Alex Ruben
How To Enable Extensions in Incognito Mode on Google Chrome
Ever notice that your favorite Chrome extensions—like ad blockers or password managers—are disabled when browsing privately? Yeah, it’s kinda annoying, especially when you rely on those tools to keep things smooth. This isn’t just about flipping a switch; it’s also about understanding the privacy trade-offs. Sometimes, extensions just don’t show up in Incognito unless you tweak their settings. Doing this properly means they’ll work in private mode, but be aware that some extensions can still track your activity. So, only enable them if you’re comfortable with that.
Before diving into the nitty-gritty, make sure you’re running the latest version of Chrome. You can grab it from the official Chrome site. Also, if things seem weird or not working, it might be worth checking for Chrome updates first—because, of course, Chrome has to make it harder than necessary sometimes.
How to Enable Chrome Extensions in Incognito Mode
Method 1: Adjust Extension Settings via Chrome Extensions Page
This one’s pretty straightforward, but you kinda have to know where to look. It applies when extensions aren’t working in Incognito even though you already toggled the switch. Sometimes, extensions don’t show up in Incognito because the toggle isn’t turned on—so here’s how to fix that directly.
- Open Chrome and go to the menu (click the three dots in the top-right corner, then select More Tools > Extensions).
- On the extensions page, find the extension you want to use in Incognito.
- Click on Details under that extension. If you don’t see Details, make sure you’re on the correct page, or you clicked the extension’s card directly.
- Scroll down a bit until you find Allow in Incognito. The switch might be off by default.
- Turn it on. Sometimes it takes a second to register, so refresh the Incognito window or restart Chrome if needed.
This fixing approach works because it explicitly grants permission for the extension to run during private browsing. On some setups, the toggle might be off by default, especially after updates or fresh installs—so double-check this setting if the extension isn’t showing up in Incognito.
Method 2: Use Chrome Flags (Optional, for Advanced Users)
Now, if extensions still aren’t cooperating, and you’re comfortable with more tweaks, some users try messing around with Chrome’s experimental flags—though that can be hit or miss and might cause instability. For example, accessing chrome://flags and tweaking sandbox settings, but honestly, in this case, just sticking to the extension settings usually does the job. Because, naturally, Chrome has to throw in some unnecessary complication.
Extra Tips & Troubleshooting
If toggling the Allow in Incognito switch doesn’t do the trick, try the usual stuff: restart Chrome, clear cache, or toggle the extension off and on again. Also, sure, some extensions are just not designed to run in private mode—so don’t be surprised if they refuse, no matter what settings you mess with.
In some cases, extension updates might cause conflicts or bugs. If nothing works, uninstalling then reinstalling the extension sometimes resets everything. Also, look for any specific permissions from the extension developer’s support pages or GitHub repo (like this repo), just to see if there are special instructions or known issues.
Summary
- Go to chrome://extensions.
- Find the extension, click Details.
- Enable Allow in Incognito.
- Restart Chrome or Incognito window if needed.
Wrap-up
Enabling extensions in Incognito ends up being a quick toggle, but it’s easy to forget or overlook that the switch isn’t always turned on by default. Once it’s set, your favorite tools like ad blockers or password managers can work in private mode without much fuss. Just keep in mind the privacy implications—extensions might still be snooping, even if you think you’re browsing secretly. On one setup it worked immediately after toggling, on another, a Chrome restart was necessary. YMMV.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours troubleshooting someone’s Chrome setup. Works for me—hope it works for you.