The Privacy Standard
When you browse the internet in standard mode, Google Chrome meticulously records every website you visit, saves every image into a local cache, and accepts tracking cookies from advertisers. If you share a computer with family members, or if you simply prefer maximum privacy at all times, having to manually launch Chrome and then press Ctrl + Shift + N to open an Incognito window every single session is annoying. If you want Chrome to automatically launch in a private state—where it deletes all browsing history and cookies the second you close the window—you can modify the core application shortcut.
How to Modify the Chrome Desktop Shortcut
You can force the browser into a permanent Incognito state by adding a simple command-line flag to the Windows shortcut you use to launch the application.
- Locate your Google Chrome shortcut (this can be the icon on your Desktop, or the icon pinned to your Taskbar).
- Right-click the Chrome icon. (Note: If the icon is on the taskbar, you must right-click the icon, then right-click the word “Google Chrome” in the jump list).
- Select Properties from the right-click menu.
- In the Properties window, ensure you are on the Shortcut tab.
- Look for the text box labeled Target. It will contain a long string ending in
chrome.exe". - Click inside the Target box and move your text cursor to the very end of the line, completely outside the final quotation mark.
- Type a single Space, followed by exactly this: -incognito
- The very end of your Target line should now look like this:
chrome.exe" -incognito - Click Apply, then click OK. Provide administrator permission if prompted.
The Private Browser
The next time you double-click that modified shortcut, Google Chrome will immediately launch directly into the dark-themed Incognito Mode. You can browse freely, knowing that the moment you click the red “X” to close the window, absolutely zero traces of your web session will be saved to the local hard drive.