Turn on Private Browsing Mode in Chrome and Opera

Posted on May 26, 2010 at 5:03 am

We have previously talked about the private browsing mode in Firefox (Turn on Private Browsing in Firefox) and Internet Explorer 8 (How to use IE 8’s InPrivate Browsing?). This post covers how to surf the web privately in Chrome and Opera.

Private Browsing in Google Chrome

Google Chrome calls their private browsing mode Incognito mode. To turn on this mode within Chrome, select New incognito window from the Tools menu (the wrench button in the upper, right corner of the window).

Opening a new Chrome Incognito window

You can also select the New incognito window option by right-clicking on the taskbar button and selecting the option from the pop-up menu.

Opening a new Chrome Incognito window from the taskbar

A new Chrome window opens with a notification that you have “gone incognito.”

Chrome Incognito notification

There is also what looks like a detective icon in the upper, left corner of the window.

Chrome Incognito icon

To stop browsing in Incognito mode, close the Chrome window.

Private Browsing in Opera

In Opera, you can browse privately in a new window or in a new private tab. The private tab feature is unique to Opera.

To open either a private tab or window, click the red O in the upper, left corner and select Tabs and Windows | New Private Tab or Tabs and Windows | New Private Window. If you have the menu bar showing, these two options are available directly on the File menu.

Opera private browsing options

If you open a new private window, any new tab you open in that window is a Private Tab.

Opera private window

If you only want to open a private tab and not a whole new private window, you can right-click on the new tab button at the right end of the tab bar and select New Private Tab from the pop-up menu.

Opening a New Private Tab in Opera

You can also open a New Private Tab by right-clicking on the Opera button on the taskbar and selecting the option from the pop-up menu.

Opening a New Private Tab in Opera from the taskbar

A new Private Tab opens next to the tab you were viewing.

New Private Tab open in Opera

Whether you open a new private window or a new private tab, the following message displays. If you do not want to see this message display, select the Do not show again check box. If this option is turned on, Speed Dial will display on any new Private Tabs you open.

Opera Private Browsing notification

To stop private browsing, either close the private window or the private tab.

by Lori Kaufman

» Filed Under Computer Tips

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One Response to “Turn on Private Browsing Mode in Chrome and Opera”

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  1. Start in Private Browsing Mode in Chrome, Firefox, IE 8, and Opera by Default Says:

    [...] Google Chrome calls their private browsing mode Incognito mode. To learn how to turn on Incognito mode within Chrome, see our previous post Turn on Private Browsing Mode in Chrome and Opera. [...]

    June 1st, 2010 at 5:32 am
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