By changing the security settings, you can customize how Internet Explorer helps protect your PC from potentially harmful or malicious web content. Internet Explorer automatically assigns all websites to a security zone: Internet, Local intranet, Trusted sites, or Restricted sites.

When you use InPrivate tabs or windows, your browsing data (like your history, temporary internet files, and cookies) isn't saved on your PC once you're done. In Microsoft Edge, select the Settings and More icon, and then New InPrivate window.

Change Internet Explorer settings. There are many changes you can make to customize your browsing experience in Internet Explorer. To view all settings and options, open Internet Explorer on the desktop, select Tools > Internet options.

InPrivate browsing mode allows you to browse the web without storing browsing history, cookies, and other data. Use this mode when you want to keep your browsing activities private. In Edge, go to Settings and more at the top of your browser.

Delete your browsing history. Regularly deleting your browsing history helps protect your privacy, especially if you're using a shared or public PC. In Internet Explorer, select the Tools button, point to Safety, and then select Delete browsing history.

Learn how to use InPrivate browsing in Microsoft Edge if you don't want your browsing data saved on your PC.

If you're using Microsoft Edge, turn on InPrivate Browsing (or use similar functionality in whichever browser you're using, such as Incognito mode in Google Chrome or Private Browsing in Mozilla Firefox).

You use Internet Explorer 10 on a computer that is running Windows 8. You browse to a webpage on a tab that is running in InPrivate Browsing mode. You press Ctrl+Shift+T to reopen closed tabs. In this scenario, the InPrivate tab is recovered.

Change privacy settings in Windows. Choose how much information you want to share with Microsoft by changing your privacy settings. To do this, select Start , then open Settings , and select Privacy & security . You'll see a list of general privacy options.

Support for Internet Explorer ended on June 15, 2022. Internet Explorer 11 has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. If any site you visit needs Internet Explorer 11, you can reload it with Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge.