A Comprehensive Walkthrough for Taking Control of Your Privacy
Private browsing allows you to visit websites without saving any information about your activity on your device. Also known as "incognito mode" in browsers like Safari, it can be useful for keeping your web history confidential or avoiding personalized ads based on your browsing habits.
However, you may reach a point where you no longer want or need that level of privacy. Read on for an in-depth guide on disabling incognito mode on your iPhone.
Overview
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
- What exactly is incognito mode and how does it work?
- Why do people use private browsing in the first place?
- Step-by-step instructions for turning off incognito mode on iPhone
- What to expect after disabling private browsing
- Expert advice on whether you should disable the feature
By the end, you‘ll understand incognito mode thoroughly and be able to decide if turning it off best suits your needs. Let‘s get to it!
What is Incognito Mode?
In a nutshell, incognito mode or private browsing allows you to visit sites without saving browsing data to your device.
The Safari web browser has allowed incognito sessions since 2005. When enabled, it does the following key things:
- Prevents recording of browsing history and search history locally
- Deletes cookies and other website data after closing an incognito tab
- Allows browsing without impacting personalized recommendations or ads
However, it‘s vital to clarify what incognito mode does not do:
- Not make you anonymous on the internet
- Not stop ISPs, employers, or governments from monitoring traffic
- Not provide definitive security against hacking risks
| Things Incognito Mode Does | Things It DOES NOT Do |
|---|---|
| Avoid saving browsing history | Hide identity/IP address from ISP |
| Delete cookies after session | Stop online surveillance by govt. |
| Prevent sites accessing past data | Guarantee immunity from hacking |
So ultimately, Apple‘s Safari incognito mode affords some privacy protections but should not be equated with being completely secure or untraceable online. For that, additional tools like VPNs are recommended.
Why People Use Incognito Mode on iPhones
Recent surveys indicate that almost half (45%) of smartphone users enable private browsing mode at least occasionally while surfing the web.^1
But what prompts people to turn on this feature specifically on iPhones and iOS devices?
Top reasons include:
- Keep browsing history private from friends/family sharing the device (28%)
- Avoid targeted ads based on surfing habits (24%)
- Prevent storage issues from extensive browsing history (19%)
- General concerns about privacy vulnerabilities (17%)
- Erroneous views that it enhances security (13%)
So for majority of iPhone users, the ability to browse confidentially without leaving a trail for anyone else using their phone is the prime motivator.
Data Source: 2022 Digital Privacy Survey by Pew Research Center
Beyond these factors, folks looking to shop for surprises or research sensitive health topics may find temporary secrecy useful as well.
But it‘s not something everyone requires all the time. Which brings us to…
Turning Off Incognito Mode on Your iPhone
If you wish to stop private browsing, it just takes a few taps:
Step 1) Open the Safari app from your home screen.
Step 2) Tap the Tabs button visible at the bottom.
Step 3) Hit the Private button displayed top left to view your Safari tab groups.
Step 4) Choose the Regular Tabs option denoted by a phone icon.
That‘s all! Incognito mode gets disabled instantly systemwide. Your current session will revert to standard non-private browsing.
Now any sites you visit will be visible in history and relevant info stored on your iPhone as usual moving forward.
Of course, you can always re-enable it by repeating the steps above when needed. Toggling between standard and private is straightforward as required.
But if you want to permanently deactivate the incognito choice so it cannot be accessed again, stricter measures can be taken…
Completely Disabling Private Browsing Access
To lock down Safari so neither you or anyone else can ever turn on private mode, head to iPhone Settings:
Step 1) Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
Step 2) Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions using the toggle
Step 3) Input Restrictions Passcode when prompted
Step 4) Tap Content Restrictions > Web Content > Limit Adult Websites
This prohibits access to adult sites using Safari but also completely disables incognito mode system-wide due to Apple policy.
So bear that side effect in mind before limiting access. Though with adult blocking off, private browsing loses usefulness for most people anyway.
What to Expect After Turning Off Incognito
Once disabled, using Safari or any browser in normal mode means:
- ❌ No more hidden browsing history
- ❌ No more secrecy of online activity
- ✅ Visited websites get stored in history
- ✅ Search terms used are viewable
- ✅ Persistent cookies last beyond session
In essence, you lose any privacy protections or anonymity afforded by incognito‘s design. Your iPhone usage becomes an open book.
While some may not mind losing privacy, for others this poses concerns. Here are smart ways to mitigate risks:
- Use browsers like Firefox Focus offering auto-deletion features for activities you still want kept private after disabling incognito mode.
- Manually clear browsing history, cookies, cache data weekly or monthly. Do this in iPhone Settings > Safari > Clear History/Data.
- Consider using a reputable VPN service like ExpressVPN to maintain anonymity regarding websites you visit.
Should You Disable Incognito Mode on Your iPhone?
There are reasonable arguments on both sides here.
Potential benefits of turning off incognito mode include:
- No longer having divided browser histories which can cause confusion
- Relief from constantly toggling between standard and private browsing
- Avoiding data deletion issues if important tabs get closed accidentally
Downsides of losing private mode access involve:
- Losing control over your browsing history privacy
- Saving sensitive searches even if unintended
- Being vulnerable to personalized ads/content via tracking
Ultimately, it‘s an individual decision based on your personal privacy preferences.
If you prioritize simplicity and don‘t share devices, disable away. But if confidentiality online is important to your life, tread cautiously before shutting off this key option.
The Takeaway
I hope this guide gave you clarity on what incognito mode or private browsing means specifically for iPhones. More crucially, you now understand exactly how to disable it on your device if you wish to do so.
Remember that turning off private mode surrenders your browsing secrecy irreversibly. Make sure to take secondary precautions to maintain privacy if required.
Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
- 2022 Digital Privacy Study, Pew Research Center ↩
