Can You Delete Incognito History? 

Can You Delete Incognito History? 

Information in this article is based on how Incognito mode works in the web browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Incognito mode on different browsers may behave slightly differently depending on the browser version and operating system. 

Most of the users search to delete the Incognito history. But the truth is  Incognito mode does not save your browsing history after ending the session. However, the internet service provider may still see your activity details and the websites you visit. This article explains how Incognito mode works, what information it saves and the additional steps you need to take to improve your online privacy. 

What Is Incognito Mode? 

When you browse different websites privately on the Incognito mode, the web browser does not save the browsing history, cookies or site data after the session ends. However, the Incognito mode doesn’t hide everything and make you anonymous online.

While the Incognito mode hides your browsing activity when other people are using your device. But it doesn’t make your online activity completely anonymous as the internet service provider may still see your activity details, IP addresses and the websites you visit.

What Information Does Incognito Mode Save? 

Information  Saved After Closing Incognito? 
Browsing history  ❌ No 
Cookies  ❌ Deleted 
Site data  ❌ Deleted 
Form data  ❌ Not saved 
Downloads  ✅ Yes 
Bookmarks  ✅ Yes 
ISP logs  ✅ Yes 
School/Office network logs  ✅ Yes 

Can You Delete Incognito History? 

Incognito mode does not save your browsing history, cookies or site data after the session ends. Because of this you cannot delete Incognito history from your browser.  However, internet service providers can still see your temporary data such as DNS cache, downloaded files, or activity may still exist depending on your device and network.   

How To Improve Your Privacy After Using Incognito Mode 

1. Clear DNS Cache

To load the websites faster on your computer DNS records are temporarily stored. To improve your privacy after using the incognito mode, you can clear the DNS cache as it removes these locally stored records. But it doesn’t hide everything and makes you anonymous online as ISP or network administrator still see your activity details.

For Windows:

  1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
  2. In Command Prompt, type:
     ipconfig /flushdns
  3. Press Enter.

For Mac:

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Type:

     sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

  3. Press Enter.
  4. Enter your administrator password if prompted.

2. Use A VPN

When you use a VPN while browsing in Incognito mode, the VPN encrypts your internet connection and helps protect your privacy. It also hides your browsing activity from your internet service provider (ISP). However it does not make you anonymous online as the websites you visit and services you sign in to may identify your activity. 

  1. Choose a reliable VPN service provider.
  2. Before starting your Incognito session, install and set up a VPN connection as It mainly hides it from your ISP and people on the local network. 

3. Clear Cookies And Cache

When the Incognito windows are closed all the cookies and temporary site data will be automatically deleted. However, if you want to manually delete regular browsing sessions then you need to clear the data.

For Chrome:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Now click on Privacy and security.
  3. Select Clear browsing data option.
  4. Choose Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
  5. Click Clear data.

4. Check And Remove Extensions

Some browser extensions can still track your browsing activity if you give the permissions on Incognito mode. To improve the privacy and hide your activity, disable Incognito access for extensions you don’t trust. 

For Chrome:

  1. Open Settings > Extensions.
  2. Now review the list of all installed extensions.
  3. Remove any extensions you don’t recognize or no longer need.
  4. Disable “Allow in Incognito” option for extensions you don’t want to use in Incognito mode.

5. Clean Stored Website Data

Some websites store permissions, offline data, or downloaded files on your device. Reviewing and removing unnecessary stored data can enhance your privacy and free up storage space.  

  For Chrome:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy and security.
  3. Click Site settings.
  4. Select View permissions and data stored across sites (or All sites, depending on your Chrome version).
  5. Review the stored data and remove anything you no longer need.

6. Use A Specialized Search Engine

To be even more cautious, you might want to start using search engines that don’t monitor your actions, such as StartPage or DuckDuckGo.

What Incognito Mode Cannot Hide?

Incognito mode cannot hide the following:

  • Internet service providers may still see your activity details, IP addresses and the websites you visit.
  • If you’re using a work or school network then the network administrator may still be able to monitor your internet activity. 
  • Even if you are using the Incognito mode, the websites you visit can still see your IP address unless you use a VPN or another privacy tool.
  • If files you download when you are on the incognito mode will be saved on your device even after the session is ended.
  • The bookmark you save while browsing in Incognito mode will remain in your browser after the session ends. 

Additional Ways To Protect Your Privacy Online

If utmost privacy is required, implement these other procedures as well.

Use The Tor Browser

  • The Tor Browser helps users to protect their online privacy. The Tor browser provides more privacy compared to the Incognito mode. But the drawback is that the websites on this browser may load very slowly. This is because the internet traffic passes through several secure connections. 
  • To protect your privacy online you need to update your browser, operating system, and security software. Regular updates include security patches that protect your device from newly discovered vulnerabilities. 
  • This decreases the probability that some fault can be exploited as you are assured of using updated software and browsers with updated safety patches.

What Incognito Mode Does Not Do?

Incognito mode does not do these following:

  • Hide your IP address.
  • Prevent websites from tracking your activity during the session.
  • Stop your ISP from seeing the websites you visit.
  • Protect you from malware or phishing attacks.
  • Make you completely anonymous online.

Conclusion

When you browse different websites privately on the Incognito mode, the web browser does not save the browsing history, cookies or site data after the session ends. However, the Incognito mode doesn’t hide everything and make you anonymous online. If you want to improve your privacy online then consider using a reliable VPN and follow good online security practices. 

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Stanley Joseph

Hi, I am Stanley Joseph Chief Editor of Tech Gloss. With over seven years of experience in content marketing and technology publishing, I have previously worked as a SEO Analyst and Senior Content Marketing Manager. I'm passionate about simplifying technology, gaming and SEO topics. I have authored many articles, helping readers make informed decisions through accurate, well-researched, and practical content.