Windows 10: Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut in Windows

Brink · Jul 21, 2018

How to: Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut in Windows

How to Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut in Windows

If you dont want Google Chrome to remember your activity, you can browse the web privately in Incognito mode. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved.

When you browse privately, other people who use the device won't see your activity.

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.

Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving your browsing activity.

Your activity might still be visible to:

Websites you visit, including the ads and resources used on those sites

Your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using

Your internet service provider

If you sign in to an account to use a web service (like Gmail) while in Incognito mode, your browsing activity might be saved on sites that recognize that account.

Chrome wont remember 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.

You can switch between Incognito windows and regular Chrome windows. You'll only browse in private when you're using an Incognito window.

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.

See also:

Browse in private | Google Chrome Help

How private browsing works | Google Chrome Help

This tutorial will show you how to create a shortcut that will always open Google Chrome in Incognito mode in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

CONTENTS:

Option One: Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut that Opens in Current Incognito Window

Option Two: Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut that Always Opens in New Incognito Window

EXAMPLE: Incognito mode in Google Chrome

OPTION ONE [/i] Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut that Opens in Current Incognito Window
1 Right click or press and hold on your desktop, click/tap on New, and click/tap on Shortcut.

2 Type the location you want to use below depending on if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows installed, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
(32-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode in new Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito

OR

(32-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode to specific site in current Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito URL

Substitute URL in the location above with the actual URL address (ex: https://www.tenforums.com) of the website you want to create a shortcut to.

For example: "%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito https://www.tenforums.com

OR

(64-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode in new Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito

OR

(64-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode to specific site in current Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito URL

Substitute URL in the location above with the actual URL address (ex: https://www.tenforums.com) of the website you want to create a shortcut to.

For example: "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito https://www.tenforums.com

3 Type a name (ex: "Google Chrome Incognito") you want for this shortcut, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

4 If you like, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

OPTION TWO [/i] Create Google Chrome Incognito Mode Shortcut that Always Opens in New Incognito Window
1 Right click or press and hold on your desktop, click/tap on New, and click/tap on Shortcut.

2 Type the location you want to use below depending on if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows installed, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
(32-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode in new Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito -new-window

OR

(32-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode to specific site in new Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito -new-window URL

Substitute URL in the location above with the actual URL address (ex: https://www.tenforums.com) of the website you want to create a shortcut to.

For example: "%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito -new-window https://www.tenforums.com

OR

(64-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode in new Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito -new-window

OR

(64-bit Windows - Opens Google Chrome in Incognito mode to specific site in new Incognito window)
*Arrow "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito -new-window URL

Substitute URL in the location above with the actual URL address (ex: https://www.tenforums.com) of the website you want to create a shortcut to.

For example: "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -incognito -new-window https://www.tenforums.com

3 Type a name (ex: "Google Chrome Incognito") you want for this shortcut, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

4 If you like, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

How to Enable or Disable Incognito Mode in Google Chrome in Windows

How to Enable or Disable Extensions in Incognito Mode in Google Chrome

How to Create Google Chrome Guest Mode Shortcut in Windows

How to Create Website Shortcut in Windows

:)

Brink · Oct 27, 2019

Google Chrome will stop Incognito Mode detection at end of July

Chrome’s Incognito Mode is based on the principle that you should have the choice to browse the web privately. At the end of July, Chrome will remedy a loophole that has allowed sites to detect people who are browsing in Incognito Mode. This will affect some publishers who have used the loophole to deter metered paywall circumvention, so we’d like to explain the background and context of the change.

Private browsing principles

People choose to browse the web privately for many reasons. Some wish to protect their privacy on shared or borrowed devices, or to exclude certain activities from their browsing histories. In situations such as political oppression or domestic abuse, people may have important safety reasons for concealing their web activity and their use of private browsing features.

We want you to be able to access the web privately, with the assurance that your choice to do so is private as well. These principles are consistent with emerging web standards for private browsing modes.

Closing the FileSystem API loophole

Today, some sites use an unintended loophole to detect when people are browsing in Incognito Mode. Chrome’s FileSystem API is disabled in Incognito Mode to avoid leaving traces of activity on someone’s device. Sites can check for the availability of the FileSystem API and, if they receive an error message, determine that a private session is occurring and give the user a different experience.

With the release of Chrome 76 scheduled for July 30, the behavior of the FileSystem API will be modified to remedy this method of Incognito Mode detection. Chrome will likewise work to remedy any other current or future means of Incognito Mode detection.

Publisher impact and strategies

The change will affect sites that use the FileSystem API to intercept Incognito Mode sessions and require people to log in or switch to normal browsing mode, on the assumption that these individuals are attempting to circumvent metered paywalls.

Unlike hard paywalls or registration walls, which require people to log in to view any content, meters offer a number of free articles before you must log in. This model is inherently porous, as it relies on a site’s ability to track the number of free articles someone has viewed, typically using cookies. Private browsing modes are one of several tactics people use to manage their cookies and thereby "reset" the meter count.

Sites that wish to deter meter circumvention have options such as reducing the number of free articles someone can view before logging in, requiring free registration to view any content, or hardening their paywalls. Other sites offer more generous meters as a way to develop affinity among potential subscribers, recognizing some people will always look for workarounds. We suggest publishers monitor the effect of the FileSystem API change before taking reactive measures since any impact on user behavior may be different than expected and any change in meter strategy will impact all users, not just those using Incognito Mode.

