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Incognito/Private Modes on Browsers

Updated on Mar 29, 2023 01:24 PM by Schoolspeak, Support003
Sometimes it is helpful to be in incognito or private mode on a browser. What does that mean? It means that your browser is not saving your history of site visits, your personal information that you enter on a form or other data that may be tracked. 
 
Ok - let's try this in real English. When you visit a website to make a purchase or complete a form, often your browser will try to complete the fields like name, address, email with information that you may have used before and was saved. This is helpful when making an order or completing the usual kinds of form questions. 
 
Some browsers also save your SchoolSpeak ID and password. This is great when you log in and the information is automatically added so you don't have to add it yourself. But it can also impact you as you begin to complete an ADD MEMBER form or an ADD FAMILY form. When the browser sees the Login ID and Password fields on the SchoolSpeak form, it may try to help you by adding your ID and password automatically. So if you click ADD to save the new person and your ID and password have been added by the browser, you will get a message - user already exists. And you do! Your ID is already in SchoolSpeak! There are number of ways to work around this - this section detail using a private mode also known as incognito.
 
NOTE - Not all browsers do this auto-completion of the fields. Each browser behaves differently and may change how it works from version to version. To learn more about the browser on your computer, please search the internet or contact your IT support. 
 
Using the incognito or private mode, means that the browser will not add your Login Name and password for you. This mode may helpful when you are adding new users. So here is how to change your browser into this special mode:
 
Google Chrome* - In Chrome it is called Incognito
 
1. To open an incognito window - Click on the 3 dots to the right of the address bar (across from where you see www. or schoolspeak.com)
2. Choose Open New Incognito window
 
Apple Safari* - In Safari it is called Private mode
1. In Safari, click on  File and choose Open a Private Window
 
Microsoft Edge*- In Edge it is called InPrivate mode
1. In Edge, go to settings and choose more. Then New InPrivate window 
 
 
*The name of the browsers are protected and copyrighted by the company name provided.