Browse privately in Safari on Mac
Browse privately one time
In the Safari app on your Mac, choose File > New Private Window, or switch to a private browsing window that’s already open. A private browsing window has a dark Smart Search field with white text. Browse as you normally would. When you use Private Browsing: Browsing initiated in one tab is isolated from browsing initiated in another tab, so websites you visit can’t track your browsing across multiple sessions. Webpages you visit and your AutoFill information aren’t saved. Your open webpages aren’t stored in iCloud , so they aren’t shown when you view all your open tabs from other Apple devices. Your recent searches aren’t included in the results list when you use the Smart Search field. Items you download aren’t included in the downloads list. (The items do remain on your computer.) If you use Handoff , private browsing windows aren’t handed off to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or other Mac computers. Changes to your cookies and website data aren’t saved.
Websites can’t modify information stored on your Mac, so services normally available at such sites may work differently until you use a non-private window. Note: None of the above applies in non-private Safari windows you may have open.
Always browse privately
In the Safari app on your Mac, choose Safari > Settings, then click General. Click the “Safari opens with” pop-up menu, then choose “A new private window.” If you don’t see this option, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar, then turn on “Close windows when quitting an application” on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)
Stop browsing privately
In the Safari app on your Mac, close the private window, switch to a non-private Safari window, or choose File > New Window to open a non-private window. Do any of the following to further enhance privacy: Delete any items you downloaded while using private windows. Close any other private windows that are still open, to prevent other people from using the Back button or Forward button to see webpages you visited in those windows.