Our News teams support sites with meter strategies and recognize the goal of reducing meter circumvention, however any approach based on private browsing detection undermines the principles of Incognito Mode. We remain open to exploring solutions that are consistent with user trust and private browsing principles.
Click to expand...

Source: Protecting private browsing in Chrome

Tip How to Enable or Disable Incognito Mode in Google Chrome in Windows

How to Enable or Disable Extensions in Incognito Mode in Google Chrome

Brink · Oct 27, 2019

Google Chrome will stop Incognito Mode detection at end of July

Chrome’s Incognito Mode is based on the principle that you should have the choice to browse the web privately. At the end of July, Chrome will remedy a loophole that has allowed sites to detect people who are browsing in Incognito Mode. This will affect some publishers who have used the loophole to deter metered paywall circumvention, so we’d like to explain the background and context of the change.

Private browsing principles

People choose to browse the web privately for many reasons. Some wish to protect their privacy on shared or borrowed devices, or to exclude certain activities from their browsing histories. In situations such as political oppression or domestic abuse, people may have important safety reasons for concealing their web activity and their use of private browsing features.

We want you to be able to access the web privately, with the assurance that your choice to do so is private as well. These principles are consistent with emerging web standards for private browsing modes.

Closing the FileSystem API loophole

Today, some sites use an unintended loophole to detect when people are browsing in Incognito Mode. Chrome’s FileSystem API is disabled in Incognito Mode to avoid leaving traces of activity on someone’s device. Sites can check for the availability of the FileSystem API and, if they receive an error message, determine that a private session is occurring and give the user a different experience.

With the release of Chrome 76 scheduled for July 30, the behavior of the FileSystem API will be modified to remedy this method of Incognito Mode detection. Chrome will likewise work to remedy any other current or future means of Incognito Mode detection.

Publisher impact and strategies

The change will affect sites that use the FileSystem API to intercept Incognito Mode sessions and require people to log in or switch to normal browsing mode, on the assumption that these individuals are attempting to circumvent metered paywalls.

Unlike hard paywalls or registration walls, which require people to log in to view any content, meters offer a number of free articles before you must log in. This model is inherently porous, as it relies on a site’s ability to track the number of free articles someone has viewed, typically using cookies. Private browsing modes are one of several tactics people use to manage their cookies and thereby "reset" the meter count.

Sites that wish to deter meter circumvention have options such as reducing the number of free articles someone can view before logging in, requiring free registration to view any content, or hardening their paywalls. Other sites offer more generous meters as a way to develop affinity among potential subscribers, recognizing some people will always look for workarounds. We suggest publishers monitor the effect of the FileSystem API change before taking reactive measures since any impact on user behavior may be different than expected and any change in meter strategy will impact all users, not just those using Incognito Mode.

Our News teams support sites with meter strategies and recognize the goal of reducing meter circumvention, however any approach based on private browsing detection undermines the principles of Incognito Mode. We remain open to exploring solutions that are consistent with user trust and private browsing principles.
Click to expand...

Source: Protecting private browsing in Chrome

Tip How to Enable or Disable Incognito Mode in Google Chrome in Windows

How to Enable or Disable Extensions in Incognito Mode in Google Chrome

Gowrish_S · Oct 27, 2019

Missing Google Chrome system notification icon.

Hello,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Please answer these questions for us:

Was there any changes made on the computer prior to the issue?

Are you able to see other notification icons?

Have you tested the issue on a different user account?

Please try this step and let us know:

As you have already tried enabling the settings in Google Chrome and Windows 10, I would suggest you to create a new user account by following the

link and test the issue.

Note- The notification icon will be missing if you access the Google Chrome in Incognito mode. Please access the browser in normal mode.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Gowrish S

Microsoft Community –Moderator

Vanessa Sohtun · Oct 27, 2019

Windows 10 Chrome in All Apps and on Taskbar not showing incognito task

Hi Ron,

Before we proceed, I would like you to provide the inf0ormation stated below:

Does the issue prolong only to Google Chrome or other web browsers?

Is there are settings that are similar (other than the one mentioned) amongst the two PC's that are facing the above issue?

For now, if the issue is only with Google Chrome, I suggest that you uninstall google chrome completely from Control Panel and the folders associated with it. Once done, reboot and redownload and install Chrome and check if you are able to open Incognito
with a right click.

If the issue persist, I suggest that you contact Google Chrome support for further rectification.

Hope this helps

Regards

Ron Hewett · Oct 27, 2019

Windows 10 Chrome in All Apps and on Taskbar not showing incognito task

RMB = Right Mouse Button aka (also known as) right-click

I know I can open an incognito window after I start Chrome. I do it by selecting the 3 bar menu and selecting 'new incognito window' rather than Ctrl-Shift-N. *But* I do not want an 'ordinary' Google Chrome session as well as an incognito session. I just
want an incognito session.

What I want to do on my Win 10 Home 32 bit machines is the same as I can do on my Win 10 Pro 64 bit machines. That is, when hovering over Google Chrome in All Programs list, or hovering over the Google Chrome icon in the taskbar, click right mouse button
and select 'new incognito window' from the displayed tasks. In Win 10 Home 32 bit the task to open a new incognito window is missing.

Ron

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