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 estimate the 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:
- Your IP address, which can be used to identify the general area you're in
- Your activity when you use a web service
- Your identity if you sign in to a web service, like Gmail
You can still find and use your payment, password and contact info, but you can’t change your saved info in a Chrome Incognito window.
Downloads and bookmarks are saved
Chrome won’t store the 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 windows and regular Chrome windows. You'll only browse in private when you're using an Incognito window.
You can also choose to block third-party cookies when you open a new incognito window. Learn more about cookies.
Close Incognito mode to stop private browsing
Incognito mode runs in a separate window from your normal Chrome windows.
If you have an Incognito window open and you open another one, your private browsing session will continue in the new window. To exit Incognito mode, close all Incognito windows.
If you see a number next to the Incognito icon at the top right, you have more than one Incognito window open. To close an Incognito window:
- On your computer, go to your Incognito window.
- Close the window:
- Windows or Chrome OS: At the top right, click Close
.
- Mac: At the top left, click Close
.
- Windows or Chrome OS: At the top right, click Close