[Tip] How to Always Start Your Web Browser in Private Browsing Mode By Default

UPDATE: This article was posted in year 2012. Today we have updated the article with new screenshots and latest information applicable to newer versions of web browsers. Also added new method to always start new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge in private browsing mode.

Private Browsing” is a very useful feature which is present in all modern web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

Private browsing allows you to browse on Internet without leaving any traces in the computer you are using. When you use private browsing in a browser, it doesn’t store the websites you visit, files you download, forms you fill, your searches, etc. Its very useful when you are using a public computer.

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Private browsing feature is also known with a few other names such as “Incognito mode” in Google Chrome, “InPrivate” in Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, etc.

Following are the official definitions of Private Browsing according to popular web browsers:

Mozilla Firefox:

In Private Browsing session, Firefox won’t keep any browser history, search history, download history, web form history, cookies, or temporary internet files. However, files you download and bookmarks you make will be kept. Firefox clears your search and browsing history when you quit the app or close all Private Browsing tabs and windows. While this doesn’t make you anonymous to websites or your internet service provider, it makes it easier to keep what you do online private from anyone else who uses this computer.

Internet Explorer:

InPrivate Browsing helps prevent Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session. This includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data. Toolbars and extensions are disabled by default.

Google Chrome:

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Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won’t see your activity. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved. Pages you view in private browsing window won’t appear in your browser history or search history, and they won’t leave other traces, like cookies, on your computer after you close all open windows. Any files you download or bookmarks you create will be preserved, however.

Microsoft Edge:

When you browse InPrivate, Microsoft Edge will delete browsing info once you’ve closed all InPrivate tabs. While other people using this device won’t see your browsing activity, your school, workplace, and internet service provider might still be able to.

Opera:

If you wish to browse without leaving a trace, for example, if you’re using someone else’s computer or a public one, you can use private browsing. Private mode makes your browsing activity invisible to other people who use Opera on this device.

To start a web browser in private browsing mode, you can use keyboard shortcuts or menu commands as following:

  • Internet Explorer: Press Ctrl+Shift+P keys together or select “InPrivate Browsing” from Tools menu
  • Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+P keys together or select “New Private Window” from Firefox Main Menu
  • Google Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+N keys together or select “New incognito window” using 3-dots menu
  • Microsoft Edge: Press Ctrl+Shift+N keys together or select “New InPrivate window” using 3-dots menu
  • Opera: Press Ctrl+Shift+N keys together or select “New private window” from Opera Menu

Many times you may want to always start your browser in private browsing mode and don’t want to waste your time in selecting the private browsing option from menu bar or pressing the hotkeys each time you start the browser.

So today in this tutorial, we are going to tell you how to start your favorite web browser always in private browsing mode. If you also want to do this, check out following simple steps:

1. Always Start Mozilla Firefox in Private Browsing Mode

1. Click on Firefox Menu button and select Options. Alternatively, you can directly open Options page using about:preferences URL.

2. Go to “Privacy & Security” tab, scroll down and under History section, select “Use custom settings for history” option from drop-down box.

3. Now enable “Always use private browsing mode” option.

Always_Start_Mozilla_Firefox_Private_Browsing_Mode.png

Firefox will ask to restart the browser to apply changes. Now whenever you’ll launch Mozilla Firefox, it’ll always start in private browsing mode.

Alternatively you can set browser.privatebrowsing.autostart preference to true in about:config window. Both are same.

PS: The method given below for Internet Explorer also works for Mozilla Firefox i.e. add -private at the end of Target string in Firefox’s shortcut Properties.

2. Always Start Internet Explorer in Private Browsing Mode

1. Right-click on Internet Explorer’s shortcut and select Properties.

2. Now add -private at the end of the string present in Target text box as shown in following screenshot:

Always_Start_Internet_Explorer_Private_Browsing_Mode.png

There must be a blank space between existing string and -private.

3. Click on Apply button and now whenever you’ll launch Internet Explorer using this shortcut, it’ll always start in InPrivate browsing mode.

3. Always Start Google Chrome in Private Browsing Mode

1. Right-click on Google Chrome’s shortcut and select Properties.

2. Now add following code at the end of the string present in Target text box as shown in following screenshot:

--incognito

Always_Start_Google_Chrome_Private_Browsing_Mode.png

There must be a blank space between existing string and –incognito.

3. Click on Apply button and now whenever you’ll launch Google Chrome using this shortcut, it’ll always start in Incognito mode.

This method will also work in all other Chromium based browsers.

Also Check:

[Tip] Google Chrome Now Allows Creating Desktop Shortcut for Incognito Windows

[Tip] How to Always Start Google Chrome in Guest Browsing Mode

[Tip] Show Number of Incognito Windows in Google Chrome Toolbar

4. Always Start Microsoft Edge in Private Browsing Mode

1. Right-click on Microsoft Edge’s shortcut and select Properties.

2. Now add following code at the end of the string present in Target text box as shown in following screenshot:

--inprivate

Always_Start_Microsoft_Edge_Private_Browsing_Mode.png

There must be a blank space between existing string and –inprivate.

3. Click on Apply button and now whenever you’ll launch Microsoft Edge using this shortcut, it’ll always start in InPrivate browsing mode.

5. Always Start Opera in Private Browsing Mode

1. Right-click on Opera’s shortcut and select Properties.

2. Now add -private or –private at the end of the string present in Target text box as shown in following screenshot:

Always_Start_Opera_Private_Browsing_Mode.png

There must be a blank space between existing string and -private.

3. Click on Apply button and now whenever you’ll launch Opera using this shortcut, it’ll always start with 2 tabs: one your default startup page and the other will be a new tab in private browsing mode. It happens because Opera comes with per-tab private browsing mode.

That’s it. Feel free to share your feedback or questions in your comment…

Also Check:

[Tip] Allow Extensions in Private or Incognito Windows in Web Browsers

Published in: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. When in privacy mode, can an administrator “monitor” my network PC in real time ?
    If not, is there a way I can access my personal browsing (email, bank account) in complete privacy ?
    Yes, I understand about clearing “history” prior to leaving at the end of the business day

  2. It’s good to use the private window. However, it is not enough. Even if your browsing history is not available you are still giving much data to advertisers. It’s better to make a combo with tools like Ivacy VPN to be completely anonymous on the internet while browsing.

  3. Installed correctly on Explorer, but how can I tell that “In Private” is really working? Stupid question?

  4. The private browsing mode is not private at all. Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari and Internet Explorer all have private browsing modes you can use to make sure the websites you visit don’t appear in your browsing history, but a list of the URLs you have visited during private browsing sessions are still stored in a database file, viewable by anyone using your computer who wants to take the time to access it.

    One can just use parental control features to view the sites that may be hidden. For example, Microsoft Family Safety will report web site history regardless of the browser settings. For more tech-savvy people, checking the DNS cache does the trick.
    The private browsing mode is not private at all. If you completely want to remove all the traces then you can use AntiTrail software and that’s it.

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