Are files I download in Secret mode also hidden?

No. Downloads made while Secret mode is active are saved to the same downloads folder as normal browsing and remain there after you close the secret tabs. You need to delete them manually if you want no trace.

Does Secret mode hide my browsing from my mobile carrier or Wi-Fi network?

No. Secret mode only stops the Internet app from saving local history, cookies, and form data on the device. Your network provider or Wi-Fi operator can still see which sites you connect to.

How do I switch back to normal tabs?

Open Tabs in the Internet app and select a regular tab, or tap the Secret mode icon again to turn it off. Closing all secret tabs also clears any data collected during that session.

Samsung

Samsung: Turn On Secret Mode in the Internet App

If browsing history, cookies, and saved form data keep showing up after you close a tab, the Internet app is still saving everything by default. Secret mode stops Samsung's browser from storing history, cookies, site data, or site permissions for the whole browsing session, not just one tab. On a shared device or public Wi-Fi, skipping this setting leaves a full trail behind for the next person who opens the browser.

Updated: 04.08.20263 min4 steps

Version

Step by step

1 / 4

Tap on Internet

1 / 4

Scroll or use the buttons for the next step

Live simulator

Android 11 · One UI 3

Tap on Internet

1 / 4

Scroll or use the buttons for the next step

Feedback

Was the guide correct?

Help others: confirm the path or report a problem.

Confirmations

Forum verified this path

Samsung

Turn On Secret Mode in the Internet App auf Samsung

The Internet app on Samsung phones saves browsing history, cookies, form data, and site permissions for every open tab by default. This makes autofill and repeat logins faster, but it also means anyone with access to the phone can open the browser history and see exactly what was visited. Secret mode changes this behavior for the entire browser session, not just one tab.

Turning on Secret mode

Open the browser and follow this path: Internet ➔ Tabs ➔ Turn on Secret mode ➔ Start. Once active, new tabs opened in Secret mode do not save history, cookies, cache, or form entries after you close them.

Secret mode is useful for one-off searches on a shared or borrowed device, checking sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi, or preventing autofill suggestions from picking up new entries. It does not hide activity from your mobile network or Wi-Fi provider, so it is not a substitute for a VPN if network-level privacy is the actual concern.

Bookmarks and files you download while in Secret mode are not automatically deleted when you close the tabs. Downloaded files stay in your normal downloads folder unless you remove them manually.

Frequently asked questions

On some Samsung phones, Secret mode can be locked with a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint through the browser's privacy settings. If you have not set one, anyone with the phone can open Tabs and switch into Secret mode without extra verification.

Compatible devices

Tap your device — opens its hub with matching guides.

Android 11 · One UI 3

No compatible devices are listed for this version.

Other

Samsung: Turn On Secret Mode in the Internet App

Step by step

Was the guide correct?

Turn On Secret Mode in the Internet App auf Samsung

Turning on Secret mode

Frequently asked questions

Compatible devices

More guides for Samsung

Use the Stopwatch in the Clock App

Auto Click After Pointer Stop: Turn On/Off

Search for a Word in a Message Conversation

Turn Nearby Device Scanning On or Off