[Tip] Create Desktop Shortcut for Incognito (InPrivate) Browsing Mode in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge

If you use Google Chrome web browser, you might be aware of its Incognito (or InPrivate) window feature which is a special Private Browsing mode to browse Internet with better privacy and security.

You can launch Google Chrome in Incognito Mode by selecting “New incognito window” option from 3-dots menu button or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N keys together.

Once you start surfing Internet using Incognito window in Chrome, it doesn’t store your browsing data and activities such as websites you visit, online forms data, searches, etc. Also once you close incognito window, Chrome automatically removes all traces such as cache, cookies, etc.

Incognito mode is very useful if you are using a public computer.

In past, we told you how to create a direct shortcut to launch Google Chrome and other popular web browsers in Incognito or private browsing mode by default. You can learn more about it at following link:

[Tip] How to Always Start Your Web Browser in Private Browsing Mode By Default

You just need to use a special flag or parameter –incognito to create shortcut to Google Chrome Incognito mode.

Now here is a good news for Chrome users. Newer versions of Google Chrome (version 86 and later) come with a hidden secret feature which allows users to create direct shortcut of Incognito mode at Desktop automatically.

With the help of this feature, you can create a shortcut to always open Chrome in Incognito mode at Desktop automatically. This feature is not activated and enabled by default and interested users need to enable this feature manually by modifying a flag/preference.

If you also want to enable this secret feature in Google Chrome to create Desktop shortcut for Incognito mode, following steps will help you:

1. Open Google Chrome web browser and type chrome://flags/ in addressbar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration page.

2. Now type incognito in the “Search flags” box.

Look for following option:

PS: Microsoft Edge users will see following option available:

3. To enable the feature, select Enabled from the drop-down box.

4. Google Chrome will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Relaunch now” button to restart Google Chrome.

That’s it. You have successfully activated and enabled the feature to automatically create Incognito mode shortcut in Google Chrome.

5. Now open Incognito window using “New incognito window” option from 3-dots menu button or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N keys together.

6. Now click on Incognito window icon showing in Chrome toolbar and you’ll get a new option “Create shortcut” in the flyout.

Click on “Create shortcut” option and it’ll immediately create a direct shortcut on Desktop to launch Google Chrome in Incognito mode.

You can use this shortcut to launch Chrome in Incognito mode any time. You can rename the shortcut or move it anywhere you want such as Start Menu, Taskbar, etc.

Previous shortcuts to launch Chrome in standard mode will keep working as usual.

PS: This new shortcut uses same –incognito parameter to launch Chrome in Incognito mode.

Also Check:

[Tip] Show Number of Incognito Windows in Google Chrome Toolbar

[Tip] Allow Extensions in Private or Incognito Windows in Web Browsers