Guide: How to Disable Incognito Mode in Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Android
Chrome’s Incognito Mode is a versatile tool that helps you to browse privately. However, there are several reasons why the mode can be counterproductive. First, it automatically deletes your browsing history on exit, which can prevent website trackers from learning about your habits. Second, it can be difficult to use Incognito Mode on shared devices because other users may not understand how to use it. Finally, if you accidentally leave Incognito Mode active, your browsing history may be revealed to the websites you visit. ..
Some people find that using Incognito mode can lead to bad habits, like wandering around aimlessly or looking for things you wouldn’t dare do when you’re not in a normal browsing session. Or maybe you want to make sure other users can’t use Incognito mode for nefarious purposes, and if you have kids, they need to be able to browse anonymously at all times. ..
Chrome’s incognito feature is either inconvenient or impossible to use on some platforms. If you are a Windows, MacOS or Android user, you can use workarounds to prevent yourself or other users from browsing privately. ..
Windows
To turn off Incognito Mode in Chrome on Windows 10 or 8.1 / 8/7, you need to dive into the Registry Editor and do a simple tweak. However, some devices may not have the registry keys or values necessary to make the change. If so, there is an alternate method where a command line is run through the command prompt.
The Registry Editor is a tool that can be used to change the settings of your computer. The Command Prompt console is a more traditional way of working with the Registry.
Registry Editor
Step 2: In the Registry Editor, open the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Step 3: In the Winlogon key, open the following registry value: “Userinit” Step 4: Change the value to “Notepad.exe” and click OK.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Step 3: In the left pane of the Registry Editor window, expand the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Step 4: In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, expand the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Step 5: In the left pane of the Registry Editor window, add a new DWORD value called “ShellExecute” to the key named HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. The value should be set to “1” if you want to run a specific program as your default shell (the one that is opened when you start Windows), or “0” if you don’t want Windows to start any programs at all when it starts up. Step 6: In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, add a new DWORD value called “ShellExecute” to the key named HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. The value should be set to “1” if you want to run a specific program as your default shell (the one that is opened when you start Windows), or “0” if you don’t want Windows to start any programs at all when it starts up.
Press Enter and then select the Chrome key in the left navigation pane.
The registry key labeled Chrome is not working as it should. To workaround this issue, close the Registry Editor and continue with the workaround pertaining to the Command Prompt console.
In the Modify window, click on the arrow next to “IncognitoModeAvailability.” Under the “Mode” field, change the value to “Private.”
Step 5: Type ‘2’ in the field under Value data and click OK. Step 6: Type ‘3’ in the field under Value data and click OK. Step 7: Type ‘4’ in the field under Value data and click OK. Step 8: Type ‘5’ in the field under Value data and click OK.
Close the Registry Editor, restart Chrome, and open the Chrome menu. And voila! The option to start incognito windows should no longer be there. ..
The Google Chrome browser has a setting called Incognito Mode that allows you to keep your browsing sessions private. If you turn on Incognito Mode, your computer won’t be able to see any of the websites that you visit.
Console with command prompt
Step 2: Type the following command to open the Windows PowerShell console: powershell.exe Step 3: To create a new file, type the following command and press Enter: New-Item -ItemType File -Path C:\Scripts\MyFile.ps1 To open an existing file, type the following command and press Enter: Open-Item -Path C:\Scripts\MyFile.ps1 ..
netstat -an | grep tcp Step 3: Use the following command to view the TCP connections on your computer. netstat -an | grep tcp
Google Chrome is set to Incognito Mode Availability. This setting allows you to keep your browsing activity private.
Exit the Command Prompt console. Restart Chrome and you should turn off Incognito mode.
I was missing the registry keys for the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon” and “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion” folders. The command did that immediately with the necessary adjustments.
net stop [service name] ..
Google Chrome and Incognito Mode Availability are settings that can be changed to make it easier for you to keep your online activities private.
macOS
defaults write com.google.chrome “show_in_menu false” To turn off incognito mode on a Windows computer, open the Start menu and type “chrome://settings/privacy” into the search bar. Under “InPrivate Browsing,” click the “Disable” button. ..
Chrome will start Incognito mode by default if the availability of the feature is set to 1. ..
After running the command line, exit the terminal and restart your Mac. To confirm, open Chrome and bring up the Chrome menu – you will no longer see the New Incognito Window option.
To disable incognito mode on a Mac, type the following command: -integer 1 ..
Android
Android users have a few different ways to turn off Incognito Mode. One way is to use an app that blocks incognito mode from starting up. Another way is to use a command that you can use on a desktop. Let’s see how these two methods work together.
Step 2: Once the app is installed, open it and click on the “Enable Incognito Mode” button. Step 3: After clicking on the “Enable Incognito Mode” button, you will be prompted to enter your Google account password. Do this and then click on the “OK” button. Now that Incognito Mode has been enabled, you can use it to browse the web privately without being tracked by Google. ..
Step 2: Launch the app and tap Open Settings. On the next screen, try to enable the slider next to DisableIncognitoMode.
DisableIncognitoMode in the popupup box that shows up.
Chrome users are reporting that they are unable to open a new incognito tab. ..
To disable the incognito mode on your device, open the DisableIncognitoMode app and turn off the slider next to “Disable Incognito Mode.” ..
If you want to keep your browsing private, consider using an app blocker like AppLock to prevent access to the DisableIncognitoMode app. ..
If you only want to limit incognito mode for a child, you can create a special Google account for him or her. That way, the specific account can be automatically blocked from using Incognito mode when logged in as a separate user on Android. ..
Too much privacy can be bad
Privacy is a good thing, but not always. If you want to keep yourself or others from messing around in Incognito mode, then you know what to do next. Regardless, all browsers should have one feature to easily turn off private browsing. With Safari on iOS, you can easily do that with Restrictions, for example. If so, why can’t Chrome? Come on, Google … make that happen!
How to Disable Incognito Mode in Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Android: benefits
Faq
Final note
Chrome users can disable incognito mode on Windows, macOS, and Android. If you have any questions about this guide, feel free to ask us in the comments. You can also share this guide with your friends to help them stay safe online. ..
If you have any queries about how to disable Incognito Mode in Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Android, then please ask us through the comment section below or directly contact us. Our team is always happy to help you.
