Browse in private (incognito mode)

If you don’t want Google Chrome to save a record of what you visit and download, you can browse the web in incognito mode.

Open an incognito window

An incognito window looks different from a regular window. The top of an incognito window is gray or blue, depending on your computer or device.

To learn how to open an incognito window, choose your device below.

Computer
  1. In the top-right corner of the browser window, click the Chrome menu Chrome menu.
  2. Select New Incognito Window.

You can also press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS) and ⌘-Shift-N (Mac).

Android device
  1. Open the Chrome menu.
    It could be an icon or a button on your phone. They look like Menu or Menu.
  2. Select New incognito tab.
iPhone or iPad
  1. Open the Chrome menu icon Chrome menu.
  2. Select New Incognito* Tab.

Note: Your iOS device may store information about some websites you visit in incognito mode, even though Google Chrome itself does not. This is because regular and incognito mode tabs share HTML5 local storage in iOS devices. HTML5 websites can access their data about your visit in this storage area.

You can switch between an incognito window and any regular windows you have open. You'll only be in incognito mode when you're using the incognito window, though.

Exit incognito mode

To get out of Incognito mode, simply close your incognito window(s). Here's how:

Computer

Click the X at the corner of every incognito tab you have open. Here are a few other options, too:

  • Press Alt+F4 (Windows and Linux) or ⌘-Shift-W (Mac) in an incognito window.
  • Close the last remaining tab in an Incognito window, which closes the entire window.
Mobile device

Touch the X at the corner of your incognito tabs.

Learn more about Incognito and Guest mode

Note: At this time, Guest mode is only available on some versions of Chrome.

Both Incognito mode and Guest mode are temporary browsing modes, but there are some basic differences between them.

  • Incognito mode: You don't leave browsing history and cookies on your computer, but you can still see your existing history, bookmarks, passwords, Autofill data, and other Chrome settings.

  • Guest mode: A user in Guest mode does not leave any browsing history or cookies on the computer. In addition, they can't see or modify the computer owner's Chrome profile.

Important: Neither Incognito mode nor Guest mode makes you invisible on the web. Websites you visit, your employer, or your service provider can still see your browsing activity.

For more information about what's stored in both modes, visit the Chrome Privacy Policy.