3 Quick Ways to Activate Incognito Mode on Google Chrome

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Browse in privately in Google Chrome using Incognito Mode

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: September 15, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Desktop

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Using iPhone or iPad

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Using Android

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Q&A

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Tips

In Incognito Mode, you can use Google Chrome in private, without it saving sites you visit or files you download. Once you exit your incognito session, these will be removed. Here's how to activate Incognito Mode on Google Chrome using your iPhone, iPad, Android, or computer.

Quick Steps

Open Google Chrome.
Click ⋮ in the top-right corner.
Click New Incognito Window.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Desktop

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Launch Google Chrome. You can find this in your app list.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Click ⋮. This is in the top-right corner.
- A drop-down menu will open.
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3
Click New Incognito Window. A new window will open in Incognito Mode. You'll see a hat and glasses icon near the tab and at the top-right corner of the window.
- Alternatively, you can press CTRL + Shift + n (Windows. Linux, Chrome OS) or CMD + Shift + n (Mac) to open a new Incognito window.
- To close Incognito mode, click the X at the top-right corner of the Incognito window.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using iPhone or iPad

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1
Open the Google Chrome app. This looks like a multicolored sphere.
- If you don't have Chrome, you can download it from the App Store.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
2
Tap ••• . You can find this at the bottom-right corner.
- A pop-up menu will open.
3
Tap New Incognito Tab. This will open the app in Incognito mode.
- Alternatively, you can tap the rectangle icon at the bottom toolbar, and then select the Incognito tab (hat and glasses).
  - You can tap Edit and then Close All Tabs to close your tabs and exit Incognito mode.
  - If you want to exit Incognito mode but keep your tabs, tap the rectangle icon to switch to regular browsing mode.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Android

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This looks like a multicolored sphere.^{[3]
X
Research source}
This is at the top-right corner, near the address bar.
3
Tap New Incognito tab. This will open the app in Incognito mode.
- Alternatively, you can tap the rectangle icon at the bottom toolbar, and then select the Incognito tab (hat and glasses).
  - You can tap Edit and then Close All Tabs to close your tabs and exit Incognito mode.
  - If you want to exit Incognito mode but keep your tabs, tap the rectangle icon to switch to regular browsing mode.

Community Q&A

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Question

What if I tried all of wikiHow's tips on incognito mode, but that option doesn't come up? Is my school blocking it?

Blue Blur

Community Answer

Your school does have the power to block incognito mode. If incognito mode isn't there, then your school likely removed it.

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Question

What if I can't see the incognito icon on my browser?

Palak Sharma

Community Answer

Just press D while holding down the CTRL button on your system. That is a shortcut to opening an incognito tab.

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Question

I have inadvertently activated incognito mode through goofy fingering. How do I turn it off when I have no idea how it got started?

Community Answer

There are two easy ways to turn off incognito mode. It is likely you are using a desktop or a laptop because in mobile devices, it is harder to turn it off. First, the easy way is just to click up right in the "x" button. The actual way to close it is again, at your tab in the app - there is a big black button that says "incognito mode". Press it and next select "close incognito mode" (the message may be different. It depends in the platform and the version you are using).

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Tips

You can use both regular and incognito tabs in the same session. The private mode will only apply to the incognito tabs.

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