Chrome

  1. Open the Chrome browser.
  2. In the upper right-hand corner of the browser window, click the Menu chromemenu.PNG icon
  3. From the drop-down menu that appears, select "New Incognito Window". Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N.

Once you have clicked New Incognito Window or have used the keyboard shortcut a new window will appear. In the new window you will see a dark grey theme and a screen that states "You’ve gone incognito" on the window, you will also see this icon chromeincognito.PNG on the upper right corner of the window.

Opera

  1. Open the Opera browser.
  2. In the upper left-hand corner of the browser window, click the Menu operamenu.PNG icon.
  3. From the drop-down menu that appears, select New Private Window. Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N.

Once you have clicked New Private Window or have used the keyboard shortcut a new window will appear. In the new window you will see a screen that states "Private browsing" on the window, you will also see this icon operaprivate.PNG on the upper left corner of the window.

Safari

  • Open the Safari browser.
  • Choose File > New Private Window.
  • safariprivate.PNG

    A window that’s using Private Browsing has a dark Smart Search field with white text.


    If you are using a browser that is not represented here, please use the "Comment" button under Feedback to submit a request for it to be added.



    KeywordsSystem, Applications, Status, Pages, Handbook, Service, Desk, AITS, Private, Incognito   Doc ID87795
    OwnerAITS Service DeskGroupUniversity of Illinois System
    Created2018-11-15 22:42:18Updated2023-04-25 09:07:49
    SitesUniversity of Illinois - College of ACES, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois System
    Feedback  0   0