Browse in private in Safari on Mac

Choose File > New Private Window, or switch to a Safari window that’s already using Private Browsing. A window that’s using Private Browsing has a dark Smart Search field with white text.

When you use a Private Browsing window:

• Browsing initiated in one tab is isolated from browsing initiated in another tab, so websites you visit can’t track your browsing across multiple sessions.

• Webpages you visit and your AutoFill information aren’t saved.

• Your open webpages aren’t stored in iCloud, so they aren’t shown when you view all your open tabs from other devices.

• Your recent searches aren’t included in the results list when you use the Smart Search field.

• Items you download aren’t included in the downloads list. (The items do remain on your computer.)

• If you use Handoff, Private Browsing windows are not passed to your iOS devices or other Mac computers.

• Changes to your cookies or other website data aren’t saved.

• Plug-ins that support Private Browsing stop storing cookies and other tracking information.

Websites can’t modify information stored on your device, so services normally available at such sites may work differently until you turn off Private Browsing.

Choose Safari > Preferences, click General, click the “Safari opens with” pop-up menu, then choose “A new private window.”

If you don’t see this option, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click General, then make sure “Close windows when quitting an app” is selected.

Close the Private Browsing window, switch to a different Safari window that isn’t using Private Browsing, or choose File > New Window to open a window that doesn’t use Private Browsing. To further enhance privacy:

• Delete any items you downloaded while using Private Browsing windows.

• Close any other Private Browsing windows that are still open, to prevent other people from using the Back and Forward buttons to see pages you visited in them.