In some instances of troubleshooting your website, it may be necessary to clear your web browser’s cache. However, since clearing your cache will log you out of currently logged in sessions, you can circumvent the need to clear your cache, by using a private browsing session.
What is Private Browsing?
A private browsing session initializes a new session for browsing the internet without recording the activity during the session to your history. Additionally, for the duration of the private browsing session a new, separate cache is utilized. With a new private browsing session, you can complete a task as if you had cleared your cache without actually deleting your browser’s cache.
Open a Private Browsing Session
In the following sections, you can learn how to create a private browsing session in each of the most popular web browsers.
Desktop/Laptop
The following sections contain the steps to take to open a private browsing session using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox on your desktop (or laptop) computer. Simply click on the button labeled with the web browser you are using to expand the steps you should take to open a private browsing session.
- Open the Google Chrome web browser application on your computer.
- Click on the vertical three (3) dot menu.
- Click on New incognito window.
“Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won’t see your activity. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved.”
And you can read more about how private browsing works (in Google Chrome).
- Open the Mozilla Firefox web browser application on your computer.
- Click on the horizontal three (3) line menu.
- Click on New Private Window.
“When you browse in a Private Window, Firefox does not save:
- visited pages
- cookies
- searches
- temporary files
Firefox will save your:
- bookmarks
- downloads
Private Browsing doesn’t make you anonymous on the Internet. Your employer or Internet service provider can still know what page you visit.”
And you can learn more about Private Browsing (using Firefox).
- Open the Microsoft Edge web browser application on your computer.
- Click on the horizontal three (3) dot menu.
- Click on New InPrivate Window.
“When you use InPrivate tabs, your browsing data (like cookies, history, or temporary files) isn’t saved on your device after you’re done. Microsoft Edge deletes temporary data from your device after all your InPrivate tabs are closed.”
And you can read more about Microsoft’s privacy policies.
- Open the Safari web browser application on your computer.
- Click on File.
- Click on New Private Window.
“Safari won’t remember the pages you visited, your search history, or your AutoFill information after you close a tab in Private Browsing Mode.”
Tablet/Mobile Devices
The following sections contain the steps to take to open a private browsing session using the Android, iOS, and Windows operating system (OS) on your tablet (or mobile) device. Simply click on the button labeled with the OS you are using to expand the steps you should take to open a private browsing session.
- Tap on the Chrome app icon.
- Tap More.
- Tap New Incognito tab.
“Pages you view in incognito tabs won’t stick around in your browser’s history, cookie store, or search history after you’ve closed all of your incognito tabs. Any files you download or bookmarks you create will be kept.
However, you aren’t invisible. Going incognito doesn’t hide your browsing from your employer, your internet service provider, or the websites you visit.”
And you can read more about how private browsing works (in Google Chrome).
- Tap on the Safari app icon.NOTE: For iOS devices that include the 3D Touch feature, you can hard press on the Safari app icon and then simply tap to select New Private Tab. This shortcut will open up Safari in a Private Browsing tab.
- Tap on the Tabs icon.
- Tap on the Private link.NOTICE: A new window will appear with a dark address bar and the Private Browsing Mode message is displayed:
“Safari won’t remember the pages you visited, your search history, or your AutoFill information after you close a tab in Private Browsing Mode.”
- Tap on or Done.
- Tap on the Internet Explorer app icon.
- Tap on the Tabs icon (to the left of the address bar).
- Tap on the three (3) dot menu (in the lower right).
- Tap on the new inprivate tab button.NOTICE:
“InPrivate Browsing is turned on for this tab.
When InPrivate browsing is turned on, you’ll see the indicator.
InPrivate Browsing helps prevent Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session. This includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data.”
And you can read more about Microsoft’s privacy policies.
