How to Disable Incognito Mode on Windows, Mac, and Mobile Devices

Why you might want to disable incognito mode

Incognito mode (called Private Browsing in Safari) lets users browse without saving history, cookies, or cached files. Parents often disable it to monitor what children see online. Employers disable it on work devices to enforce security policies. Schools disable it to prevent students from hiding their activity on school networks.

The method to disable it depends on your browser and device. Most approaches use settings within the browser itself, though some require operating system controls or third-party tools. This guide covers the main browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on Windows and Mac, plus Android and iOS.

Key Takeaways

Chrome and Edge on Windows use Group Policy Editor (for work or school devices) or registry edits to disable incognito mode system-wide.
Firefox does not have a built-in setting to disable private browsing, but you can remove the keyboard shortcut and hide the menu option through configuration files.
Safari on Mac can be restricted through System Settings under Parental Controls, which blocks private browsing for specific user accounts.
Android and iOS do not offer system-level controls to disable incognito or private browsing; you must use third-party monitoring apps or device management software.
Work and school devices managed by an organization can use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to enforce these restrictions across all devices remotely.

Disabling incognito mode in Chrome on Windows

Chrome does not have a straightforward on-off switch in Settings. Instead, you use the Group Policy Editor if your device is part of a Windows domain (common in workplaces and schools), or you edit the Windows Registry directly on personal devices.

For domain-connected devices: Open Group Policy Editor by pressing Windows key + R, typing gpedit.msc, and pressing Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Google > Google Chrome. Find the policy called "Incognito mode availability" and set it to "Disabled". Restart Chrome for the change to take effect. Users will no longer see the Incognito window option in the menu.

For personal Windows devices: Open Registry Editor by pressing Windows key + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome. If the Chrome folder does not exist, right-click on Google, select New > Key, and name it Chrome. Right-click in the empty space, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it IncognitoModeAvailability, and set the value to 1. Close Registry Editor and restart Chrome.

Disabling incognito mode in Firefox on Windows and Mac

Firefox has no official setting to disable private browsing through the user interface. Instead, you modify the browser's configuration file to hide the private browsing option and remove its keyboard shortcut.

Close Firefox completely. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and navigate to your Firefox profile folder. On Windows, this is usually C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[RandomString].default-release. On Mac, it is /Users/[YourUsername]/Library/process Support/Firefox/Profiles/[RandomString].default-release. Create a new text file in this folder, name it userChrome.css, and paste this code:

#menu_newPrivateWindow, #key_privateBrowsingToggle { display: none !important; }

Save the file. Then open the file named prefs.js in the same folder with a text editor, scroll to the bottom, and add this line:

user_pref("browser.privatebrowsing.autostart", false);

Save and close. Restart Firefox. The Private Window option will no longer appear in the menu, and the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows, Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) will not work.

Disabling private browsing in Safari on Mac

Safari does not have a direct setting to disable private browsing, but you can restrict it for specific user accounts through macOS Parental Controls.

Open System Settings and click Family. Select the user account you want to restrict. Click App Limits or Content & Privacy (depending on your macOS version). Under Allowed Apps, find Safari and uncheck it, or navigate to the Privacy section and restrict web browsing. This prevents the account from opening Safari entirely, which also prevents private browsing.

Alternatively, if you want to allow Safari but disable only private browsing, you can use a third-party Mobile Device Management tool or ask your IT department if your Mac is managed by your organization. Apple does not offer a granular control for this on personal devices.

Disabling incognito mode in Edge on Windows

Microsoft Edge uses the same Group Policy method as Chrome on domain-connected devices. Open Group Policy Editor (Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc), navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge, find "Inprivate mode availability", and set it to "Disabled".

On personal Windows devices, open Registry Editor (Windows key + R, type regedit), navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge, and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named InPrivateMode with a value of 0. Restart Edge.

Controlling incognito mode on Android devices

Android does not have a built-in system setting to disable incognito mode in Chrome or other browsers. Your options are limited to third-party monitoring apps or device management software.

If your device is managed by your workplace or school, they may have enrolled it in Mobile Device Management (MDM) software such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Intune, or MobileIron. These tools can enforce browser restrictions across the device. Contact your IT department to see if this is available.

For personal devices, parental control apps like Google Family Link (for accounts under 13), Apple Screen Time (if using an Apple ecosystem), or third-party apps like Bark or Net Nanny can monitor and restrict browsing activity, though they do not disable incognito mode itself—they log activity regardless of the mode used.

Controlling private browsing on iOS devices

iOS does not offer a system-level control to disable private browsing in Safari. However, if the device is managed by an organization through Mobile Device Management, restrictions can be enforced remotely.

For personal devices, you can use Screen Time (built into iOS) to restrict Safari entirely for certain accounts or times of day, but this does not selectively disable private browsing. Parental control apps available on the App Store may offer monitoring, though Apple's privacy architecture limits what third-party apps can see compared to Android.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable incognito mode just for certain users on my computer?

On Windows, yes—use Group Policy Editor if your device is on a domain, or create separate user accounts and explore Registry edits only to the accounts you want to restrict. On Mac, use Parental Controls in System Settings to restrict specific user accounts. On shared work or school devices, ask your IT department about user-level policies.

What happens if someone tries to open incognito mode after I disable it?

In Chrome and Edge, the Incognito or InPrivate option straightforward will not appear in the menu. If they try the keyboard shortcut, nothing happens. In Firefox, the Private Window option is hidden and the shortcut does not work. Users cannot bypass these restrictions without re-enabling them through the same settings.

Does disabling incognito mode stop someone from hiding their browsing?

Disabling incognito mode prevents the use of that specific feature, but it does not prevent someone from clearing their history manually or using a different browser. If you need to monitor activity, consider a monitoring app or network-level controls through your router or IT department.

Can I disable incognito mode on a work device my company gave me?

Yes, and your company likely has already done this through Group Policy or Mobile Device Management if it is a managed device. Check with your IT department—they can tell you what restrictions are in place and why.

Is there a way to disable incognito mode on all browsers at once?

No single setting disables it across all browsers. You must configure each browser separately. On Windows, Group Policy can manage Chrome and Edge together if they are both on a domain. On Mac, Parental Controls can restrict Safari for a user account, but you must configure Firefox separately.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.