Private Browsing – Use Firefox without saving history – Mozilla …
Private Browsing does not save your browsing information, such as history and cookies, and leaves no trace after you end the session. Firefox also has Enhanced Tracking Protection, which prevents hidden trackers from collecting your data across multiple sites and slowing down your browsing.
Important: Private Browsing does not make you anonymous on the Internet. Your Internet service provider, employer, or the sites themselves can still gather information about pages you visit. Private Browsing also doesn’t protect you from keyloggers or spyware that may be installed on your computer. To learn more, see Common Myths about Private Browsing.
Table of Contents1 How do I open a new Private Window? 2 What does Private Browsing not save? 3 Can I set Firefox to always use Private Browsing? 4 Other ways to control what information Firefox saves
There are two ways to open a new Private Window:
Open a new Private Window from the Firefox menu
The Private Browsing home page will open in a new window.
Open a link in a new Private Window
Tip: Private Browsing windows have a purple mask at the top.
Visited pages: Pages will not be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window’s history list, nor in the address bar drop-down list.
Form and Search Bar entries: Nothing you enter into text boxes on web pages nor the Search bar will be saved for Form autocomplete.
Download List entries: Files you download will not be listed in the Downloads Window after you turn off Private Browsing.
Cookies: Cookies store information about websites you visit, such as site preferences, and login status. Cookies can also be used by third parties to track you across websites. See the How do I turn on the Do Not Track feature? article to learn more about tracking. Cookies set in private windows are held temporarily in memory, separate from regular window cookies, and discarded at the end of your private session (after the last private window is closed).
Cached Web Content and Offline Web Content and User Data: Temporary Internet files (cached files) and files that websites save for offline use will not be saved.
Note: New passwords and bookmarks you create while using Private Browsing will be saved.
Any files you download to your computer while using Private Browsing will be saved.
Firefox is set to remember history by default, but you can change this setting in your Firefox Privacy OptionsPreferencesSettings:
In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and select.
Click the menu button and select the menu button and select.
Select the panel and go to the History section.
Choose Use custom settings for history from the drop-down menu and check the Always use private browsing mode setting.
Alternatively, you can select Never remember history from the drop-down menu, which is equivalent to always being in Private Browsing mode.
Restart Firefox.
Important: When Firefox is set to Always use private browsing mode or to Never remember history, you won’t see a purple mask at the top of each window, even though you are in Private Browsing mode. To restore normal browsing, go to your OptionsPreferencesSettings
and uncheck Always use private browsing mode from your Use custom settings for history settings (or select Remember history from the drop-down menu) and restart Firefox.
You can always remove recent browsing, search and download history after visiting a site.
Read more articles on this topic: Passwords, forms, search, and history – control what Firefox suggests.
These fine people helped write this article: AliceWyman, jscher2000, Cheng Wang, Underpass, novica, Tonnes, Michele Rodaro, Jan., Michael Verdi, scoobidiver, TyDraniu, Swarnava Sengupta, Ben, Centinel, Mozinet, user669794, adampeebleswrites, Wesley Branton, Lan, user955666, Joni, vesper, tech53, Angela Lazar, PGGWriter, biddutbbb. 2224, Fabi, k_alex
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Finding Your Browser’s Private Browsing Mode | Balsamiq
This page is for folks who don’t want to clear their browser’s cache, but still want to experience a “clean” browser. This can also be helpful if you’re having login issues with Balsamiq Cloud.
Apple Safari
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Edge
Apple SafariTo open a Private Browser window in Safari, go up to the File Menu and select New Private Window. You can also use the Keyboard shortcut Shift + ⌘ + N.
To open an Incognito Window in Chrome, open the Chrome Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser window and select New Incognito Window. You can also use the shortcut Shift + ⌘ + N (on macOS), or Shift + CTRL + N (on Windows/Linux).
Mozilla FirefoxTo open a Private Browser Window in Firefox, click on the Firefox Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser and select New Private Window. You can also use the shortcut Shift + ⌘ + P (on macOS) or Shift + CTRL + P (on Windows/Linux).
To open an InPrivate Window in Microsoft Edge, open the Edge Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser window and select New InPrivate window. You can also use the shortcut Shift + CTRL + N.
