InPrivate Mode in Microsoft Edge: How to Use It

Microsoft Edge’s InPrivate mode lets you browse without saving your history, cookies, site data, or form entries on that device. You can open an InPrivate window with a keyboard shortcut, a menu click, or from a link’s context menu, and everything you do in that window is discarded when you close it. This article explains what InPrivate does and doesn’t do, how to start it on Windows, Mac, and mobile, and how to handle common issues.

What InPrivate Mode Actually Does

When you browse in an InPrivate window, Edge does not store your browsing history, download history, cookies, site data, form data, or passwords on your device. This means the next person who uses your computer or phone won’t see which sites you visited or what you typed into forms. Edge also blocks third-party trackers by default in InPrivate windows, which is a stricter setting than in normal browsing.

However, InPrivate is not a cloak of invisibility. Your internet service provider, your employer (if you’re on a work device or network), and the websites you visit can still see your activity. InPrivate also doesn’t hide your downloads—files you save remain on your device. If you sign into a website or a Microsoft service inside an InPrivate window, that site will know you were there, and your activity may be linked to your account.

How to Open an InPrivate Window

There are several ways to start InPrivate browsing in Edge, and the method you use depends on your device.

Keyboard shortcut (Windows and Linux): Press Ctrl + Shift + N.
Keyboard shortcut (Mac): Press Command + Shift + N.
Menu (Windows and Mac): Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner, then select New InPrivate window.
From a link: Right-click (or Ctrl-click on Mac) any link and choose Open link in InPrivate window. This opens that page in a fresh InPrivate window without leaving your current browsing session.
From the Start menu (Windows): Right-click the Edge icon in the taskbar or Start menu, then select New InPrivate window.

On Android and iOS, tap the three-dot menu (or the tab icon on iOS) and select New InPrivate tab. The InPrivate window has a dark gray or black theme with an “InPrivate” badge in the top-left corner, so you always know you’re in the right mode.

What Happens to Your Data When You Close the Window

When you close all InPrivate windows, Edge deletes the browsing history, cookies, site data, and form entries that were created during that session. This is immediate and permanent—you can’t recover that data later. Your download history is cleared, but the files themselves remain on your device. If you saved any passwords or bookmarks while in InPrivate, those are kept because you explicitly asked to save them.

One thing to note: if you have multiple InPrivate windows open, closing one does not clear the data—you must close all of them. Edge treats all InPrivate windows as part of one session, so the data is deleted only when the last one is closed.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes InPrivate mode doesn’t behave as expected. Here are a few common issues and their solutions.

InPrivate option is grayed out or missing: This can happen if your organization (school, work, or parent) has disabled InPrivate browsing via a policy. Check with your IT admin or the person who manages the device. There’s no user-side fix for a policy block.
Extensions aren’t working: By default, Edge disables extensions in InPrivate mode. To enable a specific extension, go to edge://extensions, click “Details” on the extension, and toggle on “Allow in InPrivate.” Be aware that this reduces the privacy benefit because the extension can see your activity.
Websites still remember you: If you sign into a site (like Google or Facebook) inside an InPrivate window, that site sets a cookie that persists for that session. Closing the window deletes it, but while the window is open, the site knows who you are. If you want to avoid this, don’t sign in.
InPrivate won’t start from the shortcut: If you pinned Edge to the taskbar, right-clicking the icon and choosing “New InPrivate window” sometimes opens a normal window instead. Use the keyboard shortcut or the menu inside Edge instead.

InPrivate vs. Other Privacy Options

InPrivate is often compared to other privacy features, but they serve different purposes.

Guest mode: Guest mode (available in the profile menu) is designed for someone else to use your browser temporarily. It doesn’t save history or cookies, and it blocks access to your existing profiles, bookmarks, and passwords. InPrivate uses your current profile, so your extensions and bookmarks are available (unless disabled).
VPN or proxy: A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your connection, which InPrivate does not do. InPrivate only prevents local storage of data.
Clear browsing data: You can manually clear your history, cookies, and cache in a normal window by going to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data. This is useful if you want to keep some history but remove sensitive items.

Is InPrivate Mode Safe for Online Banking or Shopping?

InPrivate mode is not inherently more secure than normal browsing. It doesn’t encrypt your connection or protect you from phishing sites. The only difference is that your browsing data isn’t stored locally. For online banking or shopping, you should still use a secure connection (look for the padlock icon in the address bar) and make sure you’re on the correct website. InPrivate can be useful on a shared computer to avoid leaving your login information behind, but it doesn’t replace a VPN or antivirus software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does InPrivate mode hide my browsing from my ISP?

No. Your internet service provider can still see the websites you visit and the data you send and receive. InPrivate only prevents local storage on your device. If you need to hide your activity from your ISP, you’d need a VPN or Tor, which encrypt your traffic.

Can I use my existing bookmarks and passwords in InPrivate mode?

Yes. InPrivate windows use your current profile, so your bookmarks, saved passwords, and autofill data are available. However, any new passwords or bookmarks you save while in InPrivate will be kept after you close the window.

Why do some websites look different or ask me to log in again in InPrivate?

Because InPrivate starts with no cookies, websites don’t recognize you. They may show a different layout (e.g., no personalized ads) or require you to log in again. This is normal and expected.

Does InPrivate mode block ads or trackers?

Edge’s built-in tracking prevention is set to “Balanced” by default, which blocks many third-party trackers in InPrivate windows. However, it doesn’t block all ads. You can increase protection by going to edge://settings/privacy and choosing “Strict,” but this may break some websites.

Can I recover my history after closing an InPrivate window?

No. Once you close all InPrivate windows, the history is permanently deleted. There is no way to recover it, so if you think you’ll need the info later, write it down or bookmark it before closing.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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