2. How to Turn off Private Browsing on iPhone 12

How to Turn off Private Browsing on iPhone 12

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How to Turn Off Private Browsing on iPhone 12

Private browsing, also known as incognito mode, is a useful feature that allows you to browse the internet without leaving a trace on your device. However, there may come a time when you need to turn off private browsing, such as when you want to access websites that require you to sign in or when you want to save your browsing history. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps on how to turn off private browsing on your iPhone 12.

Disable Private Browsing in Safari

To disable private browsing in Safari, follow these steps:

Open the Safari app on your iPhone 12.
Tap on the "Tabs" icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Tap on the "Private" tab at the top of the screen.
Tap on the "Done" button to close the private browsing session.
Your Safari browser will now be in regular browsing mode.

Disabling Private Browsing via Settings

If you prefer to turn off Private Browsing from your device’s settings, follow these detailed steps:

Launch the Settings app.

Locate and tap on the Settings icon on your iPhone 12 home screen or in the App Library.
Navigate to Safari.

Within the Settings menu, scroll down and tap on “Safari.” This will open the dedicated settings page for Safari, Apple’s built-in web browser.
Disable Private Browsing.

Under the “General” section of the Safari settings, locate the “Private Browsing” option. Tap on the toggle switch next to it to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, indicating that Private Browsing is now disabled.

Once you have completed these steps, Private Browsing will be turned off on your iPhone 12. Any subsequent browsing sessions will be conducted in the standard browsing mode, retaining your history and other browsing data.

Here is a summary of the steps in a table:

Step	Action
1	Launch the Settings app and navigate to Safari settings.
2	Locate the “Private Browsing” option under the “General” section.
3	Tap on the toggle switch to disable Private Browsing.

Turning Off Incognito Mode from the Safari App

1. Open the Safari app

Tap the Safari icon on your iPhone’s home screen.

2. Close all open private tabs

To do this, follow these steps:

Tap the Tabs icon at the bottom right corner of the Safari app.
Tap the “Private” tab at the top of the screen.
Tap the “X” button in the upper left corner of each private tab to close it.

3. Turn off Private Browsing

To turn off Private Browsing in the Safari app, you can use the following steps:

Method	Steps
Using the “aA” button	– Tap the “aA” button in the Safari address bar. – Tap the “Private” option to turn it off.
Using the Settings app	– Open the Settings app on your iPhone. – Scroll down and tap Safari. – Tap the “Private Browsing” option to turn it off.

Deactivating Private Browsing Mode Using the Keyboard Shortcut

For quick and efficient deactivation of Private Browsing mode, utilize the keyboard shortcut. On your iPhone 12, perform the following steps:

1. Press the “Command” Key

Locate the “Command” key on your iPhone, typically symbolized by a clover-like icon, and press it firmly.

2. Simultaneously Press the “Q” Key

While keeping the “Command” key pressed, simultaneously press the “Q” key to trigger the Private Browsing mode deactivation command.

3. Verify Deactivation

You will notice the Safari tabs automatically switch from the dark Private Browsing interface to the regular Safari interface. Verify that the Private Browsing mode is deactivated by checking the URL bar. If the “Private” label is no longer present, the mode has been successfully turned off.

Closing All Private Browsing Tabs

To close all private browsing tabs at once, follow these steps:

Open the Safari app.
Tap the “Tabs” icon in the bottom right corner.
Tap the “Private” icon in the top right corner.
Tap “Close All [number] Tabs”.

The exact wording of step 4 may vary depending on the number of private browsing tabs you have open. For example, if you have 5 private browsing tabs open, the button will say “Close All 5 Tabs”.

Number of Private Browsing Tabs Open	Button Text
1	Close Tab
2-4	Close All [number] Tabs
5+	Close All Private Tabs

Restarting Safari to End Private Browsing

Restarting Safari can force an end to private browsing and clear any open tabs. To restart the browser, follow the steps below:

1. Close All Open Safari Windows

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the app switcher. Then, swipe up on the Safari preview to close all open windows.

2. Kill the Safari App

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen again to bring up the app switcher. Find the Safari app preview and swipe it up and off the screen to kill the app.

3. Relaunch Safari

Tap the Safari icon on your home screen to relaunch the browser. You should now be out of private browsing mode.

Troubleshooting

If you’re still having trouble disabling private browsing, you may need to reset Safari. To do this, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. This will delete all your browsing history, cookies, and other data, so make sure to back up any important information before proceeding.

Step	Action
1	Close all open Safari windows.
2	Kill the Safari app.
3	Relaunch Safari.

Restoring Default Safari Settings

To restore the default Safari settings on your iPhone 12, follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” app.
Scroll down and tap on “Safari.”
Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap on “Clear History and Website Data.”
Tap on “Clear History and Data.”
Safari will now clear all of your browsing history, cookies, and other website data.
You may also need to disable Private Browsing if it is enabled. To do this, tap on the “Private Browsing” toggle switch to turn it off.

Now, your Safari browser will have its default settings restored.

Checking Third-Party Browser Extensions

If you have installed any third-party browser extensions, they may be contributing to the private browsing issue. These extensions may collect data about your browsing history and other online activities, which can interfere with private browsing mode.

To check for third-party browser extensions, open the Settings app on your iPhone 12 and tap on Safari. Scroll down to the “Extensions” section and check if any extensions are installed.

If you find any third-party extensions, tap on “Edit” at the top right of the screen. Then, tap the ‘-‘ sign next to each extension to remove it.

