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Chrome: Disable Incognito Mode

Chrome: Disable Incognito Mode

By Mitch Bartlett 89 Comments

If you want to prevent the use of Incognito Mode in the Google Chrome web browser, you can disable the feature using these steps.

Windows

  1. Hold down the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Run box.
  2. Type “regedit“, then press “Enter“.
  3. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” > “SOFTWARE” > “Policies” > “Google” > “Chrome“.
    Note: You may have to create the “Google” and “Chrome” folders.
  4. Right-click “Chrome” and select “New” > “DWORD 32-bit value“
  5. Give the value a name of “IncognitoModeAvailability“.
  6. Double-click on “IncognitoModeAvailability“. A box will appear where you can set the value data to “1“.
  7. Restart the computer, and the option to select “Incognito Mode” in Google Chrome will be gone.

Alternatively, you can download this registry import file and run it to set the changes for you.

MacOS

    1. From the Finder, select “Go” > “Utilities“.
    2. Open the “Terminal” application.
    3. Type the following, then press “Enter“:
      defaults write com.google.chrome IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1
    4. Restart your Mac. The Incognito Mode option will no longer be available

If you want to revert this setting and allow Incognito Mode again, perform the same steps, only change the “1” to a “0”

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Comments

  4. Dave says

    This is strange. We have the admx files in our group policy and we tell it to disable incognito mode. We have one PC that has it on. So I set the registry key, and it works, but a reboot sets it back to zero. I completely removed chrome, deleted all app data related to Chrome, reinstalled, and have the same problem. Any suggestions?

  8. Meta Calm says

    This did NOT work for me. I’m using Windows 10 Pro 64 bit and I neither of DWord 32 bit or Qword 64 bit could stop Chrome Incognito Mode. Registery shows the value Zero but it just doesn’t work.

  11. Chris says

    This works great!

    But…. now the Chrome update gets stuck and won’t complete the update – maybe I did something wrong?

  14. Shawn says

    Steps did not work for me. I did add the same key mentioned to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome rebooted and it seems to be working. When I right click on Chrome the option for Incognito window is still there, Click on it and it opens a normal Chrome window, If I right click on a link to open in an Incognito window the option is there but grayed out.

  17. Diem says

    Hi- I followed this for the Mac, after it restarted I couldn’t log back into the laptop. I don’t usually have a password on, but now it is asking for password

  20. Rosa says

    In my laptop, Google chrome is under “software” instead of under “policies”. Disable incognito doesn’t work.
    How do I create “google” “chrome” under policies?

  24. Adam says

    I tried this but I didn’t find chrome under “Policies”, so I just went to the “google” folder instead. I restarted and I was still able to open Incognito mode.

  25. Bint-e-shabir says

    Hi
    I was in a shock when I saw incognito mode in my Android phone
    I tried to turn off this
    But after a while it was again turned on
    I don’t know it does
    Can anyone tell me what’s happening with me

  29. kbs says

    Hi! I was able to disable private browsing but am desperately trying to figure out how to prevent history deletion on Chrome (MacOS) as well. I have been trying to achieve this for a ridiculously long period of time. Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!

  33. Landry Chavez says

    Thank You so much!!! Worked on the first try!! You are the best!!! No problems with my computer or nothing.

  34. Erwin says

    Thank you for the clear instructions.

    To anyone else who would be reading this post:
    If you follow the steps, slowly and closely, what you would be doing is creating a new instruction to tell the computer to disable incognito mode/ incognito window on Chrome. These instructions that are created in the computer cannot be exported/transferred/sent to any other devices. They are instructions pertaining to THAT particular computer.

    I don’t believe the steps listed here would work for mobile devices such as ipad, iphone, android phones etc.

    These steps look difficult because it is to prevent anyone from meddling with the already in-built instructions in the computer. But if you follow the steps, there shouldn’t be any problem.

    The only thing that is missing from the steps is how to create the “Google” and “Chrome” folders. You need to right-click on “Policies” and select New>Key and name it “Google” (Do the same on “Google” to create “Chrome”.)

