This is a unique feature which is offered by YouTube. It helps users to browse YouTube website and watch videos without saving any data related to this session in watch history, search history, and recommendations. The mechanism of work of this feature is quite similar to private browsing – it creates a temporary session which will not store any information about user’s activity. This feature will be helpful for all those who want to browse the website without affecting their recommendations.
Why Do You Need the Incognito Mode?
Every user knows that the recommendation algorithm in YouTube works according to videos that you have watched and searched. Sometimes you need to watch videos but do not want to affect your recommendations – there comes the Incognito Mode.
Situations Where the Incognito Mode Can Be Used
- Guest Viewing: let other people watch videos without affecting the history of your account.
- Exploring Different Topics: watch videos of different topics without changing your recommendations.
- Privacy: watch whatever you want without adding this content to your history.
- Researching: search the content without changing your recommendations in the future.
- Sharing the Device: make sure that your history will not be visible by other users of this device.
How to Turn On the Incognito Mode?
Turning on the Incognito Mode in YouTube is quite an easy task.
- Launch YouTube App: launch the YouTube application on your Android mobile phone.
- Tap Your Profile: tap the profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Enable Incognito Mode: choose Turn on Incognito in the drop-down menu.
- View in Incognito Mode: dark-colored header will tell you that you are watching videos in Incognito mode now.
- Exit: tap the Incognito icon and choose Turn off to exit Incognito mode.
What the Incognito Mode Cannot Protect You From?
Though the Incognito Mode allows users to protect their accounts from tracking of history, there are several things that you should take into consideration:
- Subscription Feed: subscription feed will be turned off while you are using Incognito mode.
- Playlists: neither your saved playlists nor Watch later list will be available during this session.
- Personalization: recommendations are generic because there is no viewing history during this session.
- Monitoring: internet service provider or network administrator can monitor your traffic. Incognito mode can protect you from YouTube only.
- Session Data: all session data will be deleted after finishing this session or exiting the application.
Incognito Mode in YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced supports Incognito mode and provides its users with all the benefits of the official YouTube. But the Incognito Mode of YouTube Vanced guarantees you completely ad-free session. During browsing in the Incognito mode you will not see any pre-roll or mid-roll ads and SponsorBlock will skip all ads in video. Therefore, you can get both privacy and ads free browsing at the same time.
When you stop browsing in the Incognito mode, Vanced MicroG will log you in to Google account again and all the features which you had before turning on the mode will be restored.
Incognito Mode vs Browsing Without An Account
- Incognito Mode: creates a temporary session where the account tracking is disabled but you are logged in under your account.
- No Account: is not connected to any Google account and does not create any session data but you lose all the personalization features.
- Great for Temporary Privacy: Incognito Mode is great for temporary private session. No account is great for long privacy sessions.
Users of Incognito Mode
- Recommendation Protectors: those who are interested in personalized recommendations created from their history.
- Users of Shared Devices: people who have to share their phones or tablets with their family members.
- Curious Explorers: those who like exploring various content without following their usual habits.
- Privacy Enthusiasts: viewers who want their sessions not to leave any trace in their accounts.
Conclusion
The Incognito Mode of YouTube is a wonderful solution for those users who want to browse YouTube privately without leaving any trace in their recommendations and history. This feature is quite easy to turn on and gives you great session which is reset after finishing. Incognito Mode with YouTube Vanced provides you with ability to browse YouTube videos without ads.
