When you launch Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge, they typically start in regular browsing mode. If you’d prefer to open a window in private mode with a single click, you’ll need to adjust the shortcut for each browser accordingly.
Start by duplicating the browser shortcut. Right-click on the copy and choose “Properties” from the drop-down menu. In the resulting window, you’ll want to append a specific command to the “Target” field, depending on your chosen browser:
- For Chrome: -incognito
- For Edge: -inprivate
- For Firefox: -private-window
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Be sure to add the command right after the existing target path, separated by a space. Click “OK” to save your changes, and then try out the shortcut.
Note: Firefox allows only a single instance to run at one time and will show an error if you attempt to open it again when one is already active.
Alternatively:
If your browser is pinned to your taskbar, you can right-click the icon and choose “New private window” from the menu to start an incognito session.