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)
Ralph Fox says
December 17, 2016 at 10:26 pmI’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?
Ranouy says
January 12, 2017 at 7:48 pmOpen a new tab by clicking on the cascaded window button instead of the “+”
You will see PRIVATE at the top.
Ranouy says
January 12, 2017 at 7:47 pmInstead of clicking the + to add a new tab, click the cascaded windows icon. Private appears at the top.
deven says
November 7, 2018 at 4:29 amThe “+” with the Cascade Windows thing isn’t working. The private button is literally gone, i’ve tried everything!!
Serhat Kurt says
November 7, 2018 at 4:44 amWe just updated the article.
Justin Fabsits says
December 21, 2018 at 6:18 amyou probably already figured it out by now but just download the ggogle chrome app because that works
Ann says
February 10, 2018 at 9:43 pmThis doesn’t work and isn’t helpful. I followed the steps and I still can’t get the private mode.
Brad says
April 17, 2018 at 11:16 pmThis 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.
Kelly says
November 10, 2018 at 8:46 pmThe 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.
Jerry f says
November 22, 2018 at 6:54 amSame idk what to do it showed up for like 5 mins but then disappeared
Freya Cottrell says
December 20, 2018 at 9:17 pmSame! Mine has just disappeared. It’s nowhere to be seen. I don’t know how to fix it. Nothing is working.
C. E says
November 20, 2018 at 6:16 pmsame here! I can’t figure out how to fix it
abcd says
November 22, 2018 at 6:20 amSame here. Out of nowhere it just disappeared
zoe says
November 25, 2018 at 12:43 amit still doesn’t work, the private button still isn’t there after i followed the stems and re did them about 10 times ?
Jane says
December 3, 2018 at 12:42 amMy private button has just gone too. while I was in private mode, the iPad switched itself to regular mode and private button missing
Freya Cottrell says
December 20, 2018 at 9:18 pmThat’s what happened to mine. I was on it and switched me to normal mode. Have u been able to fix it yet? And if so how?
I help says
December 20, 2018 at 5:48 amI found a way to do it first power of you phone. Then turn it back on.After that go to safari at this point you have to be quick you press the tab button and then you’ll See the private button but you have to be quick and press it if the + is not there just press done make sure not to flip you phone or else it will go back
Royori.PS says
February 11, 2019 at 12:41 amI see what you mean about being quick but to be honest apple needs to fix this problem if its not an individual problem then it’s probably something that has to do with the iphone itself.
Racc on Crack says
February 13, 2019 at 10:48 pmIf screen time was activated, you need to deactivate it completely
L says
March 26, 2019 at 1:56 pmThanks!