Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode is a useful tool for preventing your browser from saving local history and cookies. However, if you manage a computer used by children in a family household, or if you run a small business and want to ensure employees are not bypassing local network monitoring, Incognito Mode presents a massive loophole.
Google does not provide a simple toggle switch in the Chrome settings to turn off Incognito Mode. Instead, you must use the Windows Registry Editor to force a system-wide policy that completely removes the option to launch private windows.
How to Block Incognito Mode Using the Registry Editor
You will need to create a specific policy key to disable the feature.
- Click the Start button, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. (Click Yes when User Account Control prompts you).
- Using the folder tree on the left, navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies - Right-click on the Policies folder, select New > Key, and name the new folder Google.
- Right-click on your new Google folder, select New > Key, and name it Chrome.
- Click on the new Chrome folder so it is highlighted.
- Right-click in the empty space in the right-hand pane, and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name this new value exactly: IncognitoModeAvailability
- Double-click
IncognitoModeAvailabilityand change the “Value data” from 0 to 1. - Click OK, then close the Registry Editor.
Restart your computer. When you open Google Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, the “New Incognito window” option will be greyed out or completely missing. The Ctrl+Shift+N keyboard shortcut will also be permanently disabled.