Introduction
Chrome Incognito mode, also known as Chrome private browsing, opens a separate browsing session that Chrome forgets when you close it: your history, cookies and site data from that session are not kept on your device. It does not make you invisible to the websites you visit or to whoever runs your network. This guide shows how to open Incognito on every platform and what it does and does not hide.
Opening Incognito Mode
Windows
- Open Chrome.
- Click the three dots (More) in the upper-right corner.
- Select New Incognito window.
- Alternatively, use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N.
macOS
- Open Chrome.
- Click the three dots (More) in the upper-right corner and select New Incognito window, or click File in the menu bar and select New Incognito Window.
- Use the shortcut Cmd + Shift + N for quicker access.
Linux
- Open Chrome.
- Click the three dots (More) in the upper-right corner.
- Choose New Incognito window.
- Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + N.
Android
- Open the Chrome app.
- Tap the three dots (More).
- Tap Open in a new Incognito window. On some Android tablets the item is called New Incognito window.
To open a single link in Incognito, touch and hold the link and tap Open link in new Incognito window.
iOS
- Open the Chrome app.
- Tap the three dots (More).
- Choose New Incognito Tab.
What Incognito Mode Hides
When your Incognito session ends (when you close all Incognito windows), Chrome does not keep:
- A record of the sites you visited (browsing history)
- Cookies and site data from that session
Chrome also does not sign you in to your Google Account or other websites automatically in Incognito, and third-party cookies are blocked there by default.
What Incognito Mode Doesn’t Hide
While incognito mode in Chrome provides a layer of privacy on your device, your activity can still be seen by:
- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Your employer or school, or whoever manages the network you are on
- Websites you visit, including Google sites
Incognito Shortcuts
Make your browsing more efficient with these handy shortcuts:
- Windows/Linux/ChromeOS: Ctrl + Shift + N opens a new incognito window.
- macOS: Cmd + Shift + N opens a new incognito window.
- Android/iOS: Use the menu to open a new incognito window or tab.
Incognito Limitations
Understanding the limitations of Chrome incognito is essential:
- Extensions do not run in Incognito unless you turn on Allow in Incognito on the extension’s Details page.
- Bookmarks you save and files you download are kept after you close Incognito.
- Network traffic is still visible to your ISP and network administrator.
- Your Incognito session continues across every Incognito window you open. It only ends when you close all of them.
Conclusion
Using Chrome Incognito Mode is a straightforward way to keep a browsing session off your device, for example on a shared computer. It is not foolproof and does not hide you from websites or your network. For more details, refer to Google Chrome Help.