Additional Tips

In addition to the steps above, here are some additional tips to help you turn off private browsing on your iPhone 12:

Restart your browser: Sometimes, a simple restart of your browser can resolve issues with private browsing mode. To restart your browser, close all open tabs and windows, and then launch the browser again.
Clear your browsing history and cache: Clearing your browsing history and cache can remove any traces of private browsing data that may be causing problems. To do this, open the Settings app on your iPhone 12 and tap on Safari. Scroll down to the "Privacy & Security" section and tap on "Clear History and Website Data."
Reset your network settings: If you’re still having trouble turning off private browsing mode, you can reset your network settings. To do this, open the Settings app on your iPhone 12 and tap on General. Scroll down to the "Reset" section and tap on "Reset Network Settings."

Utilizing Third-Party Apps for Enhanced Privacy

While iPhone’s built-in privacy features provide a solid foundation, third-party apps can offer additional functionality and customization.

Here are some popular third-party apps that enhance privacy on iPhone 12:

App	Features
Disconnect	Blocks ad trackers and malware, protects against phishing attacks.
Ghostery	Identifies and blocks trackers, enhances website loading speed.
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser	Focuses on privacy, blocks trackers, and searches anonymously.
Firefox Focus	Stripped-down browser that automatically blocks trackers.
Brave	Built-in ad and tracker blocker, protects against data breaches.
AdGuard	Comprehensive ad blocker and privacy protection suite.
iVerify	Detects and blocks phishing scams, protects against online identity theft.
Privacy Pro	Customizable privacy settings, monitors app access to sensors and data.

These apps provide a range of privacy features, from ad blocking and tracker detection to phishing protection and data breach alerts. Consider exploring these apps to further enhance your online privacy on your iPhone 12.

Managing Privacy Settings in iCloud

iCloud offers a comprehensive suite of privacy settings to safeguard your personal information. Here’s how to manage these settings:

1. Open Settings

Navigate to the “Settings” app on your iPhone 12.

2. Tap on Your Name

At the top of the “Settings” menu, tap on your name (Apple ID) to access your iCloud account settings.

3. Select iCloud

Under “Apple ID,” tap on “iCloud” to open the iCloud settings.

4. Go to Privacy

Scroll down and select “Privacy” from the iCloud settings menu.

5. Manage App Privacy

Under “Privacy,” tap on “App Privacy” to control how apps access your location, photos, and other information.

6. Disable Location Services

To turn off location services for all apps, toggle the “Location Services” switch at the top of the “App Privacy” menu.

7. Limit App Access to Photos

To prevent apps from accessing your photos, tap on “Photos” under “App Privacy” and select “None” for each app.

8. Restrict Microphone and Camera Access

Similarly, you can tap on “Microphone” and “Camera” under “App Privacy” to restrict which apps can use these features.

9. Manage iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain securely stores your passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive data. To manage these settings, tap on “Keychain” under “Privacy” and disable the “iCloud Keychain” switch or customize the data that’s stored.

Privacy Setting	Description
Location Services	Controls app access to your device’s location
Photos	Prevents apps from accessing your photos
Microphone	Restricts app access to your device’s microphone
Camera	Prevents apps from using your device’s camera
Keychain	Securely stores passwords and sensitive data

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Private Browsing Disablement

1. Private Browsing Icon Not Visible in Safari Menu Bar

If you don’t see the Private Browsing icon in Safari’s menu bar, ensure your iPhone 12 runs on iOS 11 or later and your Safari browser is updated.

2. Unable to Access Private Browsing Data after Deactivation

Private Browsing data, including browsing history and cookies, is automatically deleted once Private Browsing is turned off. If you need to recover this data, you should disable Private Browsing before closing Safari.

3. Third-Party Websites Still Track Private Browsing Activity

Private Browsing prevents Apple from tracking your activity, but third-party websites may still use cookies or other methods to gather data.

4. Private Browsing Data Stored on Other Devices

If you’re signed into iCloud, Private Browsing data may be synced across your other Apple devices. To disable this synchronization, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Safari and uncheck “Safari.”

5. Microphone and Camera Permission Requests

Even in Private Browsing mode, websites may request permission to access your microphone or camera. You can decline these requests, although it may limit certain website functionality.

6. Search Suggestions and Recent Searches Still Appear

Private Browsing prevents saving search suggestions and browsing history on your device, but these may still appear if you’re signed into an account (e.g., Google Account) or use iCloud Sync.

7. Websites Not Loading Correctly

Private Browsing can interfere with website functionality if specific cookies or browser settings are blocked. To resolve this, try disabling Private Browsing, refreshing the website, or adjusting the cookie settings.

8. Extensions Not Functioning in Private Browsing

Safari extensions may not work in Private Browsing mode as they require access to certain data that is blocked.

9. Default Search Engine Not Setting Properly

If your default search engine doesn’t change when you deactivate Private Browsing, try resetting Safari or your iPhone 12.

10. Guided Access Issues

If Private Browsing remains active even after following the disablement steps, it may be due to Guided Access being enabled. To deactivate Guided Access, triple-click the side button (iPhone 12 Pro or later) or the Home button (iPhone 12 and earlier) and enter your passcode.

How to Turn Off Private Browsing on iPhone 12

Private browsing is a useful feature that allows you to browse the web without leaving a trace on your device. However, if you want to turn off private browsing, it’s easy to do.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Safari.
Under Privacy & Security, tap Private Browsing.
Toggle the switch to the Off position.

Private browsing is now turned off on your iPhone 12.