Unlock a More Private Web Experience with Microsoft Edge’s InPrivate Mode

Do you ever feel like the internet knows too much about you? Every website you visit, every search you make, can leave a digital trail. Sometimes this is helpful, but other times you just want to browse without leaving any trace. That’s where Microsoft Edge’s InPrivate mode comes in. Think of it as a temporary, private browsing session on your computer. We’ll show you how to use it so you can feel more comfortable online.

What is InPrivate Browsing?

Before we start, let’s quickly explain what InPrivate mode does and why you might use it. When you browse normally, your browser keeps a record of what you do. This includes:

• Browsing History: A list of websites you visited.
• Cookies: Small files websites use to remember you, like your login details or settings.
• Site Data: Information websites store to load faster or save your preferences.
• Form Entries: Text you type into online forms, like your name or address, which your browser might suggest later.

InPrivate browsing tells Microsoft Edge to ignore this information for a specific session. When you close all your InPrivate windows, Edge deletes your browsing history, cookies, site data, and form entries from your computer for that session. It’s like that browsing session never happened on your device.

Important Note: InPrivate mode helps keep your activity private on your own computer. It does not make you anonymous online. Your internet provider, your workplace network, and the websites you visit can still see what you do. It’s great for stopping others who use your computer from seeing your activity or for preventing certain searches from influencing ads you see later.

How to Open Your First InPrivate Window

Ready to try it? Opening an InPrivate window in Microsoft Edge is easy. Here are two simple ways:

Method 1: Using the Edge Menu

This is the most common way to open an InPrivate window.

1. Open Microsoft Edge: Start your Microsoft Edge browser.
2. Click the Settings and More icon: Look for the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of the Edge window. This opens the menu.
3. Select “New InPrivate window”: A menu will appear. Click on “New InPrivate window.”
4. See the InPrivate window: A new Edge window will open. It usually has a darker look and says “InPrivate” with a blue icon at the top. This shows you’re browsing privately.

Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

If you like keyboard shortcuts, this is faster.

1. Make sure Edge is open: Have Microsoft Edge running.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + N: On your keyboard, press and hold the Ctrl key, then the Shift key, and then tap the N key. Release all keys.

Warning: Make sure you press the correct keys! Other key combinations might do something different.

An InPrivate window will open right away. You’ll see the “InPrivate” label to confirm.

What Happens When You Browse InPrivate?

When you open an InPrivate window, Edge works to keep your session data separate and temporary.

• No History Saved: Websites you visit won’t be saved in your regular browsing history.
• Cookies are Temporary: When you close the InPrivate window, all cookies from that session are deleted. You won’t be automatically logged into sites the next time you open a normal window.
• Site Data Cleared: Any temporary internet files or site data saved during your InPrivate session are also deleted when you close the window.

Downloads and Favorites are Safe: Don’t worry, InPrivate mode doesn’t delete everything! Files you download will stay on your computer. Any favorite websites you add will be saved to your normal favorites list.

Practical Tip: This is great for shopping for gifts, researching private topics, or using a shared computer. You can even log into a second account on a website without logging out of your main account in another window.

When to Use InPrivate Mode

Knowing when to use InPrivate mode makes it a very useful tool.

1. Protecting Privacy on Shared Devices: If you share your computer, InPrivate mode leaves no trace of your activity. Use it for private research or surprises, then close the InPrivate window when done. Your history, cookies, and site data are automatically cleared.
2. Avoiding Targeted Ads and Tracking: Websites use cookies to track you and show you ads. If you don’t want your browsing to influence ads, use InPrivate windows. Cookies are deleted when you close the window, making it harder for advertisers to track you.
3. Testing Websites: For website creators, InPrivate mode helps see how a site looks to a new visitor. Open your website in an InPrivate window to check how it appears without any stored data interfering.
4. Logging into Multiple Accounts: Need to be logged into two accounts for the same service at once? For example, a personal and work email. Open a new InPrivate window and log into your second account there. The sessions won’t interfere with each other.

Warning: Remember, InPrivate mode doesn’t hide your activity from your internet provider or the websites themselves. For true anonymity, consider using tools like VPNs.

Closing Your InPrivate Session

The best part of InPrivate browsing is that it cleans up after itself. When you’re done:

1. Identify the InPrivate window: Make sure you are closing the window that says “InPrivate” at the top.
2. Close the window: Click the “X” button in the top-right corner of the InPrivate window (or use Ctrl + Shift + W on Windows).

That’s it! All browsing data from that InPrivate session is automatically deleted from your computer. Your regular browsing windows are unaffected.

Tip: If you have multiple InPrivate windows open, closing one closes that specific session. To end all InPrivate browsing, close *all* InPrivate windows.

Summary

Microsoft Edge’s InPrivate mode is a simple way to increase your privacy on your own computer. It keeps your browsing history, cookies, and site data separate for a specific session. When you close the InPrivate window, this data is automatically deleted from your device. It’s perfect for using shared computers, avoiding ad tracking, testing websites, or logging into multiple accounts. While it enhances privacy on your device, it doesn’t make you anonymous online. To use it, open a new InPrivate window through the Edge menu or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N. Close all InPrivate windows when you’re finished to clear the session data.