How to Turn Off Incognito Mode on iPhone (Step-by-Step Guide)

 In this how-to guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to turn off Incognito on iPhone – covering both Safari and Google Chrome processes – in clear, step-by-step instructions. By the end, you’ll know how to disable incognito mode on iPhone and return to regular browsing, plus some extra tips if you run into any issues exiting incognito mode iPhone browsers. Let’s dive in!

What Is Incognito Mode on an iPhone? (Private Browsing Explained)

Incognito mode on an iPhone refers to any private browsing session where your browser doesn’t save your local history, search records, cookies, or form data. On Safari (the iPhone’s built-in browser), this feature is called Private Browsing, while on Chrome it’s literally called Incognito Mode. Both essentially do the same thing – they prevent the browser from storing your activity locally, giving you a temporary, more anonymous session​. This is useful if you share your device or simply don’t want a particular search or site visit recorded.

When Private Browsing is active on Safari, you’ll notice the interface looks different. For instance, the Safari address/search bar turns a dark color (black or dark gray) instead of the usual light color​. The darker screen theme you see while browsing isn’t just for aesthetics — it’s your iPhone’s way of signaling that you’re in a private browsing session. In Chrome, this shows up as a shadowy background along with a hat-and-glasses icon that subtly says, “Hey, you’re off the record.”

Essentially, your iPhone gives subtle hints that you are browsing privately.

But let’s clear up a common misconception: Private doesn’t mean invisible. While Incognito mode on iPhone keeps your browsing history, search terms, and cookies off your local device, it doesn’t cloak your identity online. Websites can still track your activity, your IP address is still visible, and network administrators (like those at work or school) can monitor your traffic. Incognito simply keeps your session out of your browser’s memory — nothing more.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s walk through how to turn off incognito mode on iPhone and return to standard, full-featured browsing.

How to Turn Off Private Browsing in Safari (Exit Incognito Mode on iPhone)

Safari comes pre-installed on every iPhone and uses a feature called Private Browsing to operate in incognito mode. If you’re done browsing privately and want Safari to resume storing your tabs, cookies, and browsing history, here’s exactly how to disable incognito mode on iPhone using Safari:

Open Safari and view your tabs

Launch the Safari app on your iPhone. If you’re currently in a private session, the Safari UI will appear dark. Tap the Tabs button – the icon that looks like two overlapping squares, usually at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens the tab switcher, showing all your open tabs (both normal and private ones).

Check if you’re in Private mode

In the tabs view, look at the bottom (on iOS 15+). If it says “Private” or shows an [X] Tabs label with Private selected, that means you’re viewing your Incognito/Private tabs. (On older iOS versions, the background will be dark and the word Private appears at the top or bottom of the screen.) You might also see a “Private” button or label highlighted.

Switch to regular browsing tabs

To turn off Private Browsing and return to normal mode, you need to switch out of the private tab group. Here’s how:

• On iOS 17 or later: Swipe left or right in the tabs switcher to move from the “Private” tab group to your regular Tabs group (often labeled with the number of open tabs, like “5 Tabs”). Stop on the regular tabs group.

• On iOS 16 or earlier: Tap the “Private” label or button to open the Tab Groups list. You should see an option for your regular tabs (for example, “[X] Tabs” or “Start Page”). Tap on “[X] Tabs” (or whatever your default group is named), then tap Done if prompted​. This action switches Safari out of Private mode.

Confirm Private mode is off

Once you switch back to your normal tab group, Safari will return to its usual light interface. The address bar at the top should be white or gray again, indicating that Private Browsing is now off​. You are now browsing in normal mode, and any new tabs you open will save history and cookies as usual.

Close Private tabs (optional)

Simply switching modes as above is enough to exit incognito mode iPhone Safari. Your private tabs are not gone – they’re just tucked away in the Private group. If you want to fully close out your incognito session (for example, to ensure no one can pick up your phone and see those private tabs), you can manually close those Private tabs. To do this, switch back into the Private tab group (as in step 2), then swipe each tab to the left to close it or tap the X on each tab thumbnail. You can also press and hold the Done (or Tabs) button and choose “Close All Private Tabs” if that option appears. After closing all private tabs, Private Browsing will be completely cleared until you enable it again.

That’s it! You have now turned off Safari’s private browsing mode. The next time you open Safari, it should default to normal browsing (unless you left some private tabs open). If Safari was stuck opening in Private mode before, it’s likely because it re-opened your last private session – closing those tabs or switching out as we just did will fix that.

