Opening an InPrivate window in Microsoft Edge allows you to browse without saving your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms on your device. While Google Chrome calls this "Incognito mode," Microsoft Edge refers to it as "InPrivate browsing."
Quick Steps to Open an InPrivate Window in Microsoft Edge
Follow these simple steps to activate private browsing in Microsoft Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge: Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
- Access Settings: Look for the three dots icon (Settings and more) located in the upper-right corner of the browser window and click on it.
- Select InPrivate Window: From the drop-down menu that appears, select New InPrivate Window.
- Confirm InPrivate Mode: A new browser window will open. You'll know you're in InPrivate mode by the "InPrivate" indicator prominently displayed at the top right of the window, confirming a private browsing session.
Using a Keyboard Shortcut for Faster Access
For even quicker access to an InPrivate window, you can use a convenient keyboard shortcut:
- On Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + N
- On Mac: Press Command + Shift + N
This shortcut will instantly open a new InPrivate browsing window.
What is InPrivate Browsing?
InPrivate browsing in Microsoft Edge is a feature designed to enhance your privacy by ensuring that certain data isn't saved on your device during your session. It creates a temporary browsing environment that is discarded once you close all InPrivate windows.
What InPrivate Mode Does and Doesn't Save
| Data Type | Saved in InPrivate Mode? |
|---|---|
| Browsing History | No (pages visited are not recorded) |
| Cookies and Site Data | No (deleted upon closing all InPrivate windows) |
| Information Entered in Forms | No (auto-fill data is not saved) |
| Temporary Files | No (cached images, files are deleted) |
| Download History | No (but downloaded files themselves are saved to your device's Downloads folder) |
| Favorites/Bookmarks | Yes (if you manually save them) |
| Browser Settings | Yes |
Benefits of InPrivate Mode
- Enhanced Privacy: Prevents your browsing activity from being visible to others who use the same device.
- Temporary Sessions: Ideal for logging into multiple accounts on the same website simultaneously (e.g., separate personal and work emails) without logging out of your primary account.
- Troubleshooting: Can help determine if a website issue is related to cached data or existing cookies by providing a fresh browsing state.
- Reduced Tracking: By deleting new cookies after each session, it can help reduce some forms of personalized ad tracking.
When to Use InPrivate Browsing
Consider using InPrivate browsing in the following scenarios:
- Shopping for confidential items on a shared computer, like gifts.
- Accessing sensitive information such as banking or medical records on a public or shared device.
- Testing website functionality or viewing content without being affected by your existing cookies or login status.
- Researching topics you prefer to keep separate from your main browsing history.
- Signing into a friend's account or a temporary service without saving your login details.
For more detailed information on InPrivate browsing, you can refer to Microsoft's official support page on Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing.
