How To Turn Off Incognito Mode On Mac

Understanding Incognito Mode on Mac

Incognito mode, also known as private browsing, is a feature commonly found in web browsers that allows users to browse the internet without leaving any trace of their online activities. When you open a new incognito window, your browser does not save your browsing history, cookies, or site data. This can be particularly useful when you want to keep your browsing habits private, such as when accessing sensitive information or using a shared computer.

While incognito mode provides a certain level of privacy, it is important to note that it does not make you completely anonymous online. Your internet service provider (ISP), the websites you visit, and any network administrators can still track your activities. Additionally, any files you download or bookmarks you create during incognito mode will still be saved on your computer.

On a Mac, popular web browsers such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge all offer incognito or private browsing modes. Each browser has slightly different terminology and methods for disabling this feature.

So, if you’re using a Mac and want to turn off incognito mode, let’s explore the various methods available in popular web browsers.

Method 1: Turning Off Incognito Mode in Safari

If you are using Safari as your primary web browser on your Mac and want to disable incognito mode, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Safari on your Mac by clicking on the Safari icon in your dock or by searching for it using Spotlight.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
3. A new window will open. Click on the “General” tab at the top of the window.
4. Find the “Safari opens with:” option and select “New windows open with: Homepage” from the dropdown menu.
5. Next, find the “New windows open with:” option and select “Homepage” from the dropdown menu as well.
6. Close the Preferences window.

By following these steps, you have effectively disabled incognito mode in Safari. From now on, new windows you open in Safari will not be in incognito mode, and your browsing history will be saved.

It’s important to note that this method disables incognito mode, but it does not clear your existing browsing history. If you want to delete your browsing history, you can do so by clicking on “History” in the menu bar, then selecting “Clear History” and choosing the desired time range.

Now that you know how to turn off incognito mode in Safari, let’s move on to the next section to learn how to disable it in Google Chrome.

Method 2: Disabling Incognito Mode in Chrome

If you are using Google Chrome as your preferred web browser on your Mac and want to disable incognito mode, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome on your Mac by clicking on the Chrome icon in your dock or by searching for it using Spotlight.
2. In the top-right corner of the Chrome window, click on the three vertical dots to open the menu.
3. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings.”
4. Scroll down to find the “Privacy and security” section and click on “Privacy and security” to expand the options.
5. Within the “Privacy and security” section, click on “Security”
6. Under the “Security” section, you will find the option “Enable Chrome’s incognito mode.”
7. Toggle off the switch next to “Enable Chrome’s incognito mode” to disable incognito mode.

Once you have followed these steps and turned off incognito mode, any new windows or tabs you open in Google Chrome will no longer be in incognito mode.

In addition to disabling incognito mode, you can also clear your browsing history in Chrome by going back to the “Privacy and security” section. Click on “Clear browsing data” to remove your browsing history, cookies, and other site data.

Now that you know how to disable incognito mode in Chrome, let’s move on to the next section to learn how to turn it off in Firefox.

Method 3: Turning Off Incognito Mode in Firefox

If you are using Firefox as your web browser on your Mac and wish to disable incognito mode, follow these steps:

1. Open Firefox on your Mac by clicking on the Firefox icon in your dock or by searching for it using Spotlight.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on “Firefox” and then select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
3. A new tab will open with the Firefox preferences.
4. In the left sidebar, click on “Privacy & Security” to open the privacy settings.
5. Under the “History” section, find the option “Firefox will” and select “Remember history” from the dropdown menu.
6. Close the preferences tab.

By following these steps, you have successfully disabled incognito mode in Firefox. Now, any new windows or tabs you open in Firefox will not be in incognito mode, and your browsing history will be saved.

Remember that disabling incognito mode does not clear your existing browsing history. If you want to delete your browsing history, you can do so by clicking on “History” in the menu bar, then selecting “Clear Recent History” and choosing the desired timeframe and content to clear.

Now that you know how to turn off incognito mode in Firefox, let’s move on to the next section to learn how to disable private browsing in Opera.

Method 4: Disabling Private Browsing in Opera

If you are using Opera as your web browser on your Mac and want to disable private browsing mode, follow these steps:

1. Open Opera on your Mac by clicking on the Opera icon in your dock or by searching for it using Spotlight.
2. In the top-left corner of the Opera window, click on “Opera” in the menu bar.
3. From the dropdown menu, select “Preferences.”
4. A new tab will open with the Opera settings.
5. In the left sidebar, click on “Privacy & Security” to open the privacy settings.
6. Under the “Private Browsing” section, find the option “Open new private tabs with” and select “Start page” from the dropdown menu.
7. Close the preferences tab.

By following these steps, you have successfully disabled private browsing mode in Opera. Any new tabs you open in Opera will no longer be in private browsing mode, and your browsing history will be saved.

Remember that disabling private browsing mode does not clear your existing browsing history. If you want to delete your browsing history, you can do so by clicking on the “History” icon in the sidebar, then selecting “Clear browsing history” and choosing the desired timeframe and content to clear.

Now that you know how to disable private browsing in Opera, let’s move on to the next section to learn how to turn off private windows in Microsoft Edge.

Method 5: Disabling Private Window in Microsoft Edge

If you are using Microsoft Edge as your web browser on your Mac and wish to disable private windows, follow these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your Mac by clicking on the Microsoft Edge icon in your dock or by searching for it using Spotlight.
2. In the top-right corner of the Microsoft Edge window, click on the three horizontal dots to open the menu.
3. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings.”
4. In the left sidebar, click on “Privacy, search, and services” to open the privacy settings.
5. Scroll down to find the “InPrivate browsing” section.
6. Under the “InPrivate browsing” section, click on the “Only save what I manually copy and paste” option.

By following these steps, you have successfully disabled private Windows in Microsoft Edge. Now, any new windows or tabs you open in Microsoft Edge will not be in private mode, and your browsing history will be saved.

Remember that disabling private windows does not clear your existing browsing history. If you want to delete your browsing history, you can do so by clicking on the “History” icon in the toolbar, then selecting “Clear browsing data” and choosing the desired timeframe and content to clear.

That’s it! You now know how to disable private windows in Microsoft Edge.

Throughout this article, we have explored different web browsers and learned how to turn off incognito mode or private browsing on a Mac. Remember that disabling these features means that your browsing history and data will be saved, so make sure to clear your history if needed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding how to disable incognito mode or private browsing in popular web browsers on your Mac can be useful when you want to save your browsing history or prevent others from accessing your computer. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can easily turn off incognito mode or private browsing in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.

For Safari users, disabling incognito mode involves adjusting the settings in the Preferences menu. In Chrome, you can toggle off the incognito mode switch in the Privacy and Security settings. Firefox users can disable private browsing by changing the browser history settings. Opera users can turn off private browsing by selecting the Start page option for new private tabs. And in Microsoft Edge, you can disable private windows by choosing the Only save what I manually copy and paste option in the InPrivate browsing settings.

Remember that disabling incognito mode or private browsing does not clear your browsing history. If you want to remove your browsing history, you can do so through the browser’s specific clearing options. It’s essential to stay aware of your browsing habits and take the necessary steps to protect your privacy and security online.

By following the methods provided in this article, you can easily customize your browser settings to suit your preferences and browsing needs. Whether you’re browsing for work, personal use, or sharing a computer with others, knowing how to turn off incognito mode or private browsing on your Mac gives you better control over your online activities.

Now that you know the different methods for disabling incognito mode or private browsing in popular web browsers on your Mac, you can enjoy a more customized and secure browsing experience.