UPDATE (November, 2018): With iOS 12, Apple replaced Restrictions with Screen Time. Your Screen Time password is your Restrictions password. This means that if the Safari Private icon is missing on your iPad or iPhone, now this is because of your Screen Time settings. It is not available because your device settings restrict adult websites. You can change that easily. To change that, simply go to:
- Settings
- Screen Time
- Content & Privacy Restrictions (you will need to enter your password, which is your old Restrictions password, if not, read this article to reset)
- Content Restrcitions
- Web Content (under the Web Content section)
- And select “Unrestricted Access”
- Now, open Safari, Safari has the private browsing option.
Private Browsing lets you browse the Internet without saving your browsing history. There may be occasions when you don’t want to leave a trace of your web browsing history.
You can easily turn on and off Private Browsing on your iPad or iPhone. Here is how:
Enable private browsing
1-Launch Safari
2-Tap the Pages icon (two squares icon).
3-Tap Private.
When you enable the Private browsing mode, you will notice that Safari appears black instead of white.
If you do not see the Private icon, here is how you can fix:
If your device is running iOS 12 or later, please see the update above.
However, blocking websites using the Restrictions menu will cause the ‘Private’ button to disappear.This means that, If you the “private” link doesn’t show up, it is highly likely that Restrictions (aka parental controls) for websites is turned on. You need to disable website restrictions. Here is how:
1- Go to Settings > General > Restrictions (enter your passcode)
2-Tap Websites
3-Select “All Websites”.
See also: How to Manage & Limit Cellular Data Usage On Your iPhone (iOS 9)
I’ve tried everything available
On the web but settings>privacy>browsing>on device history is completely gone. My website restrictions are turned of,f I’ve updated google.
My IOS is 10.1.1
I’d like to know what I’m doing wrong. Can anyone help?
Open a new tab by clicking on the cascaded window button instead of the “+”
You will see PRIVATE at the top.
Instead of clicking the + to add a new tab, click the cascaded windows icon. Private appears at the top.
The “+” with the Cascade Windows thing isn’t working. The private button is literally gone, i’ve tried everything!!
We just updated the article.
This doesn’t work and isn’t helpful. I followed the steps and I still can’t get the private mode.
This is the second time this has disappeared on my phone and like you i can’t get it back. The last time it came back after an IOS update, but mine was there yesterday and gone today.
The same thing is happening to me! I have tried everything multiple websites have told me and it does not work. The Private Browsing button is just gone.