How to Go Incognito on Android
Every major Android browser has a private mode — Chrome calls it Incognito, Samsung Internet calls it Secret mode, and Firefox calls it Private Browsing. Here's how to open it in each, and how to get back out.
Chrome
- Tap the ⋮ menu next to the address bar and choose New Incognito tab.
- To switch between normal and Incognito tabs, tap the tab switcher and swipe between the two panes.
- To leave, tap Close all Incognito tabs in the notification shade, or close the tabs in the Incognito pane of the tab switcher.
By default Chrome blocks screenshots of Incognito tabs on Android — if your screenshot comes out black, that's why.
Samsung Internet
- Tap the tabs button at the bottom.
- Tap Turn on Secret mode. Samsung offers to protect Secret mode with a password or biometrics.
- To leave, open the tabs button again and tap Turn off Secret mode.
Firefox
- Tap the mask icon at the top of the tab switcher, or open the ⋮ menu and choose New private tab.
- To leave, switch back to the normal pane in the tab switcher and close your private tabs.
FAQ
- Does Incognito on Android hide my browsing from Wi-Fi owners?
- No. Incognito only stops the browser from saving history, cookies, and site data on the phone. The Wi-Fi network's owner, your mobile carrier, and the sites you visit can still see the traffic.
- Where do Incognito tabs go when I close them?
- They're gone — Android browsers don't keep a list of closed private tabs, and there's no history entry to reopen them from. If you want a page back, you'll have to find it again.
- Can I always browse in Incognito?
- Chrome on Android has no setting to always start in Incognito. Firefox can open links from other apps in private tabs and offers a private-browsing home-screen shortcut, but no major Android browser makes every new tab private automatically.