Incognito tabs
Open isolated Incognito tabs inside a normal window (Beta): each Incognito tab has its own session, isolated from the others, and is destroyed when closed. You can temporarily sign in to a second or third account—or browse without leaving traces—without opening a full Incognito window.
Available on Windows and macOS. Works alongside a traditional Incognito window; neither interferes with the other.
When to use it
- Temporary multi-account sign-in — Keep your main tab signed in; open another account in an Incognito tab without session conflicts
- Quick site trials — Avoid polluting your main profile’s cookies / local storage
- Same-window switching — Flip between normal and Incognito tabs without jumping between a normal window and an Incognito window
How to open
Use any of the following.
App menu
Open the top-right menu and choose New Incognito tab (Beta).
Shortcut
| Platform | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Windows | Ctrl + M |
| macOS | ⌃⌘M (Control + Command + M) |
Right-click New tab
By default, right-clicking the tab strip New tab (+) button is “paste and open.” If you turn that off under Settings → Appearance, right-clicking + opens an Incognito tab instead. See Built-in productivity → Paste and open.
How it works
- Open an Incognito tab via the menu, shortcut, or (with paste-and-open off) right-click +.
- The tab chip is darkened so it stands out from normal tabs.
- Browse and sign in as usual; that tab’s cookies and site data stay isolated from other tabs.
- Close the tab to destroy its session—it is not merged into your main profile.
You can open several Incognito tabs at once; they stay isolated from each other as well.
vs. Incognito window
| Incognito tab | Incognito window | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Tab inside a normal window | Separate Incognito window |
| Session scope | Per tab | Tabs in that window usually share one Incognito session |
| On close | Closing the tab destroys its session | Closing the window destroys that window’s session |
| Day-to-day switching | Same window as normal tabs | Switch between windows |
| Extensions | Not supported | Follows the current Incognito-window policy |
Both can run together—for example, temporary accounts in Incognito tabs while a full Incognito window handles other isolated browsing.
Notes and limits
- Beta — Still evolving; behavior may change with releases. Follow what your installed build does.
- No extensions — Extensions are not available on these tabs.
- Not a full Incognito replacement — For a whole-window Incognito environment, keep using New Incognito window.
- Visual cue only — Darkened tabs help recognition; do not treat color alone as the security boundary—rely on whether the tab is an Incognito tab (in a normal window).
See also
- Built-in productivity — paste and open, split view, vertical tabs, and more
- Shortcuts — including this feature’s shortcut
- Features — full capability list
- Practical tips — more everyday tips
- Immersive mode — auto-hide tab strip and toolbar