When you are experiencing a browser issue, it is best, to begin with, Basic Troubleshooting. If basic troubleshooting does not resolve your issue, your issue might be browser-specific.
Below we’ll cover private browsing, also known as Incognito Mode.
Google Chrome
One of the first troubleshooting steps when investigating browser issues with Google Chrome is to utilize incognito mode. Incognito mode allows you to launch Chrome without extensions and apps, and is also useful if you want to be logged into multiple accounts for a website. If you cannot reproduce the error in Incognito mode, then it can be assumed that installed extensions or apps may be causing the issue.
To launch incognito mode, click the Chrome menu in the top right-hand corner of your browser and select New incognito window. Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to open incognito mode while in Chrome as well.
Windows: Ctrl+Shift+N
Mac: Command+Shift+N
A new window will open with the incognito icon in the upper left-hand corner.
Firefox
To access private browsing, click the Menu in the upper-right hand corner of your browser and select New Private Window. Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to open Private Browsing while Firefox is open.
Windows: Ctrl+Shift+P
Mac: Command+Shift+P
A new window will open with the private browsing icon in the upper-right hand corner.
If you are still experiencing issues using Firefox, check out Mozilla’s article to troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems.
Safari
To launch Private Browsing, select File and then New Private Window. Alternatively, you can press Command+Shift+N on your keyboard while in Safari.
A new window will open with a Private Browsing Enabled banner at the top.
Safari Reader View
If you are unable to view certain buttons or links in Safari, you may have Safari's Reader View. Reader View will change the formatting of the website to remove any clutter and better suit your reading needs including removing buttons. Check out the article Frequently Asked Questions: eBooks for steps on disabling Safari’s Reader View.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is a browser that was created to replace Internet Explorer on newer Windows operating systems. If you are having difficulties loading or accessing a page using Edge, one troubleshooting option is to try opening your page in InPrivate mode. See the appropriate menu below depending on which version of Microsoft Edge you’re using.
Microsoft Edge
To launch InPrivate mode in Microsoft Edge, click the Settings and more icon in the top right-hand corner of your browser and select New InPrivate window. Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to open InPrivate mode while in Microsoft Edge as well.
Windows: Ctrl+Shift+N
A new window will open with the InPrivate icon in the center of the page.
If you are still experiencing issues using Microsoft Edge, check out Microsoft’s article on what to do if Microsoft Edge isn't working.
Microsoft Edge Legacy
To launch InPrivate mode in Microsoft Edge Legacy, click the Settings and more icon in the top right-hand corner of your browser and select New InPrivate window.
A new window will open with the InPrivate icon in the center of the page.
If you are still experiencing difficulties in Microsoft Edge Legacy, you can also try opening the page in Internet Explorer. To do this, click on the three dots that are located in the upper right corner of your Edge screen. Click the option that says Open with Internet Explorer.
If you do not see the Open with Internet Explorer option, click on More Tools then select Open with Internet Explorer.
If you are still experiencing issues using Microsoft Edge Legacy, check out Microsoft’s article on what to do if Microsoft Edge isn't working.