Skip to main content

Chrome Incognito tab access can now require your fingerprint on Android

Beginning in 2020, some Google apps on iOS added a “Privacy Screen” that requires Touch or Face ID authentication to access. Chrome for Android is now getting the ability to lock your Incognito tabs behind your fingerprint.

When you have Incognito tabs open, exiting Chrome will instantly lock those pages behind fingerprint authentication.

Launching the browser to return to those tabs will show a gray screen with the Incognito logo at the center. Tapping “Unlock Incognito” opens the system fingerprint sheet to “Verify it’s you.” The ability to “Use PIN” is also available in the bottom-left corner.

Other available options include returning to regular tabs, while the overflow menu remains in its usual position to “Close Incognito tabs.” (It would probably be better for that to be placed behind the fingerprint lock.) 

This is useful when handing your phone to somebody that doesn’t know your passcode. It can be turned on/off from Settings > Privacy and security > Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome (Use screen lock to see open Incognito tabs).

Incognito’s fingerprint lock is not widely rolled out yet, but you can enable immediately with the following Chrome flag on recent versions of Android:

chrome://flags/#incognito-reauthentication-for-android

A launch is likely coming sooner than later as the flag is already in the stable channel (Chrome 105).

Branded as the “Privacy Screen,” Google Drive, Search, Fi, Chrome, and Authenticator (2FA codes) for iOS already have this capability. Google Authenticator for Android definitely needs it.

More on Chrome:

Thanks Timothy

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications