Incognito Mode: Incognito mode and private browsing let you surf the web without saving your search history, cookies, or other temporary data on your device. This ensures that others using your device later won’t be able to see your activities. Continue reading to learn how to activate Incognito mode in Chrome and engage private browsing in other browsers such as Firefox and Safari.
How Do I Use Incognito Mode In 2024?
Click or tap the button in your browser that you usually use to open a new tab—typically three vertical dots or lines in the top right-hand corner—and select ‘open new private/incognito tab’. Anything you do in that new tab will not be recorded by your browser.
Incognito Mode on Google Chrome
Use Incognito mode in Google Chrome to help keep your online activities private from others who use your device. However, remember that activating Incognito mode does not prevent Google, websites, internet service providers (ISPs), or other third parties from collecting your data.
Desktop
Here are the steps to activate incognito mode in Google Chrome on your desktop in a simpler and easier-to-understand format:
- Find and click on the Google Chrome icon on your desktop or in your applications list to open the browser.
- Look at the top-right corner of the Chrome window for three dots arranged vertically. Click on this icon to open the Chrome menu.
- From the menu that appears, select “New incognito window.” This option will open a new window where your browsing activity is private.
- Instead of using the menu, you can press specific keys on your keyboard. For Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+N, and for macOS, press Cmd+Shift+N. This will also open a new incognito window.
- Once you’ve selected “New incognito window” or used the shortcut keys, a new window will open with a darker color scheme. This indicates that you are now browsing privately in incognito mode.
Mobile
here are the steps to activate incognito mode in Google Chrome on mobile devices, simplified into short and simple steps:
- Launch the Chrome app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the three-dot menu icon located at the top-right corner of the screen.
- From the menu, choose “New Incognito tab.”
- Once selected, a new tab will open with a dark theme and an icon of a spy in sunglasses, indicating that you’re in incognito mode.
How to Turn off Incognito Mode?
To turn off Incognito Mode, just follow these easy steps:
- Check for Incognito Windows: Look at your browser to see if you’re in Incognito Mode. You can tell because the window usually looks different, like a darker color.
- Close the Window: To exit Incognito Mode, click the ‘X’ at the top of the Incognito window to close it.
- Open a New Browser Window: If you want to keep browsing, open a new window. This will be a normal window that saves your history and cookies.
How to Turn on Incognito Mode?
Turning on Incognito Mode is simple and helps keep your browsing private. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Google Chrome: Start by launching the Chrome browser on your device.
- Access the Menu: Locate the menu icon, which is often depicted as three vertical dots or lines, at the top right corner of the browser.
- Activate Incognito Mode: Click on ‘New Incognito Window’ from the dropdown menu. If you’re using a mobile device, look for ‘Open new Incognito tab’.
- Start Browsing Privately: A new window will appear with a dark theme and an icon resembling a hat and glasses, indicating that you are now in Incognito Mode. None of your activities in this window will be recorded in your browser history.
Private Browsing on Safari
Safari offers a feature similar to incognito mode called Private Browsing, which is built-in and user-friendly on iOS devices.
If you don’t have an Apple device, you can still enable Private Browsing on Safari to prevent the browser from logging the web pages you visit in your device’s search history and from auto-filling information, helping to secure your passwords and credit card details.
What is Incognito Mode – FAQs
What is Incognito Mode?
Incognito mode is a privacy feature in web browsers that prevents your browsing history from being stored on your device. This means that any websites visited, cookies downloaded, or forms filled out won’t be saved on your computer after you close the incognito window.
What Does Incognito Mode Do?
It primarily keeps your browsing private from other users of the same device. When you close the incognito or private browsing window, the browser deletes all temporary data associated with that session.
Is Incognito Mode Safe?
Incognito mode makes it safer to browse on shared devices by not saving your activity. However, it does not protect you from malware, viruses, or prevent websites, your employer, or ISPs from tracking your activities.
What are the Benefits of Using Incognito Mode?
The main benefits are:
- No local traces of your browsing history.
- Automatic deletion of cookies.
- Session-based browsing that prevents lingering data issues.
What are the Limitations of Incognito Mode and Private Browsing?
While useful, incognito mode doesn’t protect against all forms of tracking. It won’t mask your IP address or encrypt your traffic, and permanent cookies, bookmarks, and downloaded files will remain saved unless manually deleted.