Using Google Chrome incognito mode: On or off?

What is incognito mode in Google Chrome?

Incognito mode in Chrome is a privacy feature that allows you to browse the internet without saving your browsing history, internet cookies, site data, or sensitive data entered in forms on your device.

When you go incognito, Chrome does not track the web pages you visit, the files you download, or your search history. It stores third-party cookies only during the session. Once you close the incognito tabs, Chrome erases all this data. However, Chrome will save any bookmarks you create, and the files you download during the private browsing will remain on your device.

Incognito mode is particularly useful for private browsing, such as when planning a surprise. However, be aware that private browsing mode does not hide your online activity from the wider internet. Incognito mode only prevents your device from saving your browsing data.

How to turn on incognito mode in Chrome

Switching on Google Chrome incognito mode requires no special knowledge. Continue reading to learn how to enable incognito mode in Chrome on different operating systems.

How to turn on Chrome incognito mode on macOS

1. Open Chrome on your macOS device.
2. Click the three dots “⋮” at the top right, then select “New incognito window.” Alternatively, the easiest way to open a new private window on macOS is to use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ + Shift + N.
3. You should now see a new private window displaying the message “You’ve gone incognito.”

How to turn on Chrome incognito mode on Windows

1. Open Chrome on your Windows device.
2. Click the three dots “⋮” at the top right, then select “New incognito window.” Alternatively, use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N.
3. All set — that’s how you open Chrome in incognito mode on a Windows device. You should now see a new private window that displays the message “You’ve gone incognito.”

How to turn on Chrome private browsing mode on Linux

1. Open Chrome on your Linux device and click the three-dot icon “⋮” at the top right.
2. Select “New incognito window.” Alternatively, use the Chrome incognito mode shortcut for Linux Ctrl + Shift + N.
3. You’re all set! You should now see a new private window displaying the message “You’ve gone incognito.”

How to turn on Chrome private browsing mode on iOS

1. Open Chrome on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Locate the button with three dots “⋯” to the right of the address bar and tap it.
3. From the pop-up menu, select “New incognito tab.”
4. Once the new window opens, the incognito icon will be visible in the top left corner. You have now gone incognito. Alternatively, long-tap the Chrome icon on your home screen, then tap “Incognito search.”

Tip #1. How to switch between incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs.

1. Tap the square icon “▢” located at the bottom of the screen, next to the three-dot icon “⋯”
2. Swipe right or left to switch between incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs.

Tip #2. How to open links in private mode.

When you open a link from another app or a text message, you can choose to open it in an incognito tab in Chrome. To change this setting:

1. Open Chrome on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the three-dot icon “⋯,” swipe the top menu to the right until you see “Settings ⚙️,” and then tap it.
3. In the new window that opens, tap the “Privacy and security” option.
4. Turn on the option “Ask to open links from other apps in incognito” by toggling it. You can lock incognito tabs here to prevent others from accessing them when you switch between apps. To keep incognito tabs open and private even after closing Chrome, simply turn on the option “Lock incognito tabs when you close Chrome.”Now, your device will use Face ID to reopen your incognito windows securely.

How to turn on Chrome incognito mode on Android

1. Open Chrome on your Android phone or tablet. Then, tap the three vertical dots “⋮” to the right of the address bar at the top.
2. Tap “New incognito tab.”
3. You should now see a new private window.

How to turn off incognito mode in Chrome

Close all incognito windows to turn off Chrome incognito mode on your device.

How to turn off Chrome incognito mode on macOS

In the tab menu, you can individually close each incognito tab by clicking the “✖” button. Alternatively, you can click the red button “🔴” at the top left corner to close all incognito windows at once.

Another way to get out of incognito mode in Chrome on your macOS device is to click the “Incognito” button at the top right corner, then select “Exit incognito.”

Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts — press ⌘ + W to close the active incognito window (the one you’re currently on) or press Option + ⌘ + W to close all opened incognito windows.

