How to Disable Windows 7 Inprivate Browsing

Fingers May 17, 2010 at 06:07:57

I deactivated it during install and when initializing internet explorer. This is a feature of IE8 and you should be able to go to tools>Internet Properties, I believe there are parts in 2 or 3 places you will need to disable to accomplish this. You also can just use Mozilla Firefox (since it does not use this feature) and see if you like that for most of your browsing. You have to be a little bit crazy to keep you from going insane.

Specifically...In IE 8 go to Tools/Privacy then tick "do not collect data for use by inprivate filtering". Next go bad to the toolbar and select Safety/InPrivate Browsing. That should open another IE window which tells you to close the window to turn it off, so do that.

hi thanks for your reply tried that but it didnt work

Fingers May 18, 2010 at 05:19:25

Try firefox, after that you may rarely use IE so it may not matter. Normally, I would suggest uninstalling the offending program and reinstalling, but I believe that is not really an option with windows 7. Try going to MS site under support and searching there for 'turn off in private browsing' (or google). You have to be a little bit crazy to keep you from going insane.

XpUser May 18, 2010 at 05:32:32

If you want to permanently disable inprivate browsing so that no employees can hide from you what they were doing on the internet, go HERE for instructions on implementing it through GPEDIT. If you have determined kid(s) that is(are) driving you up the wall, I can understand why they love it. When in an InPrivate Browsing session, no cookies are created, no temporary Internet files, no history, no form data, and anything else that a browser would normally record for you to check on them. You can permanently disable InPrivate browsing through Windows 7 Parental Controls features. Start HERE then exert your authority as a caring parent(s) i_Xp/Vista/W7User

I set up parental controls - this stil does not stop them from using inprivate browsing!!!! Seems a common problem! agh!

XpUser4Real October 12, 2010 at 14:54:40

Firefox also has private browsing, I think it is a losing battle ;-) Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers

Hi XpUser, After doing what you suggest via the "HERE" link (gpedit, Turn off InPrivate Browsing Enabled), Internet Explorer 8 does not open anymore! At least on my Win XP Pro SP3. Can you propose something you've tried and that works? Thanks Blo

I gather that disabling Inprivate browsing in Windows 7 Home edition may require editing the registry. Can someone verify that the answer given in previous posts to create a .reg file with 4 lines in it, does work for Windows 7 Home edition? P.S. I can't believe that Micosoft didn't have the foresight to see that this could potentially be a dislike for parents !!!!! thanks for any help.

XpUser4Real January 7, 2011 at 00:12:25

unfortunately other browsers are offering in private browsing too so it is a losing battle. You kill one and 3 more pop up. Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers