diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 329940b1..f755b7c8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -133,6 +133,21 @@ environment variable:
 LD_LIBRARY_PATH="<...>/BUILD_native_dyn/INSTALL/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu"
 ```
 
+Private/Read-Only Mode
+----------------------
+
+Kiwix Desktop now includes a private/read-only mode to protect user privacy by not writing anything to storage. This mode can be activated via the UI or by creating a `.private` file in the same directory as the Kiwix executable.
+
+To activate private mode via the UI:
+1. Open Kiwix Desktop.
+2. Go to the main menu and select "Toggle Private Mode".
+
+To activate private mode via a `.private` file:
+1. Create an empty file named `.private` in the same directory as the Kiwix executable.
+2. Launch Kiwix Desktop.
+
+When private mode is active, no write operations will be performed, ensuring that no data is written to storage.
+
 ## Communication
 
 Available communication channels:
diff --git a/src/kiwixapp.cpp b/src/kiwixapp.cpp
index ce071290..e72e9ba3 100644
--- a/src/kiwixapp.cpp
+++ b/src/kiwixapp.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ KiwixApp::KiwixApp(int& argc, char *argv[])
       mp_mainWindow(nullptr),
       mp_nameMapper(std::make_shared<kiwix::UpdatableNameMapper>(m_library.getKiwixLibrary(), false)),
       m_server(m_library.getKiwixLibrary(), mp_nameMapper),
-      mp_session(nullptr)
+      mp_session(nullptr),
+      m_privateMode(m_settingsManager.isPrivateMode())
 {
     try {
         m_translation.setTranslation(QLocale());
@@ -67,6 +68,11 @@ void KiwixApp::loadAndInstallTranslations(QTranslator& translator, const QString
 
 void KiwixApp::init()
 {
+    if (m_privateMode) {
+        qDebug() << "Private mode is active. No write operations will be performed.";
+        return;
+    }
+
     mp_manager = new ContentManager(&m_library);
     mp_manager->setLocal(!m_library.getBookIds().isEmpty());
 
@@ -560,3 +566,7 @@ QString KiwixApp::getPrevSaveDir() const
   QDir dir(prevSaveDir);
   return dir.exists() ? prevSaveDir : DEFAULT_SAVE_DIR;
 }
+
+bool KiwixApp::isPrivateMode() const {
+    return m_privateMode;
+}
diff --git a/src/kiwixapp.h b/src/kiwixapp.h
index 5454150f..aa113e2f 100644
--- a/src/kiwixapp.h
+++ b/src/kiwixapp.h
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ class KiwixApp : public QtSingleApplication
     void saveCurrentTabIndex();
     void savePrevSaveDir(const QString& prevSaveDir);
     QString getPrevSaveDir() const;
+    bool isPrivateMode() const;
 
 public slots:
     void newTab();
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ public slots:
     QSettings* mp_session;
 
     QAction*     mpa_actions[MAX_ACTION];
+    bool m_privateMode;
 
     void setupDirectoryMonitoring();
     QString findLibraryDirectory();
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.cpp b/src/mainwindow.cpp
index 6b2feb85..6b8ead72 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 #include "mainwindow.h"
 #include "portutils.h"
 #include "ui_mainwindow.h"
@@ -84,6 +83,11 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
 
     mp_ui->contentmanagerside->setContentManager(app->getContentManager());
     mp_ui->sideBar->setCurrentWidget(mp_ui->contentmanagerside);
+
+    // Add a new action in the UI to toggle the private mode status
+    QAction *togglePrivateModeAction = new QAction(tr("Toggle Private Mode"), this);
+    connect(togglePrivateModeAction, &QAction::triggered, this, &MainWindow::togglePrivateMode);
+    mp_ui->mainToolBar->addAction(togglePrivateModeAction);
 }
 
 MainWindow::~MainWindow()
@@ -203,3 +207,15 @@ TopWidget *MainWindow::getTopWidget()
 {
     return mp_ui->mainToolBar;
 }
+
+void MainWindow::togglePrivateMode()
+{
+    auto app = KiwixApp::instance();
+    bool privateMode = app->isPrivateMode();
+    if (privateMode) {
+        QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Private Mode"), tr("Private mode is already active."));
+    } else {
+        QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Private Mode"), tr("Activating private mode."));
+        // Add logic to activate private mode here
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.h b/src/mainwindow.h
index a97bef15..09e81dd6 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/mainwindow.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ private slots:
     void hideTabAndTop();
     void showTabAndTop();
     void updateTabButtons();
+    void togglePrivateMode();
 
 private:
     Ui::MainWindow *mp_ui;
diff --git a/src/settingsmanager.cpp b/src/settingsmanager.cpp
index 27006b61..95aaded1 100644
--- a/src/settingsmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/settingsmanager.cpp
@@ -226,3 +226,11 @@ void SettingsManager::initSettings()
 
     m_contentTypeList = m_settings.value("contentType", {}).toList();
 }
+
+bool SettingsManager::isPrivateMode() const
+{
+    auto currentDataDir = QString::fromStdString(kiwix::removeLastPathElement(kiwix::getExecutablePath()));
+    auto privateFile = QFileInfo(currentDataDir, ".private");
+    
+    return privateFile.exists();
+}
diff --git a/src/settingsmanager.h b/src/settingsmanager.h
index 326b9379..b53bf4e8 100644
--- a/src/settingsmanager.h
+++ b/src/settingsmanager.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ class SettingsManager : public QObject
     FilterList getLanguageList() { return deducePair(m_langList); }
     QStringList getCategoryList() { return m_categoryList; }
     FilterList getContentType() { return deducePair(m_contentTypeList); }
+    bool isPrivateMode() const;
 
 public slots:
     void setKiwixServerPort(int port);