Face ID for Incognito Tabs in Chrome on iPhone

This guide shows you how to lock your Chrome incognito tabs behind Face ID on an iPhone. Once set up, anyone opening the Chrome app or switching to an incognito tab will need to authenticate with Face ID, keeping your private browsing sessions truly private. You’ll need an iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X or newer) and the latest version of Chrome installed.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X or later, including SE models with Face ID).
The Chrome app installed from the App Store, updated to a recent version.
Face ID already set up on your iPhone (Settings > Face ID & Passcode).
Chrome’s “Incognito” mode enabled (it’s on by default).

Step-by-Step

Open Chrome on your iPhone. If you’re already in an incognito session, close those tabs first (tap the tab switcher icon, then tap the three-dot menu in the incognito tab and select “Close All”).
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) located in the bottom-right corner of the screen (or top-right on iPad).
Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down to the “Privacy and Security” section. You’ll see an option labeled “Use Face ID to Lock Incognito Tabs.”
Toggle the switch on next to that option. The switch will turn blue, indicating it’s enabled.
Confirm with Face ID when prompted. A system dialog will appear asking you to authenticate. Look at your iPhone to complete the scan.
Exit Settings by tapping the back arrow (‹) in the top-left corner, then tap “Done” if shown.
Test it: Open a new incognito tab (tap the tab switcher icon, then the incognito icon in the top-right, then the + button). Lock your phone, then unlock it and open Chrome again. You should see a lock screen overlay before you can view or open incognito tabs.

Common Mistakes

Not updating Chrome: Older versions of Chrome may not have the Face ID lock option. If you don’t see it, go to the App Store and update Chrome.
Turning it on but not confirming: The toggle alone doesn’t activate the lock. You must complete the Face ID scan in the confirmation dialog that appears immediately after toggling.
Expecting it to lock regular tabs: This setting only locks incognito tabs. Regular browsing tabs remain accessible without Face ID.
Assuming it locks the Chrome app itself: The lock applies when you open the app and have incognito tabs, or when you switch to the incognito tab group. It doesn’t lock the entire app if you only have regular tabs open.
Using a passcode instead: This feature specifically uses Face ID. If Face ID is disabled on your iPhone, the option may not work or may fall back to your passcode.

Tips

Lock immediately: The lock engages as soon as you close the app or lock your phone. There’s no delay, so your incognito tabs are protected right away.
Use with Screen Time: For extra protection, you can also set a Screen Time passcode to prevent someone from deleting the Chrome app or changing settings.
Check the lock icon: When incognito tabs are locked, you’ll see a lock icon at the top of the incognito tab switcher. This confirms the feature is active.
Turn it off temporarily: If you find the lock annoying, you can disable it anytime by going back to Settings and toggling the switch off, then confirming with Face ID.
Know the limitation: The lock only works when you have at least one incognito tab open. If you close all incognito tabs, the lock won’t appear until you open a new one.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the “Use Face ID to Lock Incognito Tabs” option. This usually means Chrome is outdated. Update Chrome from the App Store. If it’s already updated, try restarting your iPhone. Also, ensure your iPhone supports Face ID—this feature isn’t available on Touch ID models.

The toggle is grayed out. Face ID may be disabled on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and ensure Face ID is enabled for at least one use (e.g., iPhone Unlock). Also, check that you haven’t set up “Alternate Appearance” incorrectly.

It asks for my passcode instead of Face ID. This happens if Face ID fails several times (e.g., you’re wearing a mask or sunglasses). You’ll be prompted to enter your passcode as a fallback. After that, Face ID will work again. If it consistently asks for a passcode, try re-registering your Face ID in Settings.

The lock doesn’t appear when I open Chrome. Make sure you have at least one incognito tab open. The lock only triggers when incognito tabs exist. Also, if you’ve just enabled the setting, try closing Chrome completely (swipe it away from the app switcher) and reopening it.

I can still see incognito tabs after locking my phone. The lock should appear immediately upon unlocking. If not, double-check that the toggle is on and you confirmed the Face ID prompt. If it’s still not working, try toggling the setting off and on again.

Chrome crashes after enabling the lock. This is rare but can happen with an outdated iOS. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version, then try again. If it persists, clear Chrome’s cache (Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data) and restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this lock my regular Chrome tabs too? No, only incognito tabs are locked. Regular tabs remain accessible without any authentication.

Can I use Touch ID instead of Face ID? This feature is specifically for Face ID. On iPhones with Touch ID, the option is not available. There is no equivalent for Touch ID in Chrome on iPhone.

Will the lock appear every time I open Chrome? It appears whenever you open Chrome and have at least one incognito tab open, or when you switch to the incognito tab group. If you close all incognito tabs, the lock won’t appear until you open a new one.

Can I set a passcode instead of Face ID? No, Chrome uses Face ID exclusively for this feature. If Face ID is unavailable, the lock won’t work. However, you can use Screen Time to restrict access to Chrome with a separate passcode.

Does this protect my incognito tabs if someone knows my passcode? No, if someone knows your iPhone passcode, they can use it to bypass Face ID and access the incognito tabs. The lock is only as strong as your passcode.

Will the lock work if I’m using an Apple Watch to unlock my iPhone? Yes, but with a catch: when you unlock with your Apple Watch, Face ID is not used, so the lock may not appear until you actively open the incognito tab group. To ensure the lock always appears, disable “Unlock with Apple Watch” in Settings > Face ID & Passcode.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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