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how to open incognito tab

You open an incognito tab slightly differently depending on your browser and device, but it’s always just a menu option or a keyboard shortcut away.

Quick Scoop

Incognito (or private) mode stops your browser from saving history, cookies, and form data on your device, but it does not hide you from websites, your employer/school, or your internet provider.

Desktop: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari

Google Chrome (Windows, macOS)

  • Open Chrome.
  • Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
  • Click “New Incognito window.”
  • Keyboard shortcut:
    • Windows/Linux/ChromeOS: Ctrl + Shift + N.
* Mac: Command (⌘) + Shift + N.

You’ll see a darker window and an icon with a “spy” figure or “Incognito” label.

Microsoft Edge (Windows, macOS)

  • Open Edge.
  • Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
  • Select “New InPrivate window.”
  • Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + P.

Edge shows “InPrivate” clearly at the top of the window or beside the address bar.

Mozilla Firefox (Windows, macOS)

  • Open Firefox.
  • Click the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-right corner.
  • Select “New Private Window.”

The private window usually has a distinct icon and color theme so you can tell it apart.

Safari (macOS)

  • Open Safari.
  • In the top menu bar, click “File.”
  • Choose “New Private Window.”
  • Keyboard shortcut: Command (⌘) + Shift + N.

You’ll see a message such as “Private Browsing Enabled” in the new window.

Phones & Tablets: Chrome

Android (Chrome app)

  • Open the Chrome app.
  • Tap the three dots to the right of the address bar.
  • Tap “New Incognito tab.”

A new tab opens with the Incognito icon at the top.

iPhone / iPad (Chrome app)

  • Open the Chrome app.
  • Tap the three dots (More).
  • Tap “New Incognito Tab.”
  • To check, tap the tab switcher and look for Incognito tabs and the icon.

You can swipe between normal tabs and Incognito tabs inside the tab switcher.

Quick HTML Table of Shortcuts

[5][3][9] [3][5][9] [5][7][1][3] [7][1] [4][2][1] [9] [9]
Browser / Device How to open incognito / private
Chrome – Windows/Linux/ChromeOS Menu > New Incognito window, or press Ctrl + Shift + N.
Chrome – macOS Menu > New Incognito window, or press Command + Shift + N.
Edge – desktop Menu > New InPrivate window, or press Ctrl + Shift + P.
Firefox – desktop Menu (three lines) > New Private Window.
Safari – macOS File > New Private Window, or Command + Shift + N.
Chrome – Android Tap three dots > New Incognito tab.
Chrome – iPhone / iPad Tap More > New Incognito Tab, then use tab switcher to see Incognito tabs.

One tiny reality check

Incognito mode is great for keeping your local device clean (no history, fewer traces on that specific browser), but it does not make you truly anonymous online. Think of it as “no crumbs on this computer,” not an invisibility cloak for the internet.

TL;DR: Open your browser, look for the menu (three dots or lines, or File on Mac), choose “New Incognito/Private/InPrivate window,” or use the keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + N or Command + Shift + N.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.