Private Browsing on your iPhone’s Safari browser is a useful feature when you want to keep your browsing activity discreet. When enabled, Safari doesn’t save your browsing history, search queries, or autofill information. It also steps up privacy by blocking known trackers and implementing advanced fingerprinting protections. However, there might be times when you need to turn off Private Browsing to access your regular browsing history or utilize saved logins.
When Private Browsing is active, the Safari address bar will appear black or dark. To revert to normal browsing, here’s how to disable Private Browsing on your iPhone, with instructions varying slightly depending on your iOS version.
Turning Off Private Browsing in iOS 17
If your iPhone is running iOS 17, follow these simple steps to exit Private Browsing mode:
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Open Safari: Launch the Safari app on your iPhone.
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Tap the Tabs Button: Look for the Tabs button, usually located in the bottom right corner of the Safari window. Tap it.
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Swipe and Select Tab Group: You will now see your Tab Groups at the bottom of the screen. Swipe left or right to locate the tab group that is labeled with a number, indicating your regular tabs (not the Private tab group). Tap on this numbered tab group to switch back to normal browsing.
By selecting the numbered tab group, you’ll effectively turn off Private Browsing and return to your standard Safari browsing session. The Safari address bar should now appear white or gray, confirming that Private Browsing is deactivated.
Turning Off Private Browsing in iOS 16 or Earlier
For iPhones running iOS 16 or earlier, the process to disable Private Browsing is slightly different:
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Open Safari: Start by opening the Safari app on your iPhone.
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Tap the Tabs Button: Tap the Tabs button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
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Access Tab Groups List: Tap on the option that displays either “[Number] Tabs” or “Start Page”. This action will reveal the Tab Groups list.
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Select the Numbered Tab Group: In the Tab Groups list, you will see “Private” highlighted, indicating you are currently in Private Browsing mode. Tap on the option labeled with “[Number] Tabs”.
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Tap Done: After selecting the numbered tabs, tap “Done” in the top right corner to finalize switching off Private Browsing.
By following these steps for your respective iOS version, you can easily turn off Private Browsing in Safari and switch back to your regular browsing mode whenever needed. Remember to toggle Private Browsing back on when you require enhanced privacy for your online activities.