  35. Cynthia Esquivel says

    Hi. I would need to remove it from my phone. If I am logged in and disable incognito from a computer, will it transfer to not be available on my phone? Or is it a completely different operation to disable from phone? I tried to click on link but I am unable to extract the file. It will not open on my phone. Thank you in advance for any help.

  36. Luminda says

    How do I create a Google or Chrome Folder? Where should I create that? Please reply. Thank you

  38. Pragya says

    Amazing!!!!

    Worked on the second try for me. Follow each and every step. You will for sure get rid of incognito.

    Thanks a lot, Mitch Bartlett

  39. Michael says

    This was the only thing that worked for me, thank you! I use windows and this did exactly what I needed!

  40. James says

    Thanks, worked perfect!

    One thing to note, in order to create the folders for Google and Chrome, you should right click on Policies and select New Key. Wasn’t obvious to me that that was how you create a new folder.

  41. Ken Robertson says

    I want to block my child’s ability to access Google Crome’s Settings. Is there a way to Block Settings ?

  42. betty says

    using your clear instructions i was able to remove the incognito window from my computer, but now there is a “new incognito window” . i used the same instructions as for the “incognito window” removal, but it is not going away.
    what is the difference between these 2 windows?
    how do i get rid of the new window?
    is this a permanent deletion, unless it is turned back on?
    i appreciate you help.

  45. Selina says

    Can anyone tell me how incognito mode got on my Mac when I’m the only one who uses it and have never requested or changed any settings? Could my laptop be hacked?

  46. Diane Smith says

    Why can’t I just use this page and check off my intent? Disable, Restore, New program requested etc.?????? Why must I involve myself in making a new page etc etc. etc. where I am destined to fail and mess up other programs?????

  47. Diane Smith says

    DID THIS HELP? NO! I don’t want to open new accts, I want to DELETE this program, which was put on my page without telling me or Asking IF I wanted it! A simple page should be available with the questions delineated which would allow selection of one’s purpose incldg Erase, Change , restore, delete program.

  49. Trina says

    This worked for me the second time I tried it on the Mac — I followed the instructions exactly. And I agree with the parents who are mad at the browser creators. When our teenagers have to be able to use the computer at all times to do homework, it is impossible to ban the computer and really hard to control what they are doing when they use incognito on the sly!

    I so appreciate your help, Mitch! I have been searching for a solution for months.

  50. Joseph says

    Thank you so much for this tip. It does take a village!! Now I am trying to find a way to block HTTPS sites on my router. I cannot believe there isn’t a movement addressing the lack of electronic controls on software for parents. We would never allow this in our schools.

  51. Leo Ninmak says

    Holy crud! 12 year old brother did this for me by himself in just SECONDS. Super easy to follow within just seconds. Thanks man!

  53. Luanne Friesen says

    This is far too complicated for me. Too many steps to follow! Why so difficult. I am a non technical senior.

  55. Garth says

    Follow the first comment notes, this does work.

    Anyone know a good similar way to stop this in Firefox?

  56. Cristian says

    Ops! It works now. Thank you.

    You need to create the Google and Chrome inside of the Policies folder. Right click > new > Key

  58. Thomas Wessel says

    Thanks so much for the valuable information! Is there a way to do this on my kid’s Android phone?

  63. Andrew says

    I’d like to disable this mode on an android mobile phone. How do I go about doing that?

  65. Martin says

    Thanks! I was looking for this for a while, but this is the first solution that worked for me! Really thankful :)

  67. Venkat says

    Thanks man! This tip really helped me disable Incognito mode from the Chrome browser on my Macbook. Please do suggest if there’s such a thing for other browsers too i.e Private mode in Safari & Firefox.

  68. --- says

    When I navigate to Google, then Chrome, then new, then DWORD 32-bit value, I just get a pop-up that says “Cannot create value: Error writing to the registry.” How do I fix this? Thanks!

