What is Private Browsing?
Private browsing is a feature in web browsers that allows users to browse the internet without the browser saving any information about their activity. When private browsing mode is enabled, the browser will not store browsing history, cookies, site data, searches, or temporary internet files (source).
The main purpose of private browsing is to allow increased privacy and prevent others who use the same device from seeing your browsing history. Common uses include avoiding cookies that track your online activity, browsing privately on a shared or public computer, and hiding your browser history from other users of your device (source).
Private browsing is also sometimes referred to as incognito mode or anonymous browsing. Though it doesn’t make you completely anonymous online, it does provide more privacy by ensuring your browser doesn’t locally save potentially sensitive information from your browsing session.
Does TikTok Have a Private Browsing Mode?
Unlike web browsers like Chrome or Safari, TikTok does not have a built-in private browsing mode. There is no direct way within the TikTok app to browse anonymously or incognito without the app tracking your activity.
However, there are some workarounds you can use if you want to browse TikTok more privately:
- Use the “Browse as guest” option to browse without logging into an account. This prevents tying viewing activity to your account, but still allows some tracking (source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/log-in-troubleshoot/log-in/browse-as-guest).
- Use a private browser like Firefox Focus or DuckDuckGo to open TikTok. This prevents TikTok from accessing cookies/data from your default browser.
- Clear your cookies and data before and after using TikTok to prevent tracking.
- Use a VPN while browsing TikTok to mask your IP address and location.
While not as seamless as a true private browsing mode, these options allow you to be more anonymous and prevent TikTok from saving your viewing history and impacting your recommendations.
Using a Private Browser on TikTok
One way to browse TikTok anonymously is to use your browser’s private or incognito mode. On most major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, you can open a new private browsing window. When using private mode, the browser won’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms. This allows you to access TikTok without the site collecting data about you.[1]
To open a private window in Chrome, click the three dots in the top right corner and select “New incognito window.” Then go to TikTok.com to browse anonymously. You can take similar steps in Firefox, Safari, Edge, and other major browsers to activate private browsing mode.
The downside to this method is that as soon as you close the private browsing window, your session and history will be erased. You’ll also have to sign back in if you want to like videos or comment. Private browsing only prevents local data collection and won’t hide your IP address or activity from TikTok.[2]
Clearing Cookies and Data
One way to browse more privately on TikTok is to periodically clear your cookies and data. This will remove your browsing history and ensure activities are not being tracked across sessions.
To clear your cookies and data in the TikTok app, go to your profile and tap the three-dot menu in the top right. Choose “Settings and privacy” then “Privacy”. Here you can tap “Clear cache” to remove locally stored data. Additionally, enable “Clear watch history” to delete your viewing history and “Clear search history” to wipe your search activities.
Clearing this TikTok data regularly will help prevent tracking across multiple sessions, though some analytics may still occur during each individual session. For more comprehensive privacy, also consider using private browsing modes, VPNs, or anonymous browsers as outlined below.
Source: TikTok Privacy Settings
Using a VPN
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) work by routing your internet connection through an encrypted tunnel to a server in a different location. This masks your real IP address and makes it appear like you are browsing from the location of the VPN server.
When using a VPN with TikTok, your browsing data is hidden from your internet service provider and TikTok. TikTok will see the location of the VPN server rather than your true location. This allows you to access region-restricted content on TikTok.
Some VPNs known to work well with TikTok include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and ProtonVPN. These VPNs have fast servers optimized for streaming video content.
It’s important to choose a reputable VPN that does not log user activity. Free VPNs often have privacy issues or bandwidth restrictions that can impact streaming quality on TikTok.
Browsing Anonymously
One way to browse TikTok privately is by creating an anonymous or secondary account not linked to your main profile. This allows you to explore content and interact without anything being tied back to your real identity.
To create an anonymous TikTok account, use a different email address and don’t connect your phone number. Avoid using your real name or photo. You can switch between your main account and anonymous account on the same device easily.
The drawback of this method is that you still need to create a TikTok account, even if the details are fake. TikTok will still collect some data and analytics associated with that account. There is also a chance your anonymous account could get banned if TikTok detects suspicious activity.
Overall, an anonymous secondary account allows more private browsing compared to being logged into your main profile. However, it doesn’t completely anonymize your browsing since TikTok still tracks user data. For full anonymous browsing, you may want to consider using a private browser or VPN instead.
Disabling Personalized Recommendations
One way to browse more privately on TikTok is to disable personalized recommendations based on your watch history and likes. TikTok uses this information to suggest accounts, sounds, hashtags, and videos it thinks you will engage with.
You can turn off personalized suggestions in your settings:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top right and select “Settings and privacy.”
- Under “Recommendations” tap on “Personalized recommendations.”
- Toggle off “Recommend accounts for you” to stop getting suggested accounts based on your history.
- Toggle off “Recommend content for you” to disable suggested videos and sounds tailored to your tastes.
Disabling these settings means TikTok will show more general content instead of custom picks. However, it does not make your browsing completely private or anonymous. Precautions like using a private browser or VPN are still recommended if you want to browse TikTok more privately.
Source: TikTok Help Center
Being Cautious of Signing In
One of the best ways to browse TikTok more privately is to avoid signing in to an account altogether. When you’re signed out, TikTok collects less data about your interests, watch history, and online behavior. According to TikTok’s privacy policy, browsing while signed out limits the amount of your data they store.
Specifically, TikTok states “If you’re not logged in, we don’t link information collected through cookies and similar technologies with your identity”[1]. So browsing anonymously reduces the data associated with your profile and limits TikTok’s ability to personalize content based on your viewing history.
To browse TikTok while signed out, simply don’t enter your username and password. You can access TikTok’s homepage and search for videos without an account. This prevents TikTok from connecting your browsing activity to a specific profile.
Of course, TikTok will still collect some usage data like your IP address and device info even when signed out. But not signing in does limit the amount of personalized data associated with your identity. If maintaining privacy is a priority, avoiding logging in can help reduce your digital footprint on TikTok.
Using TikTok Lite App
One option for lighter browsing on TikTok is to use the TikTok Lite app. TikTok Lite is a stripped down version of the main TikTok app designed for areas with limited internet connectivity. A key benefit of TikTok Lite is that it doesn’t collect as much user data as the full TikTok app.
TikTok Lite is only available on Android devices. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store. Once downloaded, TikTok Lite provides the core TikTok experience without all the extra features. You can browse videos, comment, like, and more while generating less data tied to your device.
Using TikTok Lite provides a lighter ad-free browsing experience. You can enjoy TikTok videos without as much tracking. However, you still need an account to interact, and TikTok will collect some usage data. For anonymous untracked browsing, a private browser or VPN is better, but TikTok Lite is an option for a bit more privacy.
Check out this overview for more on browsing TikTok as a guest.
Other Precautions
In addition to private browsing, here are some other tips to browse TikTok more anonymously:
- Avoid logging into your account on public WiFi networks, as this can expose your activity to others on the network. Stick to private browsing while on public WiFi. [1]
- Keep in mind that even in private browsing mode, TikTok may still utilize some personalization based on general usage patterns. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve. [2]
- Restricted mode has some limitations in blocking all sensitive content. Objectionable material may still get through. Use caution when browsing. [3]
While private browsing provides some anonymity, be aware it is not a foolproof method. Taking additional precautions can help keep your browsing habits more private.
