Skip to content

What is Private Browsing Mode?

Private Browsing Mode is a privacy feature in most internet browsers that prevents the storage of browsing history, cookies, and form data. It offers limited privacy protection by not retaining user activity during a session, but it doesn’t guarantee anonymity from internet service providers or websites visited.

Ever felt like you want to keep your online activity under wraps? That’s where the private browsing mode, sometimes called “incognito mode,” steps in on your web browser.

It’s a special mode that doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, site cache data, or information entered in forms.

info icon
Note: The page is part of the browser vocabulary to help you understand technical terms.

On this page, you can find and jump to:

How Does It Work?

When you switch to private browsing mode, your browser starts a separate session that is not linked to your regular browsing session. This means that when you visit a website, it won’t recognize you or your previous activities.

In this mode, your browser won’t store the websites you visit, your search history, or any form data you might fill out. Once you close the private browsing window, all that information gets wiped out.

However, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t make your browsing completely private or anonymous to internet service providers, employers, or the websites you visit.

Easy-to-Understand Example

Imagine you’re in a library, reading books (visiting websites) in private browsing mode. Normally, when you read a book, you leave a trace – you might fold a corner of a page, leave a bookmark, or write a note. Other people (or websites) might then be able to tell that you’ve read the book.

But when you’re in private browsing mode, it’s as if you’re wearing invisible gloves. You pick up a book, flip through it, and put it back without leaving any trace. No folded corners, no bookmarks, no notes. It’s as if you were never there.

When you leave the library (close your private browsing session), there are no signs of which books you read.

Bottom Line

Private browsing mode gives you a way to browse the web without leaving traces of your activity on your own device. It can be useful for many reasons, like shopping for a surprise gift or checking multiple email accounts.

However, it’s crucial to remember that private browsing doesn’t make you invisible on the internet. Websites, your internet service provider, or your employer (if you’re at work) can still potentially track your activities.

Think of it as a tool for local privacy on your device, not a cloak of invisibility in the digital world.

Lastly, if you've any thoughts or feedback, then feel free to drop in below comment box. You can also report the outdated information.

Please share the article if you find it helpful:

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive compensation for your purchases; of course at no extra cost to you (indeed, you may get special discounts).
Kushal Azza

Kushal Azza

Kushal Azza is a Google Certified IT Professional, Digital Content Creator, and Go-To Digital Marketer with Engineering Degree. He has over a decade of experience solving tech problems, troubleshooting, and innovating digital solutions. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Leave a thought or feedback

Please leave a descriptive comment or feedback with your real name. Our human moderator vets every comment, and it may take 24 to 48 hours to get published or rejected.

Your email address will not be published, and we will never spam your inbox. Required fields are marked *