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How to Use Private Browsing in Firefox on iPhone

Learn how to open and manage private tabs in Firefox on iPhone—and what private browsing does and does not keep private.
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In Firefox for iPhone, open the tab view, tap Private, then tap + to start a private tab. The purple mask on the tab icon indicates that private browsing is active. The steps below reflect Mozilla’s Firefox for iOS guidance, updated June 18, 2026; labels and their placement can vary by app and iOS version.

Open a private tab in Firefox

  1. Tap the numeric tab icon at the bottom of Firefox to open the tab view.

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  2. Tap Private. Depending on the app or iOS version, this control may appear at the top or near the bottom or center of the tab screen.

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  3. Tap + to open a private tab.

To open a particular link privately, touch and hold the link, then choose Open in a Private Tab. To close an individual private tab, tap the X on its tab preview. Mozilla documents this workflow for Firefox on iPhone and iPad in its private browsing guide.

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Check whether private browsing is active

Look for a purple mask on the tab icon. Mozilla also describes a darker interface theme for private browsing. If you do not see the mask while a webpage is open, tap the tab icon first: the indicator appears in tab view. If the Private control or indicator still does not match these steps, check the tab screen and update Firefox; Mozilla’s tab-management guide notes that the interface can differ.

Return to regular tabs and manage private tabs

Switch back to regular browsing

Open the tab view and tap Tabs to return to your regular tabs.

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Choose whether private tabs close automatically

Firefox for iOS closes private tabs by default when you leave Private Browsing or quit the app. Mozilla says this became the default in Firefox version 127. To keep private tabs open, open the Firefox menu, tap Settings, scroll to Privacy, and turn off Close Private Tabs. The setting is described in Mozilla’s private-tab settings guide.

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What private browsing does—and does not—save or hide

Private browsing limits the browsing data Firefox saves locally from that private session, including history, cookies, and passwords. It does not mean nothing is saved: bookmarks you create and files you download remain on the device. A website can also recognize you through an account while you are signed in.

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Private browsing is not anonymity. Websites, your internet provider, and an employer or school monitoring a managed device or network may still be able to see activity. The network you use may also have visibility. Mozilla says Enhanced Tracking Protection is always on in private windows and provides additional protection, but it does not block all tracking or make private browsing a way to conceal activity from the network.

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Can Firefox on iPhone always open in private mode?

Mozilla’s iOS FAQ says Firefox does not currently support launching directly into private browsing by default. For the documented workflow, switch to Private from the tab view when you want to browse privately. Because app features can change, check Mozilla’s current Firefox for iOS guidance if you are revisiting this setting later.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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