In an unexpected twist, iOS 26 Developer Beta 1 has introduced a change that allows Private Browsing mode in Safari, even when Screen Time restrictions are active.

A user on Reddit, u/GooseChris, noticed this subtle but important change. Previously, when Safari had a time limit under Screen Time, users couldn’t switch to Private Browsing. Now in iOS 26 DB1, that barrier is gone—Private mode stays accessible, time limit or not. While some users, like u/BourkyPie, wonder if it’s a bug, others think it's intentional for flexibility. Either way, it’s a small tweak that could have big implications for parental control and personal privacy settings.

This change hasn’t been officially highlighted by Apple yet, but it’s already causing chatter in the beta community. One to keep an eye on.

Via: u/GooseChris (Reddit)

Let us know if the feature is available for you, too. Or not.