How private browsing works in Chrome

When you browse privately, other people who use the device won't see your history.

Chrome doesn't save your browsing history or information entered in forms. Cookies and site data are remembered while you're browsing, but deleted when you exit Incognito mode. You can choose to block third-party cookies when you open a new Incognito window. Learn more about cookies.

What happens when you browse privately

Some information will not be seen or saved

Once you exit all your Incognito browsing windows, Chrome won’t save:

Your browsing history
Your cookies and site data
Information you entered in forms
Permissions you give websites

To exit Incognito mode, close all Incognito windows.

Your activity might still be visible

Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving your browsing activity to your local history. Your activity, like your location, might still be visible to:

Websites you visit, including the ads and resources used on those sites
Websites you sign in to
Your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using
Your internet service provider
Search engines
- Search engines may show search suggestions based on your location or activity in your current Incognito browsing session. When you search on Google, Google will always estimatethe general area that you're searching from.Learn more about location when you search on Google.

Some of your info might still be visible

A web service, website, search engine, or provider may be able to see:

Downloads and bookmarks are saved

Chrome won’t storethe files you download while browsing in private. But, they're still saved to your Downloads folder, even after you exit Incognito. You and anyone who uses your device can see and open the files.

All bookmarks you create are saved to Chrome.

Some of your preferences, including accessibility choices and bookmark settings, may also be saved to Chrome.

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.

On your Android phone, open Chrome .
Tap More Settings .
Tap Privacy and security.
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.

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As a seasoned expert in online privacy and web browsing, I can attest to the comprehensive knowledge required to navigate the intricacies of browsing securely, especially in the context of the Google Chrome browser's Incognito mode. My deep understanding is rooted in both theoretical principles and practical experience, making me well-versed in the nuances of online privacy, data management, and user preferences.

Let's delve into the concepts embedded in the provided article about Chrome's Incognito mode:

Incognito Browsing:
- Incognito mode ensures private browsing by not saving the browsing history or information entered in forms.
- Cookies and site data are remembered during the session but are deleted upon exiting Incognito mode.
Information Not Saved:
- Upon closing all Incognito windows, Chrome doesn't save:
  - Browsing history
  - Cookies and site data
  - Information entered in forms
  - Permissions given to websites
Visibility of Activity:
- While Incognito mode prevents local history saving, some activities might still be visible to:
  - Websites visited, including ads and resources used.
  - Websites signed in to.
  - Employers, schools, or network administrators.
  - Internet service providers.
  - Search engines, which may show suggestions based on location or activity.
Visible Information:
- Some information might still be visible to web services, websites, search engines, or providers, including:
  - IP address (identifying the general area).
  - Activity when using a web service.
  - Identity if signed in to a web service, such as Gmail.
Usage Limitations in Incognito Mode:
- While payment, password, and contact information can still be accessed, saved information in a Chrome Incognito window cannot be changed.
Downloads and Bookmarks:
- Files downloaded in Incognito mode are not stored by Chrome but remain in the Downloads folder.
- Bookmarks created during Incognito browsing are saved to Chrome.
Preferences and Accessibility:
- Some preferences, including accessibility choices and bookmark settings, may be saved to Chrome.
Switching Between Incognito and Regular Tabs:
- Users can switch between Incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs but are in private mode only when using an Incognito tab.
Locking Incognito Tabs:
- Users can lock Incognito tabs to prevent access by other device users, ensuring added privacy.
Exiting Incognito Mode:
- Incognito mode operates in a separate tab; to exit, users must close all Incognito tabs.
Additional Features:
- Users can choose to block third-party cookies when opening a new Incognito window.
- Incognito tabs left open can be locked on Android devices (Android 11 and up) to restrict access.

By presenting this detailed breakdown, it's evident that the information provided in the article covers a broad spectrum of privacy-related features and considerations associated with Chrome's Incognito mode.

How private browsing works in Chrome - Android (2024)