  70. Brady Smith says

    This worked for me disabling the option when I right click on the chrome icon. However, I can still ctrl+shift+n to get a new incognito window. I’m trying to disable this at my workplace. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

  71. Tim Tripp says

    Worked on Mac OS 10.13.3 (High Sierra) I just had to reboot the computer – I thought restarting Chrome would work but it didn’t. At first I thought it didn’t work but then when I rebooted the “New Incognito Window” menu option is grayed out.

  72. Maxwell Bean says

    This is such a beautiful solution! I have been wondering how to do this and the coding behind this is great! Thanks for the help

  73. Ken says

    I have windows 8.1 standard version and don’t have access to regedit.msc. Whatever the download was above, “Alternatively, you can download this registry import file and run it to set the changes for you.” worked! All I did was download it, open it and it ran itself. Then I closed Chrome and reopened and ingoc was gone!

  74. Roxanne says

    Did not work for me either. I used my common sense instead and uninstalled and reinstalled Google Chrome, and it worked! LOL! I’m not sure what those things you do with ‘run’ in the windows button really do. Are those for programming and stuff?!

  75. Gabe Newell says

    Just clearing some stuff up after the OP.

    To create a new folder, right click on where you want to create it to on the left of the registry. This should open up a menu, from here select “create new” then “Key” and type the names exactly as written, with capital letters and no spaces (note that the Google folder is inside the Policies folder and the Chrome folder is inside the Google folder).

    To change the value either double-click (where you click twice fast) or right click and select modify from the menu. Change the value to 1 and just click ok, then exit. Try not to mess around as the script could stop working.

    *note; only use register/regedit if you know what you are doing or are following a guide. It has the potential to break your computer beyond fixing.

  77. Linda Copestick says

    How do I create these folders?

    (“Note: You may have to create the “Google” and “Chrome” folders.”)

    Thank you

  78. Julia says

    Worked perfectly fine for me!

    Tip for users: simply copy and paste the phrase instead of typing it (it will reduce error)

  79. angry mom says

    Michael Mays – I 100% agree with you! I cannot stand how Google (not sure about other browsers) allows and makes a default, PRIVATE BROWSING.

    As you said, it’s the “hide the porn” option for innocent children. Welp, innocent at least until they figure this unfortunate Google secret themselves!

    THANKS GOOGLE FOR NOT THINKING OF THE CHILDREN…..?

    P.S. the above go around WORKED on my mac.

  82. Michael May says

    After some research, it appears that while Google does not allow a way disable Incognito mode, there is a way through Windows Policy editor, which is essentially what I think this post was trying in the registry settings. HOWEVER, policy editor does not work if you are using Windows Home Version. That is probably why some people report that this works and for some it doesn’t. Unfortunately for me, I have Windows 10 Home, so I am stuck with a “hide the porn” option for my kids. Thanks Google and Windows for helping porn be so easily available to kids…

  83. gdot says

    Trying to turn this off on my son’s computer and it did not work. *For those of you unsure where to set the data value to 1, double click “IncognitoModeAvailability” and a box will pop up. You set it there.

  85. DonJuan says

    Doesn’t work. Followed instructions as specified and even ran the script. Incognito still runs.

  86. Hope says

    I am not quite sure how to set the value data to “1”. I’ve tried to edit the binary field. Every combination that I’ve put in that it accepts has not given me the right result (incognito mode is still available). All the other options give me the error that the value is incorrect. How do i set this right to prevent incognito. I tried the registry import file but it is an incognito enabler!!!! The opposite of what i need!

  88. John Smith says

    Hi,

    I am using a work desktop and I believe our IT admin disabled the incognito mode so I tried to enable the Incognito mode by following the recommended procedures, however, it won’t let me modify anything or change the value from 1 to 0. It always says …

    “Cannot edit IncognitoModeAvailability: Error writing the value’s new contents.”

    How will I be able to get the incognito mode back to the chrome browser?

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