Private Browsing – Use Firefox without saving history – Mozilla …
Private Browsing does not save your browsing information, such as history and cookies, and leaves no trace after you end the session. Firefox also has Enhanced Tracking Protection, which prevents hidden trackers from collecting your data across multiple sites and slowing down your browsing.
Important: Private Browsing does not make you anonymous on the Internet. Your Internet service provider, employer, or the sites themselves can still gather information about pages you visit. Private Browsing also doesn’t protect you from keyloggers or spyware that may be installed on your computer. To learn more, see Common Myths about Private Browsing.
Table of Contents1 How do I open a new Private Window? 2 What does Private Browsing not save? 3 Can I set Firefox to always use Private Browsing? 4 Other ways to control what information Firefox saves
There are two ways to open a new Private Window:
Open a new Private Window from the Firefox menu
The Private Browsing home page will open in a new window.
Open a link in a new Private Window
Tip: Private Browsing windows have a purple mask at the top.
Visited pages: Pages will not be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window’s history list, nor in the address bar drop-down list.
Form and Search Bar entries: Nothing you enter into text boxes on web pages nor the Search bar will be saved for Form autocomplete.
Download List entries: Files you download will not be listed in the Downloads Window after you turn off Private Browsing.
Cookies: Cookies store information about websites you visit, such as site preferences, and login status. Cookies can also be used by third parties to track you across websites. See the How do I turn on the Do Not Track feature? article to learn more about tracking. Cookies set in private windows are held temporarily in memory, separate from regular window cookies, and discarded at the end of your private session (after the last private window is closed).
Cached Web Content and Offline Web Content and User Data: Temporary Internet files (cached files) and files that websites save for offline use will not be saved.
Note: New passwords and bookmarks you create while using Private Browsing will be saved.
Any files you download to your computer while using Private Browsing will be saved.
Firefox is set to remember history by default, but you can change this setting in your Firefox Privacy OptionsPreferencesSettings:
In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click and select.
Click the menu button and select the menu button and select.
Select the panel and go to the History section.
Choose Use custom settings for history from the drop-down menu and check the Always use private browsing mode setting.
Alternatively, you can select Never remember history from the drop-down menu, which is equivalent to always being in Private Browsing mode.
Restart Firefox.
Important: When Firefox is set to Always use private browsing mode or to Never remember history, you won’t see a purple mask at the top of each window, even though you are in Private Browsing mode. To restore normal browsing, go to your OptionsPreferencesSettings
and uncheck Always use private browsing mode from your Use custom settings for history settings (or select Remember history from the drop-down menu) and restart Firefox.
You can always remove recent browsing, search and download history after visiting a site.
Read more articles on this topic: Passwords, forms, search, and history – control what Firefox suggests.
These fine people helped write this article: AliceWyman, jscher2000, Cheng Wang, Underpass, novica, Tonnes, Michele Rodaro, Jan., Michael Verdi, scoobidiver, TyDraniu, Swarnava Sengupta, Ben, Centinel, Mozinet, user669794, adampeebleswrites, Wesley Branton, Lan, user955666, Joni, vesper, tech53, Angela Lazar, PGGWriter, biddutbbb. 2224, Fabi, k_alex
Volunteer
Grow and share your expertise with others. Answer questions and improve our knowledge base.
Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions about firefox anonymous browsing
How do I browse anonymously on Firefox?
To open a Private Browser Window in Firefox, click on the Firefox Menu in the upper-right-hand corner of the browser and select New Private Window. You can also use the shortcut Shift + ⌘ + P (on macOS) or Shift + CTRL + P (on Windows/Linux).
Can Firefox private browsing be traced?
Private Browsing does not save your browsing information, such as history and cookies, and leaves no trace after you end the session. Firefox also has Enhanced Tracking Protection, which prevents hidden trackers from collecting your data across multiple sites and slowing down your browsing.
How do I make Firefox private browsing default?
How to set private browsing mode as your defaultOpen Firefox, click the menu icon and select Options.Open the Privacy & Security category, scroll down to the History section, and choose Use custom settings for history from the drop-down menu.Choose Always use private browsing mode. Then, restart Firefox.Dec 18, 2020