Last updated: April 13, 2016
Private Browsing in Safari on iOS
When the call comes in from a parent or grandparent, it generally means fodder for a new Tech Help Knowledgebase article. Today was no exception, an exercise in learning about private browsing in Safari on iOS. The easy-to-read, easy-to-understand nature of our help articles — in fact, one of the primary reasons this site exists at all — is largely the result of providing such assistance. Today’s IT help desk adventure began with a text request for help. The emotive language, however brief, was enough to induce an immediately return telephone call.
“Hi dad! What’s up?”
“Well, the background at the top of the Safari window on my iPad has gone black for some reason. The tabs are black, and the text is white or gray, and I can’t really read it any more. My eye sight is, well, you know…”
How one accidentally places their web browser into Private Browsing mode in Safari is anyone’s guess. But ours is not to guess or judge, but to help without hesitation or reservation, especially when the tie that binds originates at birth.
The black background of Private Browsing in Safari on iOS is really a notification in and of itself. It is the discernible difference between the default mode and the private mode so you may clearly identify the mode in which you currently reside. Private Browsing lets you visit web sites without sharing your private information, without creating a history, and serves to block some sites from tracking your online behavior.
To turn Private Browsing on, launch the Safari browser on your iOS device, then tap the Pages 
icon:
Tap the word Private to turn on Private Browsing.
When the word Private displays on a white background with black text, Private Browsing is on.
Additionally, Safari will become dark instead of light while Private Browsing is on.
To turn Private Browsing off, launch the Safari browser on your iOS device, then tap the Pages icon. Tap the word Private to turn off Private Browsing. When Private Browsing mode is off, the word Private will display on a black background with white text, and Safari will become light instead of dark.
For more information, please visit Apple Support. And thanks for the question, dad! I love you!
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