How To Turn Off Incognito Mode Permanently on Chrome, Firefox, Safari

Do you know how to disable Incognito mode? Learn how to turn off Incognito mode permanently for all browsers on any device from our step-by-step guide for enhanced monitoring:

With privacy concerns among internet users at an all-time high, enabling your browser’s incognito mode is perhaps the easiest thing you can do today to ensure some semblance of privacy online. Most major browsers, like Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Chrome, have an incognito mode.

By switching this mode on, you basically command the browser to stop saving your cookies or local history during one of your online sessions. On a private system, this is an amazing feature. However, this mode can pose a major problem for public computer systems.

Simple Steps to Disable Incognito Mode

Educators trying to monitor their students’ internet activity in schools, or parents trying to keep tabs on their children, will find it challenging to supervise when incognito mode is enabled. As such, they would naturally want to disable incognito mode for good.

Check the video tutorial below to know what exactly happens when you use Incognito Mode:

Recently, the topic of disabling incognito mode was trending on a forum I visit. In this article, I would like to present my detailed, comprehensive answer to that question.

So, without much further ado, let’s dive in.

Incognito Mode: A Brief Understanding

The image below depicts the incognito mode window:

Incognito mode is a feature that one can enable on their computer or mobile browsers for a private web browsing session. With this mode on, your browser will not save any cookies, on-site data, or your browsing history.

Here’s a list of all the benefits you can reap from a switched-on incognito mode:

• As I mentioned before, Incognito mode does not save your browsing history. So, when you close the incognito window on your browser, it automatically deletes all records of your recently browsed activity.
• Besides browsing history, Incognito mode also prevents your browser from saving temporary files or cookies. These elements are immediately wiped off as soon as you close the incognito window.
• As no records are maintained, anybody else using your system will not be privy to your recent online activity.

That said, Incognito mode should not be mistaken for a solution that lets you browse the internet anonymously.

The following are some misconceptions about incognito mode that have to be cleared:

• You should note that websites and your internet service provider can still track your traffic. Incognito mode does not hide your IP address.
• It does not protect your computer from online viruses and malware, and should not be perceived as an alternative to anti-virus solutions.
• It does not turn you anonymous to hackers or government agencies.

With that out of the way, let’s look at the various methods to turn off incognito mode enterprises or individuals can use.

How to Turn Off Incognito Mode

Enlisted below are the simple and quick steps to be followed to turn off incognito mode on any browser and device.

In Chrome

Disabling incognito mode on Chrome is easy, provided you follow the guide I am about to show you step-by-step. It involves the use of your computer’s command-line utility. The process of turning off incognito mode on Chrome will differ a bit between Windows and Mac.

Here’s how you do it on Windows:

1. First, open your system’s Command Prompt as an administrator, as depicted in the image below.

2. Paste the following – [REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome /v IncognitoModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1] in the opened Command Prompt Window.

3. Hit Enter to run the command.

This should disable incognito mode completely on your computer.

These are the instructions for Mac users:

1. Open Finder > Go > Utilities

2. Then, open Terminal as in the image below – this is Mac’s alternative to Windows’ Command Prompt.

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3. Paste the following – [defaults write com.google.chrome IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1z]

4. Type the following – [killall cfprefsd]

5. Hit enter to run the command.

This should disable incognito mode on your Mac system.

Besides the desktop or laptops, Chrome is also available on iOS and Android phones. You’ll also have the privilege of enabling and disabling incognito mode on your smartphone.

iPhone and Android (In Chrome)

The Chrome app on smartphones offers the option of locking incognito mode behind a password. With the mode locked, anyone who wants to switch this mode on will have to enter the correct password.

Here’s how to turn off incognito mode on Android and iOS phones:

1. Open your Chrome app.

2. Go to settings by tapping on the three dots displayed in the top-right corner of your screen.

3. Now, select “Privacy and Security”.

4. You should see an option to “Lock incognito tabs when you leave Chrome”. Switch the toggle right next to this option.

Depending on your phone’s model, you’ll be asked to enter the right PIN or have your fingerprint scanned to unlock incognito mode.

On Firefox

Firefox also features an incognito mode, which goes by a different name. It is called Private Browsing. If you are looking for the right Private Browser, then feel free to check our detailed guide on Top Private Browsers for iOS and Android.

A simple way of disabling it completely would be:

1. Open Settings on your Firefox browser.
2. Go to Privacy and Security.
3. Navigate to the History section and select “Remember History”.

