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Chrome: Disable Incognito Mode

Chrome: Disable Incognito Mode

By 60 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”

Reader Interactions

Comments

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

  5. 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”.)

  6. 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.

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

  9. 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

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

  11. 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.

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

  13. 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.

  16. 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?

  17. 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?????

  18. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

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

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

  26. Follow the first comment notes, this does work.

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

  27. Ops! It works now. Thank you.

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

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

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

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

  38. 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.

  39. 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!

  41. 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!

  42. 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.

  43. 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

  44. 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!

  45. 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?!

  46. 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.

  48. How do I create these folders?

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

    Thank you

  49. Worked perfectly fine for me!

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

  50. 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.

  53. 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…

  54. 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.

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

  57. 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!

  59. 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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