How to Exit Incognito Mode in Chrome on iPhone

Using Chrome on your iPhone and ready to leave Incognito mode? Exiting is quick and easy — and once you switch back, Chrome will resume saving your browsing history, cookies, and site data as usual.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Chrome app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Tabs button in the lower-right corner — it’s the square icon that displays the number of open tabs you’re currently using.
3. If you’re browsing privately, the screen will appear in dark mode and you’ll see a message confirming you’re in Incognito mode.
4. Switch to regular browsing by tapping the square icon or label that represents your normal tabs. 
5. Once you tap back into the regular tab section, Chrome will return to normal mode. You’ll notice the interface becomes lighter — that’s your confirmation.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully exited Incognito mode in Chrome on your iPhone. Any new tab you open now will be part of your regular browsing session and will be saved in your history.

Pro Tip: Want to fully close out your Incognito session? While in Incognito view, just tap the X on each tab or use “Close All Incognito Tabs” from the menu to wipe everything clean.

Chrome doesn’t have a “Done” button like Safari; once you switch to your regular tabs or close all private ones, you’re effectively out of Incognito. You can verify this by noting that the Chrome interface turns lighter and the Incognito spy icon disappears. Now Chrome will resume saving history/cookies for your browsing until you open a new Incognito tab again.

Additional Tips and Troubleshooting

Turning off Incognito/Private mode on an iPhone is usually straightforward, but here are a few extra tips and common issues to be aware of:

Know the visual cues

As mentioned, Safari’s address bar is dark when Private Browsing is enabled and returns to light (white or gray) when it’s off​​. If you’re unsure whether you successfully exited incognito mode, just check the browser’s color scheme. Chrome similarly uses a darker theme for Incognito. Ensuring the UI looks “normal” is a quick confirmation you’re back in standard browsing mode.

Locked Private Browsing (iOS 17 and up)

On iPhones running iOS 17 or later, Safari adds an extra layer of privacy by locking your Private tabs when you close the app or lock your phone. When you return, you’ll be asked to unlock them using Face ID or Touch ID before gaining access.Browsing with Face ID/Touch ID before you can access those tabs. If you’re trying to turn off Private mode and find Safari asking for authentication, go ahead and unlock it (with Face ID, etc.), then follow the steps above to switch out of Private mode or close those tabs. The lock is just a privacy feature – once unlocked, you can exit Private mode normally.

Safari always opens in Private mode

If Safari keeps starting up in Private Browsing, it likely means your last-used session was private and it’s remembering that state. To fix this, manually switch Safari back to a non-private tab group (as shown in the steps) or close all private tabs. After that, force-close Safari (swipe up to remove it from recent apps) and reopen it – it should open in normal mode now. For a more drastic approach, you can also go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data which closes all tabs and resets Safari; when you reopen, it will definitely be in normal mode (note that clearing history will wipe your browsing history, so use with caution).

How to permanently disable Private Browsing 

Some users (for instance, parents handing an iPhone to a child) might want to disable incognito mode on iPhone entirely, so that Private/Incognito mode cannot be used at all. While there’s no one-click “disable incognito” switch in Safari or Chrome, iOS does offer a way to remove Safari’s Private Browsing option via restrictions. You can do this through Screen Time settings:

• On the iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions (make sure Screen Time is enabled).
• Tap Content Restrictions, then Web Content.
• Change the setting from “Unrestricted Access” to “Limit Adult Websites.”

By enabling the adult content filter, iOS will automatically remove the Private Browsing feature from Safari. 

In other words, the Private button/tab group won’t appear at all when this restriction is active​. This effectively disables incognito mode on Safari. Keep in mind, this is intended for parental control (it also filters some web content). There is no similar built-in restriction for Chrome’s Incognito mode. 

Incognito mode limitations

Remember that using incognito mode is mainly about local privacy. It stops your phone from saving your browsing trail, but it does not make you invisible online. Websites you visit can still log your visit, your Internet Service Provider can still see what sites you access, and any downloads or bookmarks you save will persist. In short, incognito ≠ anonymous on the wider internet​. So, while it’s great for concealing your activity from other users of your device, don’t rely on it for security beyond that. If you need true anonymity or to hide traffic from your ISP, you’d need a VPN or other privacy tools (beyond the scope of this article).

Conclusion

Disabling Incognito Mode on an iPhone—whether utilizing Safari or Chrome—merely entails retracing the steps initially taken to activate a private browsing session. By engaging the tab switcher to navigate back to standard tabs and subsequently closing all private windows, users can swiftly exit incognito mode within moments. This uncomplicated process requires no technical proficiency, making it effortlessly manageable for users across varying levels of digital literacy.

Should the need arise to conduct discreet browsing again, the feature remains readily reactivatable at any time. More importantly, you now possess the knowledge to seamlessly transition between private and conventional browsing environments, optimizing both convenience and control. Understanding this functionality empowers you to maintain greater autonomy over your digital footprint, adapting your browsing behavior according to context and intent. With these insights at your disposal, navigating between secure and everyday usage becomes a fluid experience—enhancing both the versatility and user-centric nature of your iPhone. Happy and informed browsing!