You're on a shared computer and want this session kept out of your regular Edge history. An InPrivate window handles that, but it does not make you anonymous or shield you from malicious sites.
Start it from the three-dot menu, then add tabs with the plus button or Ctrl+T, open a second window when you need two workspaces, and know exactly what gets deleted when the last private window closes.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
Open an InPrivate Window in Edge on Your Computer
You’re on a shared laptop or a family desktop and would rather this session stay out of your regular Edge history. An InPrivate window keeps the two apart.
- Open Microsoft Edge on the computer.
- Open the
menu in the top-right corner. - Select New InPrivate window.
You’ll know it worked when the new window shows an InPrivate label. That label confirms the session is running separately from your normal browsing.
Need a second page in there? Click the 
button at the end of the InPrivate tab strip. Every tab you add stays inside the same private session.
Open a New Tab in Edge on Your Computer
Sometimes you only need another page in the window you already have open, not a whole new workspace to manage. That’s a regular new tab.
- Open Microsoft Edge on the computer.
- Open the menu in the top-right corner.
- Select New tab.
The tab opens beside your current ones in the same window. Select any tab in the strip to switch back to it.
TIP: Faster next time: click the button at the right end of the tab strip, or press + on Windows. No menu needed.
On a phone the route is different. You can open new tabs and InPrivate tabs in Edge on Android from the same menu.
Open Another Edge Window on Your Computer
Two sets of tabs side by side beat one crowded strip. A second Edge window gives each set its own space on your desktop.
- Open Microsoft Edge on the computer.
- Open the menu in the top-right corner.
- Select New window.
Edge opens a second window with its own tab strip. Move and resize the two windows on your desktop, then select a tab in either one to switch focus.
- Drag a tab outside the current Edge tab strip and drop it on the desktop to create a separate window.
- Drag that window onto an existing Edge tab strip to merge it with the other window.
The drag method saves a trip back to the menu when you want to split a workspace that’s already open.
Understand What Edge InPrivate Saves
So what does the private window actually delete, and what does it leave behind? The local record goes. The website’s own copy does not.
Edge clears the private browsing data when you close the last InPrivate window. Sign-ins you made inside that session normally end with it.
What the sites themselves collected during your visit stays on their servers. InPrivate doesn’t reach that far, and that’s the part people usually miss.
Tracking prevention works exactly as it does in a normal window. InPrivate is not a separate maximum-privacy mode, and it does not hide your IP address.
InPrivate is not a security feature. It does not protect you from malware or phishing, so check links and files before opening them.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Edge Tabs and Windows
If your hands are already on the keyboard, these beat a trip through the menu. They work in Edge on Windows.
New tab: press + to open a tab in the current window.
New window: press + for another regular Edge window.
InPrivate window: press + + for a private window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Edge InPrivate save browsing history?
No. Edge keeps the InPrivate session out of your regular browsing history, and the private browsing data is deleted when you close the last InPrivate window.
Can I open several tabs in an Edge InPrivate window?
Yes. Click the button at the end of the InPrivate tab strip, or press + on Windows. The extra tabs stay part of the same InPrivate session.
Is Edge InPrivate the same as being anonymous online?
No. Websites can still see your IP address and collect information on their own side. InPrivate does not protect you from malware or phishing.
Does InPrivate use a different tracking prevention setting?
No. Edge applies the same tracking prevention setting to InPrivate browsing as it does to regular windows. There is no separate maximum-privacy mode.
What is the difference between a new tab, a new window, and an InPrivate window?
A new tab shares the window you already have open. A new window gets its own tab strip. An InPrivate window also gets its own space, but the browsing data is wiped when you close the last private window.
