Back in 2005, Safari pioneered the incognito mode, revolutionizing browsing. It initially took the browser market by storm, limiting its support to Apple devices. However, Google Chrome swiftly adopted this feature in 2008. Despite its benefits, incognito mode has become a concern for parents as it conceals their children’s online activities. To address this, here’s our guide on disabling incognito mode specifically on your iPhone.
About Incognito Mode on iPhones
Contrary to browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox, Safari on iPhone doesn’t have “incognito” mode but rather “Private” browsing. This Private mode shares similarities with incognito but offers heightened security. It ensures cookies and cache remain untraceable regarding previous activities.
While Private mode is typically off by default, if it’s been activated, you can easily disable it by following a few simple steps.
Steps to Turn Off Incognito Mode On iPhone Browser
To disable private browsing on iPhones, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and select Screen Time.
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Choose Content Restrictions and then select Web Content.
- Opt for either Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only.
- Limit Adult Websites restricts access to explicit sites, preventing children or others with access from viewing them.
- Allowed Websites Only permits access solely to specified sites like ours, Facebook, Twitter, or other approved ones.
How to Turn On Private Browsing on iPhone
As mentioned before, Private Browsing is usually turned off by default. If you have your iPhone and some free time at home, here’s how you can enable Private Browsing to unwind:
- Open Settings and select Screen Time.
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Choose Content Restrictions and then click on Web Content.
- Select No Restrictions/Unrestricted.
- Open Safari and tap on Tabs.
- Switch to Private, then click Done to activate it.
How to See and Clean Private Browsing History on iPhone?
Now that you’ve finished browsing, you might consider checking and clearing your history. In Private browsing, you can view visited sites, but only their names, not the full URLs.
For instance, you’ll see “iTechHacks” but not the full link like https://itechhacks.com. Here’s how to view your Private browsing history:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll and tap on Safari.
- Further down, tap on Advanced.
- Click on Website Data.
Here, you’ll find a list of visited websites in both normal and Private browsing modes. If you wish to clear this data, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll and tap on Safari.
- Again, scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.
- When prompted, tap Clear History and Data.
Remember, this action will delete all browsing history – regular and incognito – and cannot be retrieved afterward.
Should You Turn Off Incognito Mode on your iPhone?
The debate surrounding the advantages and drawbacks of using incognito or private browsing mode on an iPhone remains contentious. Some prioritize privacy, while others question its added value.
Incognito mode allows you to mask your online activities, preventing your data like cookies and browsing history from being stored. However, despite using private browsing, certain websites might still track your actions.
Deciding whether to disable the iPhone’s “incognito” mode ultimately rests with you. Opting for incognito mode is advisable if safeguarding your privacy is a priority. Yet, if maintaining privacy isn’t a significant concern, then using incognito or private browsing mode may not make a substantial difference.
For heightened privacy, especially from the websites you visit, using a VPN is recommended. Check out our guide to the best VPNs available at present.
The Bottom Line | Disable Incognito Mode Chrome iPhone
That concludes our guide on disabling incognito mode on your iPhone. We trust this information has been beneficial. It’s important to note that incognito mode isn’t entirely private, as anyone with access to your phone can view your activities.
For parental control, activating a content filter remains the most effective method to shield children from accessing inappropriate online content.