History is used by the browser to enhance your experience on the Internet. When the browser remembers a website you previously visited or the username and password for your favorite web site, this information is considered your history.

However, there may be times when you do not want other users of your computer to see or access such information. For example, if a friend or family member shares your computer, you might prefer for them not to be able to see what websites you've visited or what files you've downloaded.

Firefox 3.5 and later provide "Private Browsing," which allows you to browse the Internet without Firefox saving any data about which sites and pages you have visited.

Table Of Contents

• What Private Browsing will not retain
• Turn on Private Browsing
• Turn off Private Browsing
• Always start Firefox in a private browsing session

What Private Browsing will not retain

• Visited pages: No pages will be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window's History list, or the Smart Location Bar's address list.
• Form and Search Bar entries: Nothing you enter into text boxes on web pages or the Search bar will be saved for Form autocomplete.
• Passwords: No passwords will be automatically filled in during the your Private Browsing session, and no new passwords will be saved.
• Download List entries: No files you download will remain in the list in the Downloads window after you turn off Private Browsing.
• Cookies: Cookies are file​s created ​by websites​ that​ store information ​on your​ computer​, such​ as your​ preferences ​when​ visiting​ a certain site​. These will​ not ​be stored. For more information on cookies, see Cookies.
• Web cache files: No temporary Internet files or cached files from web pages will be saved until you turn off Private Browsing.

Turn on Private Browsing

1. Click on the Tools menu and select Start Private Browsing.
   
   
   While this screenshot is for Windows, it will look similar on your operating system.
   
   3.0:
   Not there? If Start Private Browsing is not in the Tools menu, you are not using the latest version of Firefox. To use this feature, update to Firefox 3.5.
2. The first time you turn on Private Browsing, Firefox will alert you that it will save your current windows and tabs for after you finish using Private Browsing. Click on Start Private Browsing to continue.
   
   
   While this screenshot is for Windows, it will look similar on your operating system.
   
   • Put a check mark next to "Do not show this message again" if you do not want to receive this alert the next time you turn on Private Browsing.
3. You will then enter Private Browsing mode, and the Private Browsing information screen will appear.
   
   
   While this screenshot is for Windows, it will look similar on your operating system.
   

When browsing in Private Browsing mode, the Firefox window's title will show (Private Browsing) during your session.


While this screenshot is for Windows, it will look similar on your operating system.

Turn off Private Browsing

To end a Private Browsing session:

1. Click on the Tools menu and select the Stop Private Browsing entry.
   
   
   While this screenshot is for Windows, it will look similar on your operating system.
   
2. The windows and tabs you were using when you enabled Private Browsing will appear, and you can use Firefox normally. The Firefox window's title will no longer show (Private Browsing) when Private Browsing is off.

Always start Firefox in a private browsing session

There is a setting in the OptionsPreferences window which will automatically enable Private Browsing whenever you start Firefox.

1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the ToolsFirefoxEdit menu, and select Options...Preferences....
2. Select the Privacy panel.
   
   
   While this screenshot is for Windows, it will look similar on your operating system.
   
3. Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
4. Click to select Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session.
5. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window