Windows 7 - Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing Enable or Disable

**Brink**

How to Enable or Disable Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing

Information

InPrivate Browsing prevents Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 from storing data about a user's browsing session. This includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data. Toolbars and extensions are disabled by default.

This will show you how to enable or disable the ability to use the InPrivate Browsing feature in Internet Explorer for all users on the computer.

The InPrivate Browsing feature is enabled by default in Internet Explorer.

Note

When disabled, the InPrivate Browsing option in Internet Explorer will be grayed out and not be able to open and turn on Inprivate Browsing.

Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing Enable or Disable-example.jpg

Warning

This can only be done while logged in as a administrator.

EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing
NOTE: This is the default window you will see when you open a InPrivate Browsing window when it is enabled. Notice how you will have a InPrivate indicator to the left of the address bar to let you know that you have InPrivate Browsing turned on.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable IE9 InPrivate Browsing
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_InPrivate_Browsing.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable IE9 InPrivate Browsing
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_InPrivate_Browsing.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to fully apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. If you have Internet Explorer 8 Installed
A) In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Internet Explorer, and InPrivate. (See screenshot below)

B) Go to step 4.

3. If you have Internet Explorer 9 Installed
A) In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Internet Explorer, and Privacy. (see screenshot below)

4. In the right pane, right click on Turn off InPrivate Browsing and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

5. To Enable InPrivate Browsing
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 7)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Disable InPrivate Browsing
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 7)

7. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

9. If open, close and reopen Internet Explorer to fully apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**Hmiller** · 03-01-2011

I downloaded it to my desktop under the admin. It ran fine and worked on my desktop but didn't work on the other users on the computer. When I tried to do it directly on their desktops, this is the error message I recieved:

Cannot import C:\Users\NAME\Desktop]Disable_InPrivate_Browsing.reg:Error accessing the registry.

Can you help me?

**Brink** · 03-02-2011

Hello Miller,

It turns out that the "User Configuration" option didn't affect all users as it said it would, so I have updated the tutorial to use "Computer Configuration" instead. I have verified that it affects all users.

I have updated the REG files again. See if downloading and using it may work better for you now.

**Hmiller** · 03-02-2011

Yay! You're my hero! haha

Thank you so much! You're a genius!

**Brink** · 03-02-2011

LOL, you're most welcome Miller.

**mousetrap** · 10-02-2011

I'm having the same problem as Miller. I downloaded your file to get rid of Inprivate browsing and it worked on my administrator account but did not work on the other user. What can I do? On my old computer that had Win XP, I was able to do Option 2 or something similiar, but I can't do that on this Win 7 I don't think.

Thanks for any help.

**Brink** · 10-02-2011

Hello Mousetrap, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Please try the disable REG again. I have updated it to where it should work on all user accounts now.

**mousetrap** · 10-05-2011

Thanks so much Brink, that did it!

**Brink** · 10-05-2011

You're most welcome.

**VAF0605** · 10-06-2011

|Hello Brink,
i am having the same issue where i was able to disable the inprivate from the admin account but no the user account. i get the same message about a registry error...

what to do?

Windows 7 - Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing Enable or Disable

Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing Enable or Disable

Internet Explorer InPrivate Browsing Enable or Disable problems?