diff --git a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 8e12d79e88..431e0fd674 100644
--- a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -131,62 +131,6 @@
                 android:resource="@mipmap/ic_launcher" />
         </activity>
 
-        <!-- Launch in private mode alias -->
-        <activity-alias
-            android:name="org.mozilla.fenix.alias.IntentReceiverActivity"
-            android:label="@string/app_name_private_2"
-            android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_private"
-            android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_private_round"
-            android:targetActivity=".IntentReceiverActivity">
-            <intent-filter>
-                <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
-
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
-
-                <data android:scheme="http" />
-                <data android:scheme="https" />
-            </intent-filter>
-
-            <intent-filter>
-                <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
-
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
-
-                <data android:scheme="http" />
-                <data android:scheme="https" />
-                <data android:mimeType="text/html" />
-                <data android:mimeType="text/plain" />
-                <data android:mimeType="application/xhtml+xml" />
-            </intent-filter>
-
-            <intent-filter>
-                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
-                <data android:mimeType="text/plain" />
-            </intent-filter>
-
-            <intent-filter>
-                <action android:name="android.intent.action.ASSIST" />
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
-            </intent-filter>
-
-            <intent-filter>
-                <action android:name="android.nfc.action.NDEF_DISCOVERED"/>
-                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
-                <data android:scheme="http" />
-                <data android:scheme="https" />
-            </intent-filter>
-
-            <meta-data
-                android:name="com.android.systemui.action_assist_icon"
-                android:resource="@mipmap/ic_launcher_private" />
-            <meta-data
-                android:name="org.mozilla.fenix.LAUNCH_PRIVATE_LINK"
-                android:value="true" />
-        </activity-alias>
-
         <activity android:name=".widget.VoiceSearchActivity" />
 
         <activity
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/IntentReceiverActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/IntentReceiverActivity.kt
index 27b2d4b753..6becaa7b6a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/IntentReceiverActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/IntentReceiverActivity.kt
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package org.mozilla.fenix
 
 import android.app.Activity
 import android.content.Intent
-import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.os.Bundle
 import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting
 import kotlinx.coroutines.MainScope
@@ -38,22 +37,7 @@ class IntentReceiverActivity : Activity() {
     }
 
     suspend fun processIntent(intent: Intent) {
-        val didLaunchPrivateLink = packageManager
-            ?.getActivityInfo(componentName, PackageManager.GET_META_DATA)
-            ?.metaData
-            ?.getBoolean(LAUNCH_PRIVATE_LINK) ?: false
-
-        /* If LAUNCH_PRIVATE_LINK is set AND we're the default browser they must have pressed "always."
-        This is because LAUNCH_PRIVATE_LINK is only accessible through the "launch browser intent" menu
-        Which only appears if the user doesn't have a default set. */
-        if (didLaunchPrivateLink && Browsers.all(this).isDefaultBrowser) {
-            this.settings().openLinksInAPrivateTab = true
-            components.analytics.metrics.track(Event.PreferenceToggled(
-                preferenceKey = getString(R.string.pref_key_open_links_in_a_private_tab),
-                enabled = true,
-                context = applicationContext
-            ))
-        } else if (!Browsers.all(this).isDefaultBrowser) {
+        if (!Browsers.all(this).isDefaultBrowser) {
             /* If the user has unset us as the default browser, unset openLinksInAPrivateTab */
             this.settings().openLinksInAPrivateTab = false
             components.analytics.metrics.track(Event.PreferenceToggled(
@@ -63,7 +47,7 @@ class IntentReceiverActivity : Activity() {
             ))
         }
 
-        val tabIntentProcessor = if (settings().openLinksInAPrivateTab || didLaunchPrivateLink) {
+        val tabIntentProcessor = if (settings().openLinksInAPrivateTab) {
             components.analytics.metrics.track(Event.OpenedLink(Event.OpenedLink.Mode.PRIVATE))
             components.intentProcessors.privateIntentProcessor
         } else {
@@ -108,9 +92,4 @@ class IntentReceiverActivity : Activity() {
 
         intent.putExtra(HomeActivity.OPEN_TO_BROWSER, openToBrowser)
     }
-
-    companion object {
-        // This constant must match the metadata from the private activity-alias
-        const val LAUNCH_PRIVATE_LINK = "org.mozilla.fenix.LAUNCH_PRIVATE_LINK"
-    }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/home/HomeFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/home/HomeFragment.kt
index 3bb93c1a60..6b84b81d29 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/home/HomeFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/mozilla/fenix/home/HomeFragment.kt
@@ -307,8 +307,9 @@ class HomeFragment : Fragment() {
         super.onDestroyView()
     }
 
-    override fun onResume() {
-        super.onResume()
+    override fun onStart() {
+        super.onStart()
+        subscribeToTabCollections()
 
         getAutoDisposeObservable<SessionControlAction>()
             .subscribe {
@@ -351,11 +352,6 @@ class HomeFragment : Fragment() {
             !PrivateShortcutCreateManager.doesPrivateBrowsingPinnedShortcutExist(context)) {
             recommendPrivateBrowsingShortcut()
         }
-    }
-
-    override fun onStart() {
-        super.onStart()
-        subscribeToTabCollections()
 
         // We only want this observer live just before we navigate away to the collection creation screen
         requireComponents.core.tabCollectionStorage.unregister(collectionStorageObserver)
@@ -598,9 +594,9 @@ class HomeFragment : Fragment() {
         }
     }
 
-    override fun onPause() {
+    override fun onStop() {
         invokePendingDeleteJobs()
-        super.onPause()
+        super.onStop()
         val homeViewModel: HomeScreenViewModel by activityViewModels {
             ViewModelProvider.NewInstanceFactory() // this is a workaround for #4652
         }