Private Browsing not working in Safari on your iPhone or iPad can be a real pain. Especially since it lets you browse the internet without saving any history, syncing any browsing details with other devices, and doesn’t even try to save AutoFill information. Many people use Private Browsing Mode as they are concerned about their privacy.
Some people have reported issues where they can’t access the Private Browsing Mode as the button is grayed out or it is not working at all. If you’re among them, here’s how to fix the Private Browsing mode not working in Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
Quick Tip:
If you’re using Safari Private Browsing to hide your online activity, you should know that it can’t hide your search history because the DNS cache will store all your online searches. That’s why we suggest a VPN source as a solution.
For example, ExpressVPN can keep your online activity private with next-level encryption, the same one that security experts use to protect classified information. Thus, your browsing usage will be impenetrable by third parties.
How to Use Private Browsing in Safari on iPhone or iPad
Some users aren’t aware of the steps to navigate to the Private Browsing Mode in Safari and think that the feature isn’t available or not working. So, before we get into the fixes, let me run you through the steps to use the Private Browsing Mode in Safari.
While most of you might know how to use it, some new users might not be aware of the steps to navigate to the Private Browsing Mode. Follow these steps to use the Private Mode in Safari.
Open Safari browser on your iPhone > Tap the Tabs button at the bottom right corner > Now, tap the “X Tabs” or “Start Page” button at the bottom > In the Tab Groups list, tap Private to switch to the Private Browsing Mode > Here, tap the + icon (Plus) to add tabs and use the Private Browsing Mode.
How to Fix Private Browsing Not Working in Safari on iPhone or iPad
We presume that you’re now aware of the steps to use Safari Private Browsing Mode. If the Private tab is grayed out or is not working at all, here are five steps to help you fix the Private Browsing Mode in Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
1. Remove Content Restrictions on Web Content
Enabling Content Restrictions for the Web Content section in the Screen Time Settings leads to the removal of the Private Browsing Mode button from Safari. If you’ve recently made this change, or have accidentally set restrictions for web content, here’s how to change these settings and retrieve the Private Browsing Mode.
Time needed: 2 minutes
Steps to remove Content Restrictions from the Web Content section in Screen Time Settings on iPhone or iPad.
- Open Settings on your iPhone and navigate to the Screen Time option.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Now, tap Content Restrictions.
- On the next page, tap Web Content.
- Select the Unrestricted option and the Private Browsing Mode will be made available in Safari on your iPhone or iPad. If the Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites option is selected, the Private Browsing Mode will not be visible in Safari.
2. Update Safari Browser to Fix Private Browsing Not Working in Safari
If removing restrictions didn’t resolve the issue, incompatibility between the Safari browser version and iOS/iPadOS could cause the Private Browsing Mode to disappear from your device. Moreover, updating apps to their latest versions is always recommended as these updates resolve issues by patching the bugs and glitches present in older versions. Follow the steps below to update Safari to the latest version and fix the Private Browsing Mode in Safari.
1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on your Profile at the top right corner.
3. Scroll down and tap the Update button beside Safari. Alternatively, you can also tap the Update All button to update every app present in the Available Updates tab.
3. Update to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS
If the Private Browsing Mode still does not appear after updating Safari to the latest version, a software bug in iOS/iPadOS may be causing the issue. If it’s a widespread issue, developers at Apple might have already released an update addressing it. To get rid of this bug, we must update our devices to the latest software version.
1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Navigate to General and tap the Software Update option.
3. Now, tap the Download and Install button to update your iPhone or iPad to its latest software version.
4. Restart iPhone/iPad to fix Private Browsing not working in Safari
We mentioned restarting your device in most of your troubleshooting guides to help resolve issues. If you’ve tried all the steps mentioned above and cannot access your device’s Private Browsing Mode in Safari, a quick restart might fix the issue.
All services running on your iPhone/iPad will restart alongside your device. Moreover, even the settings you’ve just changed will be applied if they haven’t already. So go ahead and restart your iPhone or iPad.
For iPhone and iPad without a Home Button
1. Press and hold the side button and either volume rocker until the slide to power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider and wait for a few minutes.
3. Now, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
For iPhone and iPad with a Home Button
1. Press and hold the side button until the slide to power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider and wait for a few minutes.
3. Now, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
You can even ask Siri to restart your iPhone or iPad if your hands are preoccupied, etc. This is one of my favorite implementations and I use it quite often.
Contact Apple Support
The silver lining to every troubleshooting dark cloud is Apple Support. If you followed all of the above-mentioned steps but none of them helped, the only option is to contact Apple Support. Moreover, if you have an Apple Store nearby, you can visit there and consult with the people at the Genius Bar regarding the Private Browsing Mode not working in Safari.
Does the Private Browsing Mode in Safari Work as Promised?
Apple promises that when you’re browsing the internet using the Private Browsing Mode in Safari it doesn’t save any history. However, there’s a workaround using which you can view your Safari Private Browsing History on Mac. So, if someone wants to view your browsing history, they can. So, we recommend you use a VPN alongside the Private Browsing feature to ensure utmost safety.
We hope this article helped fix the Private Browsing Mode not working in Safari on your iPhone or iPad. If you have any other doubts, do let us know in the comments below.
FAQ’s
If you’ve enabled Content Restrictions for the Web Content section in the Screen Time Settings, it will remove the Private Browsing Mode button from Safari which might be the reason for Private Browsing not working in Safari on your iPad. Follow the steps mentioned above to fix the issue.
Safari does have a private mode and here’s how to use it. Open Safari > tap and hold the Tabs button > tap Private to enter the Private Browsing Mode.
Content Restrictions enabled in Screen Time settings, outdated Safari app versions, and older iOS versions are some of the reasons for Private Browsing Mode not working on your iPhone. Refer to our article for possible fixes to the issue.
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