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
- Hold down the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Run box.
- Type “regedit“, then press “Enter“.
- Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” > “SOFTWARE” > “Policies” > “Google” > “Chrome“.
Note: You may have to create the “Google” and “Chrome” folders. - Right-click “Chrome” and select “New” > “DWORD 32-bit value“
- Give the value a name of “
IncognitoModeAvailability“. - Double-click on “
IncognitoModeAvailability“. A box will appear where you can set the value data to “1“. - 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
-
- From the Finder, select “Go” > “Utilities“.
- Open the “Terminal” application.
- Type the following, then press “Enter“:
defaults write com.google.chrome IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1 - 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”
Julia says
Worked perfectly fine for me!
Tip for users: simply copy and paste the phrase instead of typing it (it will reduce error)
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.
Krysta says
Thank you! Worked great for me!
Alvaro says
Worked perfectly on an iMac running macOS Sierra 10.12.6 and Chrome 61.0.3163.91. Thanks.
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…
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.
May says
It did not work!
DonJuan says
Doesn’t work. Followed instructions as specified and even ran the script. Incognito still runs.
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!
matt says
Just did this and it works. Thanks so much
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?
Emily says
How can you disable incognito in an iPhone 6 chrome browser?