Opening Incognito Mode in Chrome
Incognito mode is a private browsing setting in Chrome that does not save your browsing history, cookies, or search history to your device. When you close an incognito window, Chrome deletes the data from that session. This is useful when you are researching data brokers or entering personal information on websites, because it prevents Chrome from storing a record of where you went or what you typed.
You can open an incognito window in three ways. The fastest is to press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. If you prefer using the menu, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then click "New incognito window". You can also right-click any link and select "Open link in incognito window" to jump directly to a specific page without leaving a trail in your regular browser history.
A new window will open with a dark theme and an incognito icon (a spy hat and sunglasses) in the top left corner. This confirms you are in private mode. Any tabs you open in this window will not appear in your browsing history once you close them.
Key Takeaways
- Incognito mode prevents Chrome from saving your browsing history, cookies, and search terms to your device.
- You can open an incognito window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (Mac), or through the Chrome menu.
- Incognito mode is useful when researching data brokers or entering personal information, because it leaves no local record of your activity.
- Closing an incognito window deletes all data from that session, but your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see your activity.
What Incognito Mode Does and Does Not Protect
Incognito mode protects your privacy on your own device. Chrome will not save the websites you visit, the searches you perform, or the passwords you enter (unless you manually save them). If someone else uses your computer, they will not see a record of where you went. This is why it is useful when you are looking up data broker websites or entering information to request removal.
Incognito mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer's network, or the websites themselves. If you visit a data broker site in incognito mode, that website still knows you visited and can still track you with cookies and other tools. Incognito mode only prevents Chrome from storing that information locally on your computer. If privacy from external parties is your concern, you would need a VPN (virtual private network), which is a separate tool.
Switching Between Incognito and Regular Browsing
You can have both incognito and regular Chrome windows open at the same time. Each window operates independently. Your regular windows will continue to save history and cookies as normal, while your incognito windows will not. This is helpful if you want to keep your data broker research separate from your everyday browsing without closing all your other tabs.
To switch between windows, look at your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac) and click the Chrome icon. You will see a list of all open Chrome windows. Click the one you want to use. On Windows, you can also use Alt + Tab to cycle through open windows. On Mac, use Command + Tab.
Closing Incognito Windows and Clearing Data
When you close an incognito window, Chrome automatically deletes all data from that session — history, cookies, cached files, and temporary data. You do not need to manually clear anything. straightforward close the window by clicking the X button in the top right corner, and the data is gone.
If you want to close all incognito windows at once, you can close your entire Chrome browser. Any incognito windows will close with it, and their data will be deleted. If you have regular Chrome windows open, those will remain open the next time you launch Chrome, but the incognito windows will not reappear.
Using Incognito Mode on Mobile Chrome
Chrome on phones and tablets also has incognito mode. On Android, open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the top right, then tap "New incognito tab". On iPhone or iPad, tap the tabs icon (two overlapping squares) at the bottom right, then tap "Incognito" at the bottom left of the screen. A new incognito tab will open with the same spy hat icon.
Mobile incognito mode works the same way as desktop: it does not save history, cookies, or search terms. When you close the tab or the browser, the data is deleted. This is useful if you are researching data brokers on your phone and do not want the activity to appear in your device's browser history.
Troubleshooting Incognito Mode Issues
If incognito mode is not opening, the most common cause is that your Chrome browser is outdated. Check for updates by clicking the three vertical dots, then "About Google Chrome". Chrome will check for updates automatically and install them if available. Restart Chrome after updating.
If you see a message that incognito mode is disabled, your computer administrator or a parent control setting may have turned it off. On a work or school computer, contact your IT department. On a personal computer, check your Chrome settings under "Privacy and security" to confirm incognito mode is not blocked. If you are using parental controls, you may need to adjust those settings to allow incognito browsing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does incognito mode hide my activity from my internet service provider?
No. Incognito mode only prevents Chrome from saving history on your device. Your internet service provider can still see which websites you visit. If you want to hide your activity from your ISP, you need a VPN, which encrypts your internet traffic.
Can websites track me in incognito mode?
Yes. Websites can still see you visiting them and can use cookies and other tracking tools. Incognito mode only prevents Chrome from storing that information on your computer. The website itself knows you were there.
Will my passwords be saved in incognito mode?
Chrome will not save passwords you enter in incognito mode unless you manually click "Save password" when prompted. Even then, the password is stored in your regular Chrome account, not in the incognito session itself.
What happens if I close an incognito window by accident?
The data from that session is deleted permanently. Chrome does not keep a backup of incognito sessions. If you need to return to a website you visited, you will have to navigate to it again in a new incognito window.
Can I bookmark pages in incognito mode?
Yes. Bookmarks you create in incognito mode are saved to your regular Chrome account and will appear in your bookmarks list even after you close the incognito window. Only the browsing history and cookies are deleted.