Incognito mode on Google Chrome explained (private tab)
Throughout this article, you’ll have incognito mode on Google Chrome explained step-by-step. Have you ever heard about private browsing? Yes, you read that right, private browsing.
Are you aware of the fact that you can surf the internet, and your browser would not save any of your data? Your browsing history and cookies all will vanish once you close your browser window. Sounds cool? Well, we owe our thanks to the incognito mode feature in the Google Chrome browser.
So, what is an incognito mode? It’s a mode that allows you to use your browser in a concealed way. That means your browser will disable all its features, including browser history, cookies, and autofill information.
Whatever you do in an incognito window will not be saved and it will be discarded as immediate as you close your browser window.
With incognito mode, you may enjoy private browsing mode on a public device. You do not need to worry about sign-outs. As you close the incognito window, all your browsing session will be buried within it.
Incognito mode is ideal for situations when you use a shared or public device for improved cyber security. It does not save your search history and does not even remember your filled IDs and passwords.
Today, almost every other internet browser features an incognito mode with one name or another.
Are you ready to taste private browsing mode? In today’s article, we instruct you how to enable and disable incognito mode for Google Chrome on your computer, Android, or iOS devices.
Incognito mode on Google Chrome explained
How to turn on incognito mode on your desktop PC Chrome
Open Google Chrome browser on your laptop/desktop device;
Click on the “three dot settings” icon in the upper right corner of the screen;
A drop-down menu opens. Click on the “New incognito window” option.
Or
You can also use the keyboard shortcut key “Ctrl + Shift+ N” to open Google Chrome incognito mode;
A new private window will open. This is the incognito window for the Google Chrome browser. On your screen, you can see that all the information on how the incognito window works and what it features is explained briefly.
This information is categorized as:
The red portion: how incognito window and mode works;
The blue portion: what information incognito window will not save;
The green portion: to whom your browsing history and searches will still be visible.
You can read this information before you proceed with your browsing in an incognito window.
How to turn on incognito mode on your Android/iOS Chrome
Open Google Chrome browser app on your Android/ iOS device;
Tap on the “three dot settings” icon in the upper right corner of the Chrome window;
A drop-down menu opens. Tap on the “New incognito tab” option;
A new tab opens, greeting you with the message “You have gone incognito”;
You get the same piece of information for the incognito tab, just like you get for the incognito window on desktop devices.
How to view incognito opened tabs on your Android/ iOS device
A number encapsulated by a square box appears between the settings button and tab switcher in your Chrome app. Tap on this icon:
This icon represents the number of regular opened tabs on your Chrome app. When you tap, it displays all opened tabs in a single tab.
All the incognito opened tabs are separated in a singular tab represented by the incognito symbol, and all the regular tabs are separated in another tab represented by the number symbol.
You can easily switch between both tabs:
How to disable incognito mode on a desktop computer
If you have minors/ kids and want to monitor their browsing activity, do not worry. Here is how you can disable the incognito window feature in Chrome for laptop or desktop devices:
Press Windows key +R to open the Run prompt;
Type “regedit” in the search bar and hit Enter;
Now follow this lead: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE?Software? Policies“;
Now click on “Policies” and look for Google. If you don’t find it, create it by right-clicking Policies and clicking on new? Key. Rename it to “Google“;
After finding/creating Google, click on Chrome. Again, if you don’t find Chrome, create it by right-clicking Google and clicking on new? Key. Rename it to Chrome;
Now right-click the Chrome option and click on New? DWORD (32-bit) value. Rename it to “Incognito mode availability” and enter the value data “1“;
After renaming the value and changing the value, close the registry editor and restart your device for changes to take place. When you restart the device, open Google Chrome and click on three dots settings. You will not see the incognito window option available now.
If you are wondering how to enable the incognito window in Chrome again, the procedure is simple. You need to follow the same steps explained above for disabling except for one change.
When you make a new key for incognito mode availability under the Chrome folder, you need to change the value data.
To enable the incognito window, you need to enter “0” as value data.
Wrap up
An incognito mode (private mode) is an advantageous option integrated into the Google Chrome browser. If you are using a shared computer or a public device, it is best to use the incognito mode to browse the internet.
That way, your information is not saved in the browser, and you can safely surf the net.
This article taught some ways to enable and disable the incognito mode for Google Chrome on different devices. Other related articles that may be interesting for you:
