# Hide Private Mode

> Prevents detection of private browsing mode.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/hide-private-mode](https://chrome-stats.com/d/hide-private-mode)

## Overview

- **ID:** `hide-private-mode`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Matt Hensman
- **Category:** other
- **Daily users:** 854
- **Weekly downloads:** 7
- **Rating:** 4.52 / 5 (23 ratings)
- **Version:** 0.0.6
- **Last updated:** 2020-04-07
- **First published:** 2019-07-18
- **Size:** 89 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-09
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/hide-private-mode/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/hensm/hide\_private\_mode](https://github.com/hensm/hide_private_mode)

## Description

**Hide Private Mode** is a Chrome extension designed to bypass detection of private browsing mode by news websites like The New York Times and LATimes. These sites often detect private mode using the presence of the IndexedDB API and block content access accordingly. This extension fakes the IndexedDB implementation, effectively preventing sites from detecting your private mode.

**Important:** To ensure proper functionality, you must allow this extension to run in private windows; otherwise, it will not work. With Hide Private Mode, enjoy seamless access to your favorite news sources without being stopped by private browsing restrictions.

## Rankings

- #3,588 — Overall
- #50 — model
- #63 — prevent
- #86 — privacy
- #127 — detect
- #161 — browsing

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `<all_urls>`

### Content script matches

- `<all_urls>`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Moderate risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

The Hide Private Mode add-on successfully conceals private browsing mode from many websites, providing users with a useful workaround for private mode detection. It is praised for its transparency and ease of use. However, multiple users report compatibility problems emerging after Firefox updates, causing breakage on sites like LinkedIn and Amazon. While generally effective, it is not flawless and requires enabling specifically for private windows. Despite these issues, it receives appreciation for addressing a long-standing privacy concern that Firefox itself has yet to solve natively.

### Pros

- Effectively hides private mode detection on many websites.
- Easy to use and understand, with transparent and trustworthy code.
- Helps users bypass annoying private browsing restrictions on certain sites.
- Positive user experiences across various popular websites.
- Fills a gap not yet addressed natively by Firefox.

### Cons

- The add-on has not been updated recently, leading to compatibility issues.
- Breaks functionality on some websites, notably LinkedIn and Amazon login.
- Does not work perfectly on all sites; some still detect private mode.
- Users must enable it explicitly for private browsing windows to have effect.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/hide-private-mode)