How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate Browsing in Windows 10


Microsoft Edge is a new web browser that is available across the Windows 10 device family. It is designed for Windows 10 to be faster, safer, and compatible with the modern Web.

Microsoft Edge has an InPrivate browsing feature. When you use InPrivate tabs, your browsing data (like cookies, history, or temporary files) isn't stored on your PC after you're done. Microsoft Edge deletes temporary data from your PC after all of your InPrivate tabs are closed.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to enable or disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing.


This tutorial is only for the legacy Microsoft Edge.

To enable or disable InPrivate Mode in the new Chromium based Microsoft Edge, see: Enable, Disable, or Force InPrivate Mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium



Contents

  • Option One: To Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing in Group Policy
  • Option Two: To Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing using a REG file



EXAMPLE: Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing disabled
Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate Browsing in Windows 10-microsoft_edge_inprivate_browsing_disabled.png




OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing in Group Policy


Note   Note
Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. All other editions can use Option TWO below instead.


1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge

Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate Browsing in Windows 10-microsoft_edge_inprivate_browsing_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of Microsoft Edge in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Turn off InPrivate browsing policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 5. To Enable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.


 6. To Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing

A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate Browsing in Windows 10-microsoft_edge_inprivate_browsing_gpedit-2.jpg

7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

8. If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen the browser to apply.






OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing using a REG file


Note   Note
The .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main

AllowInPrivate DWORD

0 = disable
delete or 1 = enable


1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing

NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_Microsoft_Edge_InPrivate_Browsing.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Microsoft Edge InPrivate browsing

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_Microsoft_Edge_InPrivate_Browsing.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen the browser to apply.

8. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.



That's it,
Shawn


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