Microsoft Edge on Android gives you two ways to open a new tab. Tap the three dot menu from any page, or open the tabs grid and tap the plus button. InPrivate tabs use the same two routes, so you can keep normal and private browsing in separate sessions.
Switching between normal and InPrivate tabs, closing one tab, and clearing every tab at once all happen from the same tabs grid. No extension or flag is required.
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Contents
Open a New Tab in Edge browser on Android
Need a fresh tab in Edge on Android? You have two quick ways to open one. Tap the 
menu from any page, or open the tabs grid and tap the plus button. Both routes land on Edge’s new tab page, which on recent Android builds also includes Copilot shortcuts and a search box.
If you also use Edge on a computer, the same idea applies. See how to open InPrivate and new tabs in Edge on a computer.
Method 1: Open a New Tab From the Three Dot Menu
The menu path is fastest because it works from any open page, even before you open the tab switcher.
- Launch Microsoft Edge on your Android phone.
- Tap the menu in the bottom toolbar.
- Tap New tab.
Edge opens a fresh new tab on the new tab page, ready for a search, a typed URL, or a site shortcut. If you need the desktop version of a page, you can request the desktop site in Edge on Android from inside the new tab.
Method 2: Open a New Tab From the Tabs Grid
Use the tabs grid when you want to see what’s already open before adding another tab.
- Launch Microsoft Edge on your Android phone.
- Tap the Tabs icon (a small square showing the number of open tabs) in the bottom toolbar.
- Tap the + button at the top of the tabs sheet to open a new tab.
Edge drops you on the new tab page. If you’d rather add a tab without leaving the page you’re on, use the menu method above.
Start an InPrivate Browsing Session in Edge on Android
When you need a private browsing session, InPrivate tabs keep history, cookies, and site data out of the saved record. Once you close an InPrivate tab, Edge wipes the browsing history, cookies, and site data for that session. That makes InPrivate a good fit for signing into a second account, shopping on a shared device, or testing a site without leftover cache.
To control what cookies Edge keeps outside InPrivate, see how to manage browser and site cookies in Edge on Android.
As with normal tabs, you have two ways to start an InPrivate tab.
Method 1: Start InPrivate From the Three Dot Menu
This opens an InPrivate tab without first entering the tabs grid.
- Launch Microsoft Edge on your Android phone.
- Tap the menu in the bottom toolbar.
- Tap New InPrivate tab.
Edge switches to the InPrivate color theme, usually dark with a red or blue accent, and opens a private new tab page.
Method 2: Start InPrivate From the Tabs Grid
Use this method when you want to flip between normal and InPrivate tabs without leaving the grid.
- Launch Microsoft Edge on your Android phone.
- Tap the Tabs icon in the bottom toolbar.
- At the top of the grid, switch from Tabs to InPrivate.
- Tap the + button to open a new InPrivate tab.
You can keep several InPrivate tabs open at once. To leave InPrivate, switch the top toggle back to Tabs.
Switch and Close Tabs in Edge on Android
Once several tabs are open, the tabs grid is where you switch between them and close the ones you no longer need.
Switch Between Normal and InPrivate Tabs
- Tap the Tabs icon in the bottom toolbar.
- Tap Tabs at the top to see normal tabs, or InPrivate to see private ones.
- Tap any card to open it.
Close One Tab, or Close All Tabs at Once
To close a single tab, tap the on its card, or swipe the card away in the grid. To clear every tab in one pass, open the tabs grid, tap the menu inside it, and pick Close all tabs. The same option is available in both normal and InPrivate modes.
If you just closed a tab by mistake, you can get it back from History or the Recent section. For a deeper clean of cookies and site data, see how to clear browsing data in Edge on Android.
Heads-Up: InPrivate Lock Is Coming
Microsoft is testing an InPrivate lock that requires a PIN, fingerprint, or face check before any InPrivate tab will open. It mirrors the lock feature Chrome already has. As of the latest stable Edge for Android release, the toggle is not on by default. Keep an eye on Settings > Privacy and Security if you want it the day it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open a new tab in Edge on Android?
Tap the menu in the bottom toolbar and choose New tab. Or tap the Tabs icon to open the grid, then tap the + button at the top of the sheet.
How do I open an InPrivate tab in Edge on Android?
Tap the menu and pick New InPrivate tab. You can also open the tabs grid, switch the top toggle to InPrivate, and tap +.
Does InPrivate save browsing history in Edge on Android?
No. InPrivate does not store browsing history, cookies, or site data after the tab is closed. The same goes for any InPrivate tabs you open later, until you close them.
How do I close all open tabs in Edge on Android at once?
Open the tabs grid, tap the menu inside it, and choose Close all tabs. The option is available in both normal and InPrivate mode.
Can I lock InPrivate tabs with a PIN on Edge for Android?
Microsoft is testing an InPrivate lock that requires a PIN or biometric to view InPrivate tabs. It is not on by default in the current stable build, but it is expected to appear under Settings > Privacy and Security when it ships.
