How to Turn Off Private Browsing on an iPad

Introduction to Private Browsing on an iPad

Private browsing, also known as incognito mode, is designed to protect your privacy by not storing data such as history, cookies, and search queries. However, for some users, the need to turn off private browsing may arise. This guide will walk you through the process of turning off private browsing on an iPad using the popular browser, Safari.

Turning Off Private Browsing on an iPad

To accomplish this, you need to exit the private browsing mode and return to regular browsing mode. Follow these steps:

Open Safari: Launch the Safari app on your iPad.

Access Tabs: Find the tab icon, which appears as two overlapping squares in the upper right corner of the screen, and tap it.

Switch to Regular Browsing: If you are in private browsing mode, a dark background with the words "Close Private Tabs" will appear. Swipe the tabs to the left, and tap on "Close Private Tabs." Once this is done, your browsing will no longer be private, and Safari will start saving your history and cookies again.

Alternative Method: You can also tap the square icon on the bottom right and select "Start Page" instead of "Private." This will ensure you are not in private browsing mode.

Why Disable Private Browsing? Private browsing can be important for maintaining privacy, but for some users, it is necessary to turn it off if they want to save their browsing history or allow cookies for certain websites. Additionally, some applications may require private browsing to be disabled to function correctly.

Parental Controls

For those managing devices for children or non-technical users, you may not want to disable private browsing directly due to Apple's policies. However, you can use parental controls to prevent access to private browsing. Here are the steps:

Access Parental Controls: Go to your iPad's Settings app.

Screen Time: Tap on Screen Time and then choose Content Privacy Restrictions.

Set a Password: Enter a Screen Time password and enable the Content Privacy Restrictions.

Restrict Web Browsing: Under Content Restrictions, select Web Content and choose Specify Websites. Then, block Private Browsing or set restrictions accordingly.

Disabling Private Browsing in iOS 12 Settings

If you're using an iPad with iOS 12 or later, you can disable private browsing by setting up website restrictions:

Settings: Go to the Settings app on your iPad.

Screen Time: Tap on Screen Time.

Content Privacy Restrictions: Then, tap on Content Privacy Restrictions and enter the Screen Time password.

Turn On: Slide the button to turn on Content Privacy Restrictions.

Web Content: Under Content Restrictions, choose Web Content and select either Limited Websites Only or Allow Only Specific Websites.

Private Button Disappearance: Once you hit the Home button and open Safari, you'll notice that the Private button has disappeared, indicating that private browsing is disabled.

Conclusion: Disabling private browsing on an iPad can be a crucial step for users who want to save their browsing history, manage cookies, or comply with app requirements. Use the methods mentioned above to ensure you can browse freely while maintaining security and privacy.