Google Chrome is one of the most used web browsers on Android. Mainly because it offers the same experience as you get on your desktop or laptop. All you need is one sign-in, and everything, including your history, searches and saved results, will be on your Android device or whatever new device you’re using.
Also, the reason why Chrome is popular worldwide is because it offers so many features. It has inbuilt dark mode, extensions, password manager and more. Interestingly, Google keeps adding new features all the time including some security and safety features.
Recently, Google introduced the fingerprint lock in the incognito mode of the Chrome browser for Android. This feature works smoothly on the phone and comes as a much needed addition. Incognito mode needs no introduction, we all head to the secret Incognito tab on Chrome to find things we don’t want anyone to see, at least not store cookies for or that Something we are looking for or looking at.
The new fingerprint lock for incognito mode takes the security of your private space on the web to the next level. Having a fingerprint lock on incognito mode will ensure that no one enters your private space, what you do in private incognito tabs will help you stay carefree.
How to turn on fingerprint lock in Chrome’s Incognito mode
1. Open Google Chrome on your Android smartphone.
2. Search for flags on Chrome by entering the following command – chrome://flags.
(For the uninitiated, flags are experimental Chrome features that Google updates from time to time. Flags includes several features that are in the experimental phase. Fingerprint Lock is still in the experimental phase.)
3. Once you search for the aforesaid command, you will see a whole section that contains all the experimental features on Chrome. Now, in the search bar, that’s above ‘Experiments,’ search for reauthentication for incognito.
4. You should now see the ‘Enable device reauthentication for incognito’ option. Tap on Default and click on Enabled.
5. It will now ask for relaunching, at the bottom, tap on the relaunch button.
6. Once the browser is relaunched, the fingerprint lock option should be enabled for incognito mode. To turn it on, tap on the three dots in the top right corner.
7. Tap on Settings > Privacy and security.
8. Lastly, toggle on ‘Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome’ and scan your fingerprint.
The feature will now be enabled and active on your Android phone. Whenever you or anyone accesses incognito mode on Chrome with active tabs, the ‘Unlock Incognito’ option will appear. This means incognito mode will be protected by your fingerprint, just scan your fingerprint and you can access incognito mode again.
Interestingly, if you need to access incognito tabs and can’t use fingerprint unlock, a passcode will still work instead of a fingerprint.
Also, if you’re browsing in incognito mode and force close the Chrome app, incognito mode will be locked automatically the next time you visit the app.
This way you can easily lock your Chrome incognito mode with fingerprint lock and keep intruders away.
