About private browsing in Firefox for iOS

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  • Revision id: 212523
  • Created:
  • Creator: Angela Lazar
  • Comment: Update article and screenshots to current version
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: anlazar
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
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  • Readied for localization by: anlazar
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Firefox's Private Browsing lets you browse the Web on your iPhone or iPad without saving your history. Open as many Private Tabs as you'd like, and switch between Private and regular browsing easily.

About Private Browsing

Private Browsing does not save history, cookies, passwords, site preferences, or temporary Internet files. It does keep bookmarks you've saved while in Private Browsing.

Private Browsing does not make you anonymous on the Web. Your Internet provider and websites themselves may still be able to track you.

Use Private Browsing

To use Private Browsing, simply open a Private Tab by following these steps:

  1. Tap the tab icon at the bottom of the screen.

    iOS select tab
  2. Tap the mask button at the bottom left of the screen to switch to Private Browsing. The mask will turn purple when you've entered Private Browsing.
    Private browsing bar iOS 29
  3. Tap the + icon to open a new Private Tab.


Tip: To open a link in a Private Tab, press on the link until the menu opens, then choose Open in a New Private Tab.

View open Private Tabs

To view a list of your open Private Tabs:

  1. Tap the tab icon at the bottom of the screen.

    iOS select tab
  2. If you are not already in Private Browsing mode, tap the mask button at the bottom left of the screen to switch to Private Browsing.
    Private browsing bar iOS 29
  3. You'll see a list open Private Tabs.
  4. Tap a tab to view the page, or tap the x to close the tab. Tabs will remain open until you tap x to close them.

Exit Private Browsing

To switch to regular browsing, tap the purple mask (it should turn black when out of Private Browsing).

Private browsing bar iOS 29
Your private tabs will remain open until you close them. To automatically close all Private Tabs when you switch to regular browsing, see Keep Private Browsing tabs open after exiting Firefox.