Are you someone who enjoys the privacy of browsing in incognito mode on Google Chrome, yet you’ve found yourself wishing for an extra layer of security? A way to make sure that even if your smartphone falls into the wrong hands, your incognito sessions remain private? Your wish has finally come true!! Google Chrome’s latest update for Android devices has introduced a fantastic new feature that will make your private browsing sessions even more secure.
In this post, we’re going to delve into Google Chrome’s version 105 update, which has added an incredibly useful feature – the ability to lock your incognito tabs using your device’s lock screen authentication, such as fingerprint, PIN, pattern, or password. No more worries about someone snooping around your incognito tabs if you leave your phone unattended.
This feature comes as a response to years of user requests and puts Android on par with iOS, which has been offering a similar feature through ‘Privacy Screen’ for some time. However, activating this new protective shield requires a few steps. Stick around as we guide you through the process of enabling this hidden gem to maximize your privacy while browsing in incognito mode on Chrome.
Incognito Mode on Google Chrome
Incognito mode, also known as private browsing, is a feature available on Google Chrome that allows you to surf the web without leaving behind any digital footprints. When you browse in incognito mode, Chrome doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or the information you enter into forms. This mode is particularly useful when you want to keep your browsing activities private, whether you’re planning a surprise party, looking for a gift, or exploring sensitive information.
The limitations of incognito mode in its previous versions
While incognito mode has always been a useful tool for protecting your privacy, it had it’s limitations in earlier versions of Chrome. Specifically, the privacy it offered was limited to your online activities and not on your device. When you minimized or closed the Chrome app, your incognito tabs would remain visible to anyone who reopened the app on your device. In essence, while incognito mode kept your browsing history a secret from the web, it couldn’t do the same for other users of your device.
New update
This privacy loophole highlighted a pressing need for an added layer of security, especially considering our smartphones often fall into the hands of friends, family members, or colleagues. In response to this need and the consistent user requests over the years, Google has introduced an enhancement to the incognito mode in the latest update(version 105) of Chrome for Android. The update now allows you to lock your incognito tabs using your phone’s lock screen authentication – be it a fingerprint, PIN, pattern, or password. This added layer of security ensures that your incognito browsing sessions remain private, not just from the web but also from anyone physically accessing your device.
Step-by-step Guide to Lock Incognito Tabs with a Fingerprint Google Chrome
Step 1: Accessing Chrome Flags
Firstly, you’ll need to access the experimental features section of Google Chrome, colloquially known as Chrome Flags. To do this, open your Google Chrome browser on your Android device. In the address bar at the top, type ‘chrome://flags’ and hit enter. It will open up a long list of features currently in testing phases or are being prepared for future updates. Please note these are experimental features, so exercise caution when enabling them.
Step 2: Searching and Enabling the Incognito Feature
Once you’ve accessed Chrome Flags, you’ll see a search bar at the top. Write ‘incognito’ into this search bar to filter down to the features related to incognito mode. You’re looking for an option related to locking or securing your incognito tabs. The exact naming might vary, but it will likely be something along the lines of “Enable Incognito Lock”. Once you’ve found it, tap on the dropdown menu under it and select ‘Enabled’.
Step 3: Activate the Toggle in the Privacy and Security Section
After you’ve enabled the appropriate flag, you’re not quite done yet. You still need to activate this feature in the settings. Close and restart your Chrome browser for the changes to take effect. Once you’ve done that, go into the ‘Settings’ menu of the Chrome app. From there, navigate to the ‘Privacy and Security’ section. You should now see a new option related to locking your incognito tabs. Again, the exact naming may vary, but look for something like “Lock Incognito Tabs When You Close Chrome”. Toggle this option on.
Conclusion
Explanation of what happens after the feature is activated
After both of these steps are complete, your incognito tabs will now be protected by your device’s lock screen security. Whenever you minimize the Chrome app or switch to another, anyone trying to access your incognito tabs will be prompted to unlock them using your device’s lock screen authentication method(PIN, pattern, password, or fingerprint). It provides an additional layer of security for your incognito browsing, ensuring your activities remain private even if your device falls into the wrong hands. Remember that this is an experimental feature, so it’s subject to change and may have some quirks. If you come across any issues, you can Disable this option at any time by following the same steps and choosing ‘Disabled’ in the Chrome Flags menu.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
