How to Disable Chrome Incognito Mode on Windows, macOS, and Android

Quick Tips

• Group Policy Editor can disable Chrome’s incognito mode in Windows.
• Google Family Link allows kids to hide incognito on Android devices.
• On macOS, the default write command can remove incognito mode from Chrome.

Disable Chrome Incognito Mode on Windows

If you have Windows Pro and above, you can use Group Policy; else, use the Command prompt to update the Windows Registry.

Group Policy

Step 1: Type gpedit.msc in the Run prompt (Win +R), and press the Enter key to open the Group Policy Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to Use Configuration > Administrative Templates > Google Chrome. Locate and double-click to open the Incognito mode availability policy.

Step 3: Choose Disabled and click the Ok button to save the changes.

Update Registry using Command Prompt

Step 1: Open the Run prompt, and type cmd to launch Command Prompt.

Step 2: Copy and paste the following path into the Command Prompt console and press Enter.

REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome /v IncognitoModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1

Step 3: Once The operation completed successfully message appears on the screen, exit the Command Prompt console. Restart Chrome, and you should find Incognito mode disabled.

Note: If you want to undo your action, use the following command on an elevated Command Prompt console: REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome /v IncognitoModeAvailability /f

Disable Chrome Incognito Mode on macOS

On a Mac, disabling Chrome’s Incognito mode is much easier when compared to Windows.

Step 1: Load up a Terminal window (search for Terminal using Spotlight Search), type in the command line below, and then press Enter:

defaults write com.google.chrome IncognitoModeAvailability -integer 1 

Step 2: Exit the Terminal and restart your Mac after running the command line. To confirm, open Chrome and bring up the Chrome menu—you won’t see the New Incognito Window option anymore.

Disable Chrome Incognito Mode on Android

Android doesn’t have a built-in feature that allows one to disable the Incognito mode in the mobile version of Chrome. However, if you need to disable it for your Kid, use the Google Family Link. Once configured, kids cannot use the Incognito mode on their smartphones.

Note: Ensure you can access the Kids’ mobile phone, Gmail email ID and password, and the internet. Also, remember if you have any other account on your kid’s phone, it will be removed.

Step 1: Download the Google Family Link app on both devices.

Download from Google PlayStore

Step 2: Open the Family Link app on the parent’s device and follow the on-screen steps. When asked, choose your Google account. Confirm that you’re a parent.

Step 3: You must also add the child’s Google account to supervise. Doing so will automatically add that account to the Family account.

Step 4: Open the Family Link app on the child’s device and follow the on-screen steps. When prompted, enter the link code from the parent’s device.

Step 5: On the child’s device: Verify your child’s Google account if necessary