The best and most effective way to disable it on Firefox is via an Add-On called “Private Begone”.

1. First, get the extension by going to the following link – https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/private-begone/

2. Install the add-on, and then navigate to Preferences in your Firefox browser.

3. Go to extensions and select Private Begone.

4. In the opened window, select “Allow” right next to the option “Run in Private Windows”.

This is how you can permanently disable Private Browsing from activating on Firefox.

In Microsoft Edge

To completely shut down incognito mode, known as InPrivate in Microsoft Edge, you’ll need to tweak your system’s registry a little.

Here’s how you do it:

1. First, make sure Microsoft Edge is closed on your PC.

2. Select Start and open Registry Editor as shown below.

3. In the opening window, replace the top path of the program with this command – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft. Press Enter to immediately get there.

4. Now, right-click on Microsoft from the options presented to you on the left.

5. From the drop-down menu – select “New” > Key

6. Give the Key a name. It can be Microsoft Edge.

7. Right-click on this key and from the drop-down menu, select New > DWORD (32-bit) value.

8. You can christen this value as “InPrivateModeAvailability”

9. Double-click on this newly created value and set it to 1.

10. End the process by clicking on OK.

Close Registry Editor and reboot your system. This will effectively disable Edge’s InPrivate mode.

On iPhone and Mac (Safari Browser)

Turning off Incognito mode on Safari will be different from what we’ve done so far with other browsers. This is because there isn’t an explicit way to turn private browsing off on it. However, you can still achieve the same result via the browser’s Screen Time feature.

Screen Time is a feature in Safari that lets you restrict adult content online. Here’s how you can use it to disable Private Browsing on the browser:

On iOS (Mac and iPhone)

1. Open Safari and immediately go to Settings.

2. In Settings, select Screen Time as shown below.

[Via For Tech]

3. Switch the toggle against “Content and Privacy Restrictions” option as shown below.

4. Select Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content > Web Content.

5. Here, simply select “Limit Adult Website”

This setting will result in Safari’s private browsing being completely disabled.

Using the Group Policy Editor on Windows

For disabling incognito mode, the Group Policy Editor is perhaps less recommended, yet a very effective method. This process may sound challenging. However, it is quite simple to follow.

Here’s how to do it:

1. First, open the Run dialog box and enter – gpedit.msc. This will launch the Group Policy Editor.
2. Within the Group Policy Editor, you’ll need to navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Google > Google Chrome.
3. Search for the policy titled – Incognito Mode Availability. Click on it to open a drop-down menu. Select Incognito Mode Disabled from the options.

This should disable incognito mode effectively.

On Chromebook

If you are using a Chromebook, know that you can disable incognito mode on it completely. Of course, to make this work, you’ll need to sign in to your Google Admin account.

Here’s how you do it:

1. First, log in to your Google Admin account
2. Navigate to Devices > Chrome > Settings
3. In the settings section, scroll down until you find “Security”
4. Here, find the Incognito Mode option. Select “Disallow Incognito Mode” from the options presented to you.

This will effectively disable incognito mode on your Chromebook and all other devices linked to your Google account.

Just like that, Incognito mode will stop functioning on your Chromebook.

Using Google Family Link to Disable Incognito Mode

Google offers an app called Family Link, which can help parents control and keep tabs on their child’s online activity.

This app works with the Chrome browser on all smartphones and PCs, regardless of their OS. If you want to learn how to turn incognito mode on iPad’s Chrome or any other OS, for that matter, simply follow the guide below:

1. First, download the app from the official store.

2. Before you install it, make sure you and your child’s devices are signed into a Google account.

3. Install the software and log in to it to link the app to you and your child’s Google account.

4. Make sure your child’s phone or computer is logged into their Google account.

5. With the link established, you’ll see your child’s account on the app’s dashboard.

6. On the Family Link’s home page, tap on your child’s account name.

7. Tap on “Content Restrictions” and make the necessary changes.

Note: The family app only works with the Chrome browser. You cannot use it to disable the incognito mode of other browsers.

Best Third-Party Apps to Disable Incognito Mode

Besides the above solutions, there are third-party apps out there that’ll help you disable incognito mode on a device.

