Over the years, Google has set the gold standard for web browsing with Chrome. This is made possible by constantly updating the browser with features like Memory mode and Power Saver. With the latest update for Android, you can now use your fingerprint or password to lock incognito tabs on Google Chrome. In this article, we’ll show you everything you need to know.
The whole purpose of using an incognito tab is to browse the web behind closed doors. Tab lock really reinforces this purpose. However, the feature is currently only available on the Android app, and iPhone users have, unfortunately, missed out. This feature is also not available on the desktop version of Chrome, but we have found an alternative to use such a feature. Read more to know more!
3 ways to lock incognito mode on Google Chrome on Android
Although there is a built-in option to lock incognito mode in Chrome browser with the latest update, we also have a few alternatives in case you are unable to update Google Chrome to the new version best. So here are three different methods to lock incognito mode in Google Chrome on Android.
Method 1: Use Google Chrome’s built-in feature to lock your incognito session
In a new update to the Android app, Google announced a feature that locks incognito tabs by modifying the Chrome flag – this is a hidden page filled with experimental toggles to improve the browsing experience. yours on Chrome.
To use this feature, make sure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome on the Play Store. Otherwise, download the latest version of Chrome from a third-party site. Once done, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open Google Chrome and enter the address below in the URL bar to access the flag.
chrome://flags/#incognito-reauthentication-for-android
Step 2: The flag named “Enable device re-authentication for Incognito Mode” will be ticked. Click the drop-down menu for the same.
Step 3: Now, tick the enabled box.
Step 4: Now you need to restart Chrome to apply the setting. Click Relaunch.
Step 5: After relaunching Google Chrome, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
Step 6: Tap on ‘Privacy and Security’.
Step 7: Now toggle the switch for ‘Lock incognito tabs when you leave Chrome’.
After enabling this switch, the incognito session will be locked as soon as you exit Chrome and you’ll need to use a password or fingerprint authentication to access it again.
However, even with the latest update, this feature may not be available due to some regions and device-specific restrictions. In that case, move on to the next few methods.
Method 2: Use App Lock to lock Google Chrome
Almost all Android devices have a built-in password/fingerprint app lock feature. This way you need to provide your password/fingerprint every time you try to open the locked app.
This is also an alternative method to lock the Incognito tab on Google Chrome, however, it locks the entire application and not just the incognito tab. But it still serves the purpose, so why not?
Note: We used a OnePlus device to illustrate the tutorial. The steps will remain the same if you are also using any other Android device.
Step 1: Open the Settings app.
Step 2: Select Privacy.
Step 2: Tap App Lock. You will now be asked to set a password to lock the app.
Step 3: After setting the app lock password, turn on the App Lock switch.
Step 4: Scroll down the application list and turn on the switch to lock Google Chrome.
Step 5: In case you also want to use your fingerprint to authenticate the app lock feature, grant permission to use that fingerprint for the same purpose.
The next time you exit Google Chrome and try to open it again, you will be asked to provide your fingerprint or passcode to open the same.
But if you don’t have the app lock feature or if you can’t use it, don’t worry. You can also use third-party apps.
Method 3: Use a third-party app to lock Google Chrome
Many apps allow you to lock apps on your Android device. But we wanted to show you an app that received mostly positive feedback from a large group of users with over ten million downloads. This way you can lock Google Chrome without any hassle.
Step 1: Download App Lock – Xlock from Play Store using the link below.
Step 2: You will have a brief introduction to its features and you will be asked to order a template.
Step 3: Select Google Chrome from the list of apps you want to lock and tap Lock.
Step 3: Give all the necessary permissions, tap Go To Set and select App Lock – Xlock and toggle the switch for it when you are redirected to the Settings app.
Step 4: Click Allow to run the application in the background.
This will effectively lock Google Chrome, and you’ll need to authenticate with your password or fingerprint every time you open the app.
Next, let’s see how we can do it on the desktop version of Google Chrome.
How to lock Incognito Mode on Google Chrome Desktop
Looks like Google missed adding this feature to the desktop version of Google Chrome. The ability to lock incognito modes using built-in settings is currently limited to Android devices.
However, you can install a Google Chrome extension on your PC or Mac to lock Google Chrome every time you exit. While it doesn’t specifically lock incognito tabs, it does add an extra layer of security to Google Chrome.
Step 1: Visit the extension page on the Chrome Web Store using the link below.
Step 2: Click Add to Chrome > Add extension.
Step 3: Once the extension is installed, click on the extension icon and select the three-dot menu button next to the LockPW extension.
Step 4: Click Options.
Step 5: In this window, you can set a password to lock Google Chrome. Enter the password and click Save.
Step 6: Now, you will be asked to enter your password every time you open Google Chrome on your PC or Mac. Enter your password and click Sign In.
To disable the password: Go to the extension’s settings page (as shown in Step 3 in this section) and click the disable password button.
Your go. That’s all you need to know about how to lock incognito mode in Google Chrome with a password. In case you have any more questions, check out the FAQ section below.
Chrome Incognito Mode Lock FAQ
1. Is App Lock feature available on iPhone?
As of now, iPhones don’t have an option to lock apps or trusted third-party apps to duplicate the missing functionality in Google Chrome.
2. Can parents turn off incognito mode on Google Chrome?
Yes, if you set up a Google Account for your child, they won’t be able to use incognito mode in Google Chrome when it’s used on the child’s account.
Protect your secrets
We hope this article helped you lock incognito mode in Google Chrome on your Android device and Desktop. We hope Google includes this integration to lock incognito mode on iPhone as well as the Desktop app. Furthermore, we appreciate Google for adding this feature and hope this trend will continue over time!
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
