I put together this video to show exactly how to use Chrome’s Incognito Mode — and when it actually helps versus when it doesn’t.

A lot of people think Incognito Mode makes you anonymous online, but that’s not the full picture. While it’s a super useful tool for private browsing, it has specific limits you should understand.

Here’s how to use it effectively.

What Incognito Mode actually does

When you open a new Incognito window in Chrome, it:

  • Doesn’t save your browsing history

  • Doesn’t store cookies or site data after the session

  • Doesn’t retain form data, autofill entries, or passwords

But — and this is key — it doesn’t hide your activity from:

  • Your internet provider (ISP)

  • Your employer or school (if you’re on a managed device)

  • Websites you visit

  • Google, if you’re signed into a Google service in the Incognito window

So it’s private locally — but not anonymous globally.

How to open an Incognito window

On desktop:

  • Click the three-dot menu (top-right of Chrome)

  • Select New Incognito Window

  • Or use the shortcut:

    • Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows)

    • Cmd + Shift + N (Mac)

On mobile:

  • Open the Chrome app

  • Tap the three dots

  • Tap New Incognito Tab

You’ll know you’re in Incognito mode by the dark theme and the spy icon in the corner.

Best use cases for Incognito

Here’s when I personally use it:

  • Testing websites without saved cookies

  • Logging into multiple accounts at once

  • Bypassing soft paywalls or read limits (on some news sites)

  • Shopping or searching without affecting algorithms

  • Doing clean SEO searches (without personalized results)

If you want a fresh, temporary browsing session with no tracking on your local device, Incognito is perfect.

When not to rely on it

Don’t assume Incognito makes you invisible. It won’t:

  • Protect you from malware or tracking scripts

  • Encrypt your data (use a VPN for that)

  • Hide your IP address

  • Prevent site owners from identifying repeat visits by fingerprinting

In the video, I give a few real-world examples of when Incognito helped — and when I needed a stronger privacy tool like a VPN or a fresh browser profile.

Final thoughts

Incognito Mode is like a clean slate for quick browsing sessions. It’s not total privacy — but it’s a useful tool for research, account management, and testing.

Are you using Incognito for the right reasons — or expecting it to be something it’s not?