Are you a concerned parent trying to monitor your children’s online activities? You might want to disable private browsing on their Android device first, but you may not know how.
To disable private browsing on Android, open Google Chrome on your device’s home screen. Tap the tab icon beside the “+” icon. Tap the spy icon to open the incognito tab. Tap the “X” on each private tab to close it.
We have created an extensive guide with different step-by-step methods to disable private browsing on your Android device.
Disabling Private Browsing on Android
If you don’t know how to disable private browsing on Android, follow our 4 step-by-step methods to accomplish this task quickly.
Method #1: Turning Off Incognito Mode
Incognito mode is a feature of Google Chrome that allows you to surf the internet without saving any browsing history. It can be easily turned off using these steps.
- Open Google Chrome on your Android device’s home screen.
- Tap on the tab icon beside the “+” icon.
- Tap the spy icon to open the incognito tabs.
- Tap “X” on each tab to close it.
Public browsing will automatically be enabled when you open Google Chrome again. Alternatively, you can swipe down from the top of your screen and tap “Close all incognito apps”.
Method #2: Using Third-Party Apps
If you want to disable private browsing on an Android device, you can do so with the help of a third-party app called “Incoquito” by following these steps.
- Launch the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Search for “Incoquito” and tap “Install”.
- Tap “Open” once the app has been downloaded.
- Allow the app access to the requested permissions.
- Tap the toggle on the app home screen to disable private browsing.
Though Incoquito is a paid app, it disables private browsing on over 200 web browsers and offers 3 types of controls.
“Auto-close” mode closes all private tabs once the device’s screen is turned off. “Prevent” mode stops any private tabs from being opened, and the “Monitor” mode allows private browsing but maintains the search history.
Method #3: Using Google Family Link
Google Family Link is an app for parents to monitor and control children’s online activities, which can also help disable private browsing on Android devices.
Step #1: Set Up the Parent Device
Launch Google Play Store on your Android device, and search for “Google Family Link”. Tap “Install” and open the app.
Set up your device as a “Parent”. Follow the onscreen prompts until a code has been generated.
Step #2: Set Up the Child’s Device
Download the Google Family Link App on your child’s device using the same method above. Sign in with their Google account, or create one if they don’t have it already. Follow the onscreen instructions and set up the device as a “Child or teen”.
Type in the code from the parent device, and follow the prompts to link the devices.
Step #3: Disable Private Browsing
On devices that have been registered as children or teens on Google Family Link, private browsing will be automatically disabled.
You can also set up controls like limiting screen time and disabling apps.
Method #4: Using Samsung Internet
Samsung browsers have a Secret Mode that allows users to privately browse the internet without saving any history. If you’ve enabled Secret Mode in your Samsung Internet browser, you can quickly turn it off with these steps.
- Launch the Samsung Internet app on your phone.
- Tap “New tab” at the bottom of the screen while in Secret Mode.
- Once the new tab opens, tap “Turn off Secret Mode” at the screen’s bottom left.
You will now be able to browse publicly on Samsung internet again.
Summary
In this guide, we have discussed how to disable private browsing on Android devices. We’ve explained 4 step-by-step methods in detail, including turning off incognito mode, using a third-party app, Google Family Link app, and Samsung Internet.
Hopefully, with one of these methods, you’ll be able to control the browsing activity on your Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
To find private browsing mode on your Android device, open Google Chrome. Tap the three dots at the screen’s top and tap “New incognito tab”. A new tab will open up with a dark-greyish theme.
Your web browser won’t save your browsing history when you use private browsing; hence, no one else using your mobile device or computer will be able to see what you are doing online. But unfortunately, this feature doesn’t provide security because websites can still monitor your online activity.
