Private browsing keeps your history, cookies, and search records out of sight — but anyone holding your unlocked iPhone can still open your private tabs and see everything in them. Since iOS 17, Safari can lock private tabs behind Face ID or Touch ID, and Chrome offers the same protection for Incognito tabs. Here is how to turn it on in both browsers.
Safari: lock private tabs with Face ID (iOS 17 and later)
Apple added locked private browsing in iOS 17 — older guides only cover Chrome, so make sure you are using the current Safari method below.
- Open Settings → Safari on your iPhone.
- Scroll to Privacy & Security.
- Turn on “Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing” (on Touch ID models it is labeled for Touch ID). Authenticate once to confirm.
- Test it: open Safari, switch to Private Browsing, then leave the app or switch to a different tab group. Your private tabs now appear locked.
- Unlock with a glance: tap a locked tab and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
Chrome: lock Incognito tabs with Face ID
- Install or open Chrome on your iPhone.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner.
- Open Settings → Privacy and Security.
- Turn on “Lock incognito tabs when you close Chrome”.
- Confirm with Face ID or Touch ID when prompted. Your Incognito tabs now lock whenever you leave Chrome.
What locked tabs do — and don’t — protect
Locked tabs stay hidden when you hand your phone to someone or switch apps; they unlock only with your biometrics or passcode. They don’t hide lock-screen notifications from those sites, though, and they don’t make you anonymous online. For a broader privacy tune-up, see how to change the Safari design on iPhone and how to stop Safari from suggesting passwords for websites. Apple documents the feature as Locked Private Browsing on Apple Support; MacRumors and Beebom have covered its rollout since iOS 17.
If it still doesn’t work
No “Require Face ID” option: you need iOS 17 or later — update in Settings → General → Software Update. Tabs don’t lock: the lock engages when you leave Safari or switch tab groups; tabs won’t lock while you are actively viewing them. Face ID fails repeatedly: use the passcode fallback, then re-enroll Face ID in Settings → Face ID & Passcode.
Frequently asked questions
Do locked private tabs sync to my other Apple devices?
Private tabs don’t sync via iCloud the way regular tab groups can, so the lock is local to each device — enable it separately on your iPad if you want it there too.
Can I lock regular (non-private) Safari tabs?
No — the lock applies only to private browsing tabs in Safari and Incognito tabs in Chrome. For regular tabs, rely on your device passcode and Auto-Lock.
Conclusion
Locking private tabs takes ten seconds and closes the biggest hole in private browsing: prying eyes on an unlocked phone. Turn it on in Safari — and in Chrome if you use it — and browse privately for real.
