Whatever happens in Chrome Incognito now stays in Chrome Incognito with this new update

Chrome

Google has updated the Incognito mode within the Chrome browser to offer users more privacy and data safety. With the new update, the Incognito mode no longer saves copied text and media to the clipboard history.

This update applies to all versions of Google Chrome including Windows 11 and 10, as well as macOS and iOS. According to a report by Windows Latest, the change was implemented in 2024 but was not officially documented by Microsoft or Google.

What was the issue with Chrome’s Incognito mode?

Previously, copied content in Incognito mode could be stored in Windows’ Cloud Clipboard, making it accessible through the clipboard history. Microsoft introduced a code update on March 25, 2024, that prevents copied content from being saved or synced when users are browsing in Incognito mode.

On Windows, three clipboard settings now prevent content from being stored:
• ExcludeClipboardContentFromMonitorProcessing stops saving to history and cloud.
• CanIncludeInClipboardHistory=0 disables history storage.
• CanUploadToCloudClipboard=0 prevents cloud sync.

MacOS and iOS have also implemented changes, clearing the clipboard after copying to prevent content from syncing across Apple devices.

How it makes a difference for users

The update enhances privacy by ensuring that copied content from Incognito mode does not remain accessible after a session ends. Previously, users could retrieve copied text and images by pressing Windows + V, which posed a security risk when handling sensitive data.

This change prevents content from being unintentionally stored in clipboard history or synced across devices. For macOS and iOS users, automatic clipboard clearing ensures that copied content does not transfer between iPhones and Macs.

Neither Google nor Microsoft has publicly commented on this update. The change follows a broader trend of improving privacy features in web browsers. It remains unclear whether this decision is linked to Google’s recent $5 billion class-action lawsuit related to Incognito mode.