diff --git a/Client/Application/Shortcuts/ActivityShortcutManager.swift b/Client/Application/Shortcuts/ActivityShortcutManager.swift
index 7a316ca69ab..170186b7036 100644
--- a/Client/Application/Shortcuts/ActivityShortcutManager.swift
+++ b/Client/Application/Shortcuts/ActivityShortcutManager.swift
@@ -114,20 +114,27 @@ class ActivityShortcutManager: NSObject {
     // MARK: Activity Action Methods
 
     public func performShortcutActivity(type: ActivityType, using bvc: BrowserViewController) {
+        // Adding a slight delay to overcome concurency issues with bvc setup
+        DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.25) {
+            self.handleActivityDetails(type: type, using: bvc)
+        }
+    }
+    
+    private func handleActivityDetails(type: ActivityType, using bvc: BrowserViewController) {
         switch type {
             case .newTab:
-                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: true, isPrivate: false)
+                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: false, isPrivate: false)
             case .newPrivateTab:
-                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: true, isPrivate: true)
+                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: false, isPrivate: true)
             case .clearBrowsingHistory:
                 bvc.clearHistoryAndOpenNewTab()
             case .enableBraveVPN:
-                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: true, isPrivate: false)
-
+                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: false, isPrivate: false)
+                
                 switch BraveVPN.vpnState {
                     case .notPurchased, .purchased, .expired:
                         guard let enableVPNController = BraveVPN.vpnState.enableVPNDestinationVC else { return }
-                    
+                        
                         bvc.openInsideSettingsNavigation(with: enableVPNController)
                     case .installed(let connected):
                         if !connected {
@@ -135,10 +142,16 @@ class ActivityShortcutManager: NSObject {
                         }
                 }
             case .openBraveNews:
-                bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: true, isPrivate: false)
-
-                guard let newTabPageController = bvc.tabManager.selectedTab?.newTabPageViewController else { return }
-                newTabPageController.scrollToBraveNews()
+                if Preferences.BraveNews.isEnabled.value {
+                    bvc.openBlankNewTab(attemptLocationFieldFocus: false, isPrivate: false)
+                    
+                    guard let newTabPageController = bvc.tabManager.selectedTab?.newTabPageViewController else { return }
+                    newTabPageController.scrollToBraveNews()
+                } else {
+                    let controller = BraveNewsSettingsViewController(dataSource: bvc.feedDataSource)
+                    let container = UINavigationController(rootViewController: controller)
+                    bvc.present(container, animated: true)
+                }
             case .openPlayList:
                 let playlistController = (UIApplication.shared.delegate as? AppDelegate)?.playlistRestorationController ?? PlaylistViewController()
                 playlistController.modalPresentationStyle = .fullScreen
diff --git a/Client/Frontend/Browser/Tab Tray/TabTrayController.swift b/Client/Frontend/Browser/Tab Tray/TabTrayController.swift
index 3a811389af7..a2512dd1e86 100644
--- a/Client/Frontend/Browser/Tab Tray/TabTrayController.swift	
+++ b/Client/Frontend/Browser/Tab Tray/TabTrayController.swift	
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ class TabTrayController: UIViewController {
         tabManager.addDelegate(self)
         
         Preferences.Privacy.privateBrowsingOnly.observe(from: self)
+        
+        setPrivateMode()
     }
 
     convenience init(tabManager: TabManager, profile: Profile, tabTrayDelegate: TabTrayDelegate) {
@@ -152,9 +154,7 @@ class TabTrayController: UIViewController {
             make.bottom.equalTo(self.toolbar.snp.top)
         }
 
-        if let tab = tabManager.selectedTab, tab.isPrivate {
-            privateMode = true
-        }
+        setPrivateMode()
 
         // XXX: Bug 1447726 - Temporarily disable 3DT in tabs tray
         // register for previewing delegate to enable peek and pop if force touch feature available
@@ -374,6 +374,12 @@ class TabTrayController: UIViewController {
             delegate.updateShortcutItems(UIApplication.shared)
         }
     }
+    
+    private func setPrivateMode() {
+        if let tab = tabManager.selectedTab, tab.isPrivate {
+            privateMode = true
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 extension TabTrayController: PreferencesObserver {