How to Go Incognito on Chromebook

Don’t we all just love Chromebook devices? They’re (mostly) lightweight, highly functional as well as super-durable gadgets that you can almost always rely on to get the job done through thick and thin.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of these amazing devices is the fact that they are remarkably easy to use as well. What this means is that, unlike what you would have to go through with many of their counterparts, you don’t necessarily have to be tech-savvy for you to get the hang of how these devices work and function.

But having said that, this doesn’t mean that you won’t need help from time to time when it comes to truly tapping into and unleashing the vast potential of these particular classes of laptop devices. In saying that, one of the questions that the Netbook News community has been asking recently is how to go incognito on Chromebook.

While not necessarily a difficult task, you may need to have a concise guide when it comes to fully accessing this specific capability on your device. It is for this reason that we will be going into everything from what the incognito mode even is, why you’re best served leveraging it at certain points in time as well as the most efficient ways that you can activate this feature without stress.

Without further ado, let’s delve into that now!

What Exactly is Incognito Mode on Google Chromebook?

Simply put, incognito mode on Chromebook is essentially a feature that allows a user to access the Internet in a way that much of their personal information and history on the web is kept hidden. Essentially, the incognito mode lets you browse with maximum latitude on the World Wide Web.

For emphasis, learning the finer aspects of how to go incognito on Chromebook is a fairly painless process and, depending on how you choose to approach the matter, can be effortlessly done in a matter of seconds. It should go without saying that this particular means of browsing offers several dividends which is why more and more people find themselves in need of learning how to unleash the feature in all its glory.

Does Incognito on Chromebook Really Work?

With the world such as it is, it is only natural for you to be incredibly skeptical when it comes to trusting anything from the tech industry. This is more so the case when you’re particularly bent on ensuring that your safety, privacy, and security are guaranteed while you surf the Internet.

Along these lines, it is only logical and rational that you would want to know if you can really trust incognito on Chrome to keep your affairs private. Well, so far as we know, you can trust incognito mode to help keep your affairs private.

But in saying that, we have to stress that this particular feature on Chromebook is not without its limitations. And, it would be in your best interests to know what these shortcomings are so that you have all the information you need to decide whether or not private mode offers you the level of privacy that you need.

We will touch on this in the latter aspects of this article.

How to go Incognito on Chromebook – Your Complete Guide

As we have been sure to repeatedly state, you should know that there are quite a number of simple and efficient means by which you can readily access this all-important feature. We’ll be taking a closer look at some of the most common approaches that you can take at this time.

These include but aren’t limited to:

Method One – By Using the Chromebook Brower Long Route

This is one of the most commonly leveraged means through which you can readily achieve the ends that you want. Following this particular approach is as simple as just accessing your Chrome browser via your Chromebook and then looking for the trademark three-dot menu symbol.

Once that has been found, move on to click on it and you will be presented with two options. These are the “New Incognito Window” and “New Incognito Tab” options. Once you’re at this point, the only thing that’s left to do is for you to pick the option that best applies to your needs at that particular point in time.

After you have done that, the option you chose will immediately appear on your screen. You will know that you’re not looking at the regular Chrome tab because incognito tabs typically feature a grayed-out color scheme. From here, you can carry on as you wish and conduct your business in private.

Method Two – Using the Chromebook Keyboard Shortcut Option

Another way that you can tap into when it comes to learning how to go to incognito on Chromebook is for you to simply take advantage of the Chromebook shortcut option. This approach is quite literally as simple as pressing the “Shift + Ctrl + N” key combo. This will automatically launch the grayed-out color scheme tab that we mentioned earlier and you can perform whatever action that you like in relative seclusion.

And, once you’re done and you want to return to the regular Chrome tab, you have the option of either making your way to the top right corner of your screen and pressing that red “X” button or you could just use the “Ctrl + W” key combo.

Method Three – Using the Chromebook Quick Shortcut Option

The last option that we’ll be exploring here is the use of the quick shortcut on Chromebook to help you effortlessly enter incognito mode. This method is pretty interesting to use because it doesn’t even require that you have your Google Chrome app open in the first place!

All that a Chromebook user is required to do to leverage this avenue to enter private mode on the browser is to make their way to the shortcut icon of the browser app and right-click on it. This will bring a list of options.

Of these features, you only need to find and select “New Incognito Window” and you’re essentially done!

What to do If Incognito Window Won’t Open on Your Chromebook

The first and most important thing that you need to do if you encounter an issue like this is to keep a cool head on your shoulders. There is absolutely reason for you to fall into a panic just yet. This is because when an incognito window won’t open on your device, it’s usually a relatively minor matter that can be fixed with minimal fuss.

All that you have to do to get this fixed is to open the Chrome app on your device and look for the three-dot menu icon. Once you’ve found it, look for the “Settings” options and click on that. This will lead you to a window with a wealth of options to choose from. Scan through these carefully until you find “Reset and Clean Up”. Click on that.

Finally, choose the “Restore” settings option. This will take your browser app to its factory default setting and in the process of doing so, automatically correct whatever might have been wrong with your Chrome browser program.

Try entering incognito mode after this and we promise you that it’ll be a breeze!

What to Remember When Using Incognito Mode on Chromebook

The fact that incognito mode on Chromebook isn’t all-encompassing or infallible cannot be over-emphasized. We are stressing this point so you know that just because you know how to go incognito on Chromebook doesn’t guarantee that you have secured all the crucial elements of your privacy online.

On the contrary, there are several things that incognito mode on Chromebook (or on any other device for that matter) can’t and won’t do for you. Some of the biggest things worth nothing along these lines are:

• Incognito mode won’t hide or mask your Internet Protocol (IP) address from the websites that you visit;
• If you’re running it using the network of a managed organization such as a school or business enterprise, these organizations will still be able to see information like your browsing history and even your location;
• It doesn’t stop many websites from tracking your IP address, browser, and even browsing device;
• Websites will still be able to track your activity without much difficulty;
• It won’t stop certain personalized ads from popping up during your incognito browsing session.

Is Using Incognito on Your Chromebook Worth It?

In learning the rather serious limitations of activating this feature, you might be left wondering whether using incognito on your Chromebook device actually has any real merit. The short answer is that it actually does.

However, you just need to have it at the back of your mind that you will need to employ additional resources if you are to further secure your privacy when you browse. This includes doing things like getting ad blocker extensions, using VPNs and disabling Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) on your device.

Takeaway

As you now know, learning how to go incognito on Chromebook is certainly great. However, if you’re to take your privacy consciousness to the next level, a few more measures have to be put in place.

You can see more on the best resources to ensure your privacy online here.