A private or incognito browser window is a mode of viewing web pages and web applications in your web browser without using any of the existing cookies or site data that may be stored from your regular browser windows/tabs.
It allows you to visit URLs as if you were visiting them for the very first time from a new browser or device.
Private / Incognito browser windows don't save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or temporary internet files. This means that when you close the private / incognito window, no trace of your browsing activity will be left on your computer.
Private browsing can be useful for a variety of reasons. For instance, you might want to use it to log in to multiple accounts on the same website or application simultaneously.
It is important to note that private browsing does not make you completely anonymous online. Your internet service provider (ISP) can still see which websites you visit, and websites can still see your IP address.
Because opening a new Private / Incognito window allows you to visit URLs as though you were viewing them for the very first time, they're a useful tool to help you troubleshoot issues you may experience when browsing.
As our own MIDAS room booking software is accessed through your browser, if you experience an issue, we may ask you to try and replicate it in a Private / Incognito window.
Here's how to quickly open a new Private / Incognito window in all major browsers:
To open an Incognito window in Chrome
Select the "three dots" icon in the upper right corner of the browser and select "New incognito window". Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + N (on Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (on Mac).
To open a Private window in Safari
Select "New private window" from the File menu, or press Cmd + Shift + N.
To open an InPrivate window in Edge:
Select the "three dots" icon in the upper right corner of the browser and select "New InPrivate window". Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + N (on Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (on Mac).
To open a Private window in Firefox:
Select the "three lines" icon the the upper right corner of the browser and select "New private window". Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + P (on Windows) or Cmd + Shift + P (on Mac).
To open a Private window in Opera
Click the red "O" Opera logo in the upper left corner of the browser and select "New private window". Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + N (on Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (on Mac).
When you are finished browsing privately, simply close all of the private / incognito windows that you have open. This will ensure that no trace of your browsing activity is left on your computer.
