Browsing in private mode , or ‘Incognito’ as Google calls it, protects users from various web trackers that could compromise their privacy . Today, we will show you how you can always open Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox in incognito (private) mode by default on Android.
How to always open Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox on Android in incognito mode
The method to open your browser in incognito mode by default is relatively similar for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. We are using Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox for the demo below, but you can use the same method for Microsoft Edge and most other Android browsers that offer an incognito browsing option. Let’s see how you can open Chrome, Firefox or Edge in incognito (private) mode by default on your Android mobile phone .
How to open the incognito tab in Google Chrome
You can easily open Google Chrome in incognito mode by default on your phone by following the tutorial below.
- Launch Google Chrome and tap on the menu button (three dots) in the upper right corner. Now select ‘New Incognito Tab’ from the slide-out menu.
- That’s it, you can now browse incognito mode in Google Chrome on your Android device.
In incognito mode, Chrome will not store any information about that browsing session. Which means that all browsing history, cookies, and trackers for that session will be erased when you exit the browser.
How to open a private tab in Mozilla Firefox
- Open Firefox and tap on the private tab symbol (masquerade mask) to open a private tab. Another way to do it is by tapping the tab counter [1]> Private tab symbol [2]> ” + Private ” sign [3].
- That’s. Now you can browse in private mode in Mozilla Firefox on your Android device. You can tap the mask icon again to return to normal navigation.
Firefox will not store private tab information. That means that all cookies and trackers collected during that session will be erased when you exit the browser.
Note: The method is the same for MS Edge. Just tap the tab counter button, select ‘InPrivate’ from the pop-up menu and tap the “+” button to start browsing InPrivate .
Always open Chrome or Firefox in incognito (private) mode by default
To always open your internet browser in incognito (private) mode by default, try the following trick:
- Press and hold the Chrome or Firefox browser icon until the options menu appears. For Chrome, long press the ‘New Incognito Tab’ option in this menu and drag it to the home screen. For Firefox, do the same for the ‘New Private Tab’ option.
- It is done! From now on, just select the new Incognito / Private tab icon to open Chrome or Firefox.
Note: This method to open Chrome or Firefox in incognito or private mode by default requires Android 7.0 Nougat or higher. It works on most OEM ROMs and is also compatible with most 3rd party user layers. .
Always open Firefox in private mode by default with the built-in option
While the above method works for most browsers on newer versions of Android, Firefox also offers a built-in option to open private windows by default every time. It works on all versions of Android, but is especially useful for people running Android Marshmallow and earlier versions.
This is how you do it:
Note: Please update Firefox from the Play Store to make sure you have the latest version available .
- The first time you switch to private browsing, Firefox will show you an option to add a shortcut to open private tabs from your home screen. Tap it to add it to your Android phone.
- You can also add the private browsing shortcut later manually. To do that, tap the menu button ( three dots ) and select Settings .
Note: The menu button is in the lower right by default in newer versions of Firefox. However, you can change it back to the top from Settings> Personalize> Toolbar .
- Scroll down a bit and tap Private Browsing under Privacy & Security. Finally, tap on Add Private Browsing Shortcut .
- This is what shortcuts look like when added to the home screen.
Browse the Web in complete privacy on your Android device
Now always you know how to navigate using the mode (private) incognito by default in Android, using Chrome, Firefox or Edge. While that is one of the ways to maintain your privacy online, it is not the only thing you should be aware of. One of the best ways to ensure that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) cannot spy on your connections is to change the DNS settings on your Android device. You can also try using a VPN on Android , if you want a little extra privacy.
Lastly, be careful never to install these dangerous apps on your Android device to ensure your peace of mind. You may also be interested in how to activate incognito mode in Google Maps for Android . If this trick for your Android was useful, leave an affirmative or negative comment.