Comparing the Top Apps to Turn Off Incognito Mode

The following are some of the best apps for this job:

Name	Device Compatibility	Browsers	Price
Qustodia	Windows, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Mac	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari	Starts at $54.95/year.
Incognito Away	Android	Chrome, Edge, Brave Browser	Starts at $0.99
AirDroid	Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac	Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari	Starts at $1 per device per month
Incoquito	Android	Chrome	Free

#1) Qustodia

A popular app that is now being used by over 8 million parents globally can also disable incognito mode parental controls. It works on almost all devices, whether they are powered by Windows, Android, or iOS.

The app lets you make configurations that effectively block private browsing. You can use the app to monitor your child’s browsing history 24/7 in real-time.

Price: Starts at $54.95/year.

Website: https://www.qustodio.com/en/

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#2) Incognito Away

Now, this is an app I would recommend to folks who want a solution that does nothing more than just block incognito mode on the browser. This app is laser-focused on this purpose and was designed by an independent developer. You can use it to completely disable incognito mode on Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Price: Starts at $0.99

Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smajenterprise.incognitoaway&hl=en_US

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#3) AirDroid Business

With AirDroid Business, you’ve got an advanced mobile device management solution tailor-made for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows systems. The app lets you control various privacy and security-related aspects of a PC or computer remotely.

You can use it to disable incognito mode permanently on not one but multiple devices at once. It is an app I would recommend to system and IT administrators in large organizations and institutions.

Price: Starts at $1/device/month

Website: https://www.airdroid.com/business/

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#4) Incoquito

Incoquito is a free app made for Android with the sole purpose of disabling and managing incognito mode on the Chrome browser. It has two modes. The Auto-Close mode automatically shuts down incognito mode when the screen is turned off. The Prevent mode, on the other hand, keeps incognito mode from being activated on a browser.

Price: Free

Website: https://apkpure.com/incoquito-free/com.leminolabs.incoquito

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Things You Need to Consider Before Turning Incognito Mode Off

While turning incognito mode off isn’t difficult, it is still important that you understand the implications of doing so. Here are a few things to consider before you decide to deactivate this mode:

1. You Need to be the System Admin

Not everyone can disable incognito mode completely. On some systems, disabling this mode involves the tweaking of registry keys and running commands. You’ll need to have special administrative privileges on that system to get the job done.

2. Method Varies from OS to OS

You also need to understand that disabling incognito mode will be different across operating systems. The method you follow to disable incognito mode on Chrome will differ from the method you’ll need to follow when disabling the feature on Safari.

3. Keep a Note of Changes

Disabling Incognito mode completely can cause permanent policy changes on your browser. I suggest noticing these changes and making a note of them just in case you want to revert to the older browser policy.

4. Ethical Concerns

If you are disabling incognito mode on a private computer or smartphone, then do so without hesitation. However, the implications of doing so on a publicly shared network are different and raise some important ethical concerns.

Make sure you have the permission of higher authorities when making these changes. Also, make sure you comply with your institution or organization’s policies when disabling incognito mode on a shared network.

Troubleshooting Issues With the Disabling of Incognito Mode

Many things can go wrong while you try to disable incognito mode on your mobile and PC. It is possible that the changes you’ve made simply do not take effect immediately. You might also see your browser opening in incognito mode despite having disabled it completely.

Perhaps some savvy users on your shared network have bypassed the restrictions on incognito mode.

Whatever the problem, I suggest following the tips below to solve the issue:

• If the changes haven’t taken effect yet, I suggest rebooting your browser or entire system.
• Make sure your browser is running on the latest update. Outdated browsers will always cause an issue.
• Also, make sure you are making the registry tweaks as an administrator. Non-administrators don’t get the privilege to disable incognito mode on shared networks.
• Some users may try to bypass incognito mode via VPNs or portable browsers. You can avoid these by using a reputable MDM or third-party privacy management solution. A stronger firewall or applying DNS filters can also help prevent such a breach.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

Disabling incognito mode completely will help system administrators keep tabs on the computers they are in charge of. It can also help parents keep tabs on their child’s online activity, and educators monitor the use of computers within their premises by students, thus making sure they aren’t being used to visit questionable and NSFW websites online.

At first glance, the process, at least when it comes to tweaking a system’s registry, may seem daunting.

However, if you follow the process as I’ve laid it out in the article, you are bound to have an easier time completely disabling incognito mode for good. Just make sure you are an admin and have the permission necessary to apply such a restriction.

Research Process:

The total time involved to complete and publish this article is approximately 35 hours. This content was created through a structured research approach to ensure accuracy and reliability.

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