Browse in private

If you don’t want Google Chrome to remember your activity, you can browse the web privately in Incognito mode. 

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Chrome Chrome.
  2. To the right of the address bar, tap More More and then New Incognito tab.
  3. A new window appears. In the top left, check for the Incognito icon Incognito.

If you see the message "Taking screenshots isn't allowed by the app or your organization," open the webpage in a normal Chrome tab.

You can switch between Incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs. You only browse in private when you use an Incognito tab.

You can also choose to block third-party cookies when you open a new Incognito window. Learn more about cookies.

Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome

Anyone who uses your device can access Incognito tabs you leave open. To keep your Incognito tabs open and not viewable by other device users, you can lock them.

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 11 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

  1. On your Android phone, open Chrome Chrome.
  2. Tap More and then Settings .
  3. Tap Privacy and security.
  4. Turn on Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome.

Close Incognito mode to stop private browsing

Incognito mode runs in a separate tab from your normal Chrome tabs.

If you have an Incognito tab open and you open another one, your private browsing session will continue in the new tab. To exit Incognito mode, close all Incognito tabs.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Chrome Chrome.
  2. At the top right, tap Switch tabs Switch tabs. On the right, you'll see your open Incognito tabs.
  3. At the top right of your Incognito tabs, tap Close Close.

What happens when you browse privately

  • Chrome doesn't save your browsing history, cookies and site data, or information entered in forms.
  • Files you download and bookmarks you create are kept.
  • Your activity isn’t hidden from websites you go to, your employer or school, or your internet service provider.

Learn more about how private browsing works.

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