If you sign in temporarily on a computer, phone, or tablet that doesn't belong to you, use a private browsing window.
For example:
- A public computer that's available to lots of people, like at a library or internet cafe
- A device that you've borrowed from a friend or family member
If you share a device or browser with people you trust, you can set it up for multiple people. Learn how to share Chrome with others.
Browse in private
If you sign in on a device that's used by other people, follow the steps below so others won't be able to:
- Use your Google Account
- Find out what searches you did or sites you visited
- Check that your account was signed in
- On an iPhone or iPad, open a browser app, like Safari.
- Open a private window. To learn how, select an app:
- Go to a Google service, like google.com, and sign in to your account.
- When you're done using the web, close all private windows or sign out. To sign out:
- Go to a Google service, like google.com.
- On the top right, tap your profile image, initial, or email address.
- Tap Sign out.
When you sign in on a private window in Chrome:
- Searches you do, sites you visit, and other activity aren't saved to the browser's history.
- Your activity controls apply, so the same activity as usual is saved to your Google Account.
- Cookies are deleted after you close all private windows.
Tip: Browsing in private might work differently on other browsers. Read the details when you follow the instructions to browse in private.
If you can't browse in private
- Open a browser, like Chrome.
- Follow these steps before you sign in and after you sign out:
- Clear the browser's cache and cookies: Learn how to clear cache and cookies.
- Delete browsing history: Learn how to delete browsing history in Chrome.