Google has offered an Incognito Mode in its Chrome web browser for nearly ten years now, offering users the chance to disable their browsing history and web cache while the mode remains active. Features like Incognito Mode offer peace of mind since users can navigate to any website without being tracked and without cookies being stored, all while maintaining the same features as a normal web browsing experience.

youtube incognito mode
Today, AndroidPolice reports that Google might extend this feature into its mobile YouTube applications, following the discovery that Google is testing an Incognito mode in the Android YouTube app. For users in the test, Google has combined "Switch account" and "Sign out" into one menu item behind account settings, leaving a new slot for "Turn on Incognito."

When this is on, it appears to act similar to Incognito in other Google products, with a pop-up box explaining that all activity from the Incognito session "will be cleared" and the user will go back to the last-used account when they decide to exit the mode. At the bottom of the screen a small bar reminds users that "You're incognito," and AndroidPolice discovered that subscriptions are hidden as well during this time.

youtube android incognito

Image via AndroidPolice

However, YouTube warns that "your activity might still be visible to your employer, school, or internet service provider." Otherwise, the mode in testing acts similarly to Google Chrome's Incognito feature and will prevent any video searches and watched videos from being saved to the account history. Notably, this means the service's recommendations would not be affected by anything watched while a user is Incognito.

Apple's Incognito alternative for Safari is called Private Browsing, which prevents a user's browsing history from being saved, while also asking websites not to track users. If you're wondering how to activate Private Browsing on an iOS device, be sure to visit our How To guide on the topic.

Top Rated Comments

err404 Avatar
93 months ago
Why? Anything remotely "offensive" already gets blocked and removed off the site...
There is more than just porn on the internet. Maybe you are researching a gift for your spouse. Or you just don’t want a bunch of recommendations based on silly chain of videos.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dilster3k Avatar
93 months ago
There's nothing Incognito about any Google service. Sure, on the surface level your history won't be displayed, but everything behind the radar is registered.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
826317 Avatar
93 months ago
Why? Anything remotely "offensive" already gets blocked and removed off the site...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twistedpixel8 Avatar
93 months ago
gineconological
What.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Exile714 Avatar
93 months ago
Yeah it’s like a car’s service but 4 females. There r many good videos on YouTube 2 ilustrate a close up gineconological procedure. Can be interesting even if u r not a doctor
I think he just meant the spelling. Nobody really questions why you want to watch gynecological videos.

I personally like your anachronistic text style. Very retro, early 2000’s T9. Like every letter is such a hassle to type that you go out of your way to shorthand everything. Impossible to read, but like fine art the effort is worth it for the experience.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
earthTOmitchel Avatar
93 months ago
I avoid a lot of marginal interest YouTube videos for fear that I'll keep seeing suggestions for months to come. (E.g. I was interested in a "What you should know before seeing the new Avengers movie" video, but I knew that Avengers crap would haunt me for months)

This would be a very welcomed feature.
This. YT's algorithm, for me anyway, just sucks. I watch one of a channel's videos, then get plastered with their content on my homepage for months after. I'd use this all the time when checking out a new channel and stuff like that.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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