Use Private Browsing in Safari on Mac
When you browse privately, the details of your browsing arenโt saved and the websites you visit arenโt shared with your other devices.
Browse privately one time
In the Safari app
on your Mac, choose File > New Private Window, or switch to a private window thatโs already open. A private window has a dark Smart Search field with white text.When you use a private window:
Browsing initiated in one tab is isolated from browsing initiated in another tab, so websites you visit canโt track your browsing across multiple sessions.
Web pages you visit and your AutoFill information arenโt saved.
Your open web pages arenโt stored in iCloud, so they arenโt shown when you view all your open tabs from other devices.
Your recent searches arenโt included in the results list when you use the Smart Search field.
Items you download arenโt included in the downloads list. (The items do remain on your computer.)
If you use Handoff, private windows arenโt passed to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or other Mac computers.
Changes to your cookies and website data arenโt saved.
Websites canโt modify information stored on your device, so services normally available at such sites may work differently until you use a non-private window.
Note: None of the above applies in non-private Safari windows you may have open.
Always browse privately
In the Safari app
on your Mac, choose Safari > Preferences, then click General.Click the โSafari opens withโ pop-up menu, then choose โA new private windowโ.
If you donโt see this option, choose Apple menu
Stop browsing privately
In the Safari app
on your Mac, close the private window, switch to a non-private Safari window, or choose File > New Window to open a non-private window. To further enhance privacy:Delete any items you downloaded while using private windows.
Close any other private windows that are still open to prevent other people from using the Back and Forward buttons to see pages you visited in them.
Besides using private windows, you can manage cookies and data stored by all websites and prevent cross-site tracking.
If you forget to use a private window, you can clear your browsing history.