How to Use Private Browsing in Safari on iPhone
Safari has Private Browsing built in, so you need no app. Open the tab view, swipe right until Private Browsing appears, and tap Unlock. Private tabs stay out of History and off your other Apple devices.
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What do I need to know?
- It hides your browsing from this iPhone's History. It does not hide you from websites or your network.
- Lock it with Face ID. Then someone handed your unlocked phone cannot open your private tabs.
- Downloads and screenshots are not private. They land in Files or Photos like any other file.
How do I open Private Browsing on iOS 27?
These steps are from Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 27.
- Open Safari.
- Tap the Tabs button.
- Swipe right on the tab bar at the bottom until Private Browsing opens.
- Tap Unlock if asked.
To leave, tap the Tabs button and swipe left to a normal Tab Group. Your private tabs stay open, and Private Browsing locks.
How do I lock Private Browsing with Face ID?
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Safari.
- Turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing. Older models show Touch ID or Passcode instead.
Apple notes that it locks when not in use, but "may not lock immediately". Leave Private Browsing before you hand your phone over.
What does Private Browsing actually do?
Apple says private tabs "don't appear in History on iPhone or in the list of tabs on your other devices". They are not shared with your other devices, even on the same Apple Account. Safari extensions with access to browsing data are turned off in private tabs unless you allow them.
Can I use a different search engine in private tabs?
Yes. Go to Settings → Apps → Safari. Turn off Also Use in Private Browsing, then tap Private Search Engine and pick one.
Does Private Browsing hide me from websites?
No. Sites you sign in to still know it is you. Your network and the sites still see traffic unless something else hides it. With iCloud+, iCloud Private Relay hides your IP address and exact location from sites in Safari. Apple notes it is not available in every country or region.
What about things I save while browsing privately?
They are ordinary files. A downloaded PDF goes to Files. A saved image or a screenshot goes to Photos. Private Browsing does nothing for them. Our guide to keeping screenshots private covers what to do instead.
What this doesn't protect against
Private Browsing does not hide your activity from the websites you visit or from your network. It does not protect what you download or screenshot. Someone who knows your passcode can usually get past the lock.
Do it with Cryptile
If you save something private while browsing, move it out of Photos and Files into a vault with its own key. Cryptile accepts files and images from the share sheet and encrypts them on your phone. There is no account and no server.
Cryptile is free for up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos. Plus removes the limits for $19.99 a year (7-day free trial) or $39.99 once. The price is the same every day.