How to turn off Chrome private mode on Windows

You have two options — you can close each tab individually by clicking the “✖” or click the “✖” button at the upper right corner to close all tabs at once.

Alternatively, to close incognito mode in Chrome on Windows, click the “Incognito” button at the top right, then select “Close incognito.”

Or you can use a shortcut — press Ctrl + W to close the active incognito tab. If multiple incognito tabs are open, press Ctrl + Shift + W. This shortcut will close all incognito tabs.

How to turn off Chrome private mode on Linux

You have two options — you can close each tab individually by clicking the “✖” or click the “✖” button at the upper right corner to close all tabs at once.

Another way to exit incognito mode in Chrome on Linux is to click the “Incognito” button at the top right, then select “Close incognito.”

Alternatively, you can use a keyboard shortcut — press Ctrl + W to close the active incognito tab. If you have multiple incognito tabs open, press Ctrl + Shift + W. This shortcut will close all opened incognito tabs.

How to turn off Chrome incognito mode on Android

Tap the square icon “▢” at the top right.

Tap “✖” on the tab you want to close.

Alternatively, tap the three dots “⋮” at the upper right corner and select ”Close incognito tabs.”

How to turn off incognito mode in Chrome on iPhone

1. Tap the square icon “▢” at the bottom.
2. Choose the tab you want to close and tap “✖” at the upper right corner of the chosen tab. To disable incognito mode in Chrome on your iPhone device, close all tabs or tap “Edit” > “Close all tabs.”

How private and safe is incognito mode in Chrome?

While Chrome’s private mode can provide some online privacy benefits by not saving browsing history locally, it’s not a foolproof solution for keeping you anonymous online. Your internet service provider (ISP), employer (if you’re using a work device), or the websites you visit can still track your browsing activity. While they can’t see your incognito history after the session ends, they can monitor the sites you visit in real-time.

Moreover, incognito mode doesn’t provide additional security protections beyond what Chrome already offers. It won’t protect you from malware or phishing attacks, nor will it encrypt your internet connection. However, incognito mode, combined with private search engines and a virtual private network (VPN), could help you achieve increased privacy and safety while surfing the web.

A VPN encrypts all your online traffic using advanced algorithms and masks your virtual location by directing your traffic through remote servers. When combined with incognito mode, a VPN can hide the websites you visit not just from the roommate sharing your device but also from your ISP, enhancing your safety and privacy while browsing online.

How to permanently enable incognito mode in Chrome (Windows and Mac)

You can make Chrome start in private mode by default by editing the settings of the app.

1. Right-click your Chrome desktop shortcut and select “Properties” (on Windows) or “Get info” (on Mac).
2. Add ” -incognito” to the end of the existing text in the “Target” field (on Windows) or “Command” field (on Mac).
3. Save your changes by clicking “Apply” or “OK.”
4. Double-click the shortcut to launch Chrome, which will now start in incognito mode by default. You’re now ready for a private browsing session.

Unable to go incognito in Chrome

Several factors might prevent you from accessing incognito mode in Chrome. If you’re using a device provided by your workplace, the IT department likely has restrictions in place to secure and monitor internet usage and disallow private browsing. Nevertheless, keep in mind that network administrators can still monitor online activity, including what sites you visit during your incognito sessions.

On a personal device, you might be facing a temporary glitch or a change in settings. Often, updating your browser or restoring settings to their original defaults can resolve these issues. However, if none of the above reasons apply to your situation, other factors might be to blame:

• Browser extensions. Some malicious browser extensions can secretly change your browser settings. Try uninstalling your extensions one by one to see if any are blocking access to private mode. Consider installing privacy browser extensions, such as a VPN for Chrome, as a means to enhance your security and protect your data online.
• Malware. Malware can seriously disrupt your online experience. In some cases, this type of software can even block private browsing mode, unintentionally exposing more of your browsing activity than you might wish to share.
• Microsoft Family restrictions. The Family List feature can limit private browsing options. To regain full browsing abilities, remove yourself as a Child user from your Microsoft family group.