How to Enable Incognito Mode in Chrome for Windows and MacOS

Here is how to enable Incognito Mode in Chrome for both Windows and Mac OS X.

What Is Incognito Mode?

Incognito Mode in Chrome is Google’s implementation of private browsing. Users can activate this mode and surf the internet without Chrome recording any cookies, usernames, passwords, or history. This can be a concern for parents because it could allow children to view pornography or other inappropriate material without leaving behind any traces. Incognito Mode in Chrome is similar to Private Browsing in Firefox and InPrivate Browsing in Internet Explorer.

 

How To Enable Incognito Mode In Windows

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, click More More  New Incognito Window.
  3. A new window appears. In the top corner, check for the Incognito icon Incognito.

 

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to open an Incognito window:

  • Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS: Press Ctrl + Shift + n.
  • Mac: Press ⌘ + Shift + n.

You can switch between Incognito windows and regular Chrome windows. You’ll only browse in private when you’re using an Incognito window.

How To enable Incognito Mode In Mac OS X

The fastest way to open incognito mode is with a keyboard shortcut. Hit Ctrl+Shift+n (Command+Shift+n on Mac) in Google Chrome, and a new incognito mode window will appear.

You can also activate incognito mode with Chrome’s user interface. Click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the window, and then click “New Incognito Window.”

Any time you launch a new tab with incognito active, you will see a message that says “You’ve Gone Incognito” in the middle of the screen.

Mac OS X Cleaning temp files etc.

If you insist on running any maintenance tasks, you could run these commands in the Terminal:

WARNING! The “sudo rm -f” command is VERY dangerous, and can cause data loss if used incorrectly. Please, PLEASE, ensure that you type the commands listed below correctly, double and even triple check, I will not be held responsible if you hose your system.

1. “User-level” tasks that do not require a restart:

Run maintenance cron tasks

Code:

sudo periodic daily weekly monthly

Flush logs under your home directory

Code:

cd ~/Library/Logs
sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/*

Flush cache under your home directory

Code:

rm -rf ~/Library/Safari/Downloads.plist
cd ~/Library/Caches
sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/*

Flush Directory Service resolver cache (DNS, etc)

Code:

dscacheutil -flushcache

Update application pre-binding

Code:

sudo update_prebinding -root / -force

Repair disk permissions on boot volume

Code:

sudo diskutil repairPermissions /

Log out and back in to finalize the above steps.

2. “System-level” tasks that require a restart:

Clear the global cache database

Code:

cd /Library/Caches
sudo rm -rf /Library/Caches/*

Flush system cache entries

Code:

cd /System/Library/Caches
sudo rm -rf /System/Library/Caches/*

Flush LaunchServices Database (helps with multiple “Open With” entries)

Code:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Flush Apple Type Server (ATS) cache (resolves issues with corrupt fonts some times)

Code:

sudo rm -rf `lsof | grep com.apple.ATS/annex.aux \
| grep Finder | cut -c 66-139`
sudo rm -rf /private/var/folders/*/*/-Caches-/com.apple.ATS

Repair disk permissions on boot volume

Code:

sudo diskutil repairPermissions /

Finally, restart your Mac after completing any system-wide maintenance tasks.

OS X Mavericks: Methods for Starting up Your Mac

Normally you can restart your Mac by choosing Apple menu > Restart. However, in some cases—for example, if the pointer freezes on the screen or the Mac becomes unresponsive—you may have to use one of the startup methods listed here.

You can use these key combinations when you start up your Mac. Unless otherwise specified, hold down the specified key immediately after you hear the startup tone (while the screen is still black).

ActionShortcut
Manually restartHold down the power button on your Mac until it shuts off. After a moment, press the power button again to start your Mac. You may lose unsaved changes in open documents.
Prevent automatic loginWhen you see the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear), hold down the left Shift key.
Prevent login items and Finder windows from opening when you log inAfter clicking the Log In button in the login window, hold down the Shift key.
Start up from a CD or DVDC
Start up from the default NetBoot disk imageN
Start up in target disk modeT
Use Apple Diagnostics or Apple Hardware TestD
Use recovery toolsCommand (⌘)-R
Select a startup diskOption

To open the optical drive when choosing a startup disk, press Command (⌘)-Period (.).

Eject removable discsHold down the mouse or trackpad button.

Hold down the Media Eject key (⏏) or F12 key.

Reset parameter RAMOption-Command (⌘)-P-R
Show detailed status messages (verbose mode)Command (⌘)-V
Start up in single user modeCommand (⌘)-S
Start up in Safe Mode (Only essential OS X items are started; some features and apps might not work correctly.)Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold down the Shift key. Release the Shift key when you see the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

Last Modified: May 8, 2014

How to Use Screen Video Capture on Your Mac

Not sure when this feature got added, but since this was new to me, I thought this was worth sharing.

Launch QuickTime Player (it’s in your Applications folder). Now select New Screen Recording from the File menu, or type control-command-N. A small screen recording window will appear, like so:

recorder

Click the little triangle on the right side of the window to adjust the microphone and mouse click options. When ready, click the record button in the center of the window. Click and drag a section of the screen to record part of the screen or just click to record the entire screen. Once you do that, click to start recording. Click the stop button that appears in the menu bar to stop recording.

Pretty easy, and the end result is a QuickTime movie you can use anywhere you’d expect (iMovie, YouTube, etc.) Clearly not a method a pro would use, but if your needs are relatively simple, this is a great solution.

Mac Boots to Black Screen But Can See My Cursor

1. Shut the computer down by holding the power button for 10 seconds

2. Restart the computer and press shift at the same time until you see the progress bar start moving

3. Once you reach the point where your screen goes dark and you see the cursor, type the first letter of the username for your computer, then hit Enter, then type your password, then hit Enter.

4. After a moment, you should see the spinning beach ball

5. Your screen should then move on to something along the lines of “Completing OSX Installation” (I can’t remember the exact wording). Let it finish. After that it should go to your normal desktop and the issue should be fixed. (If your screen goes pitch black during this process, hit the space bar. I thought it wasn’t working, but the screen was just sleeping).

Apparently, it’s an issue with an automatic update that never quite got past the login screen.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5984310

Also may need to do a Pram reset:

A small amount of your computer’s memory, called “parameter random-access memory” or PRAM, stores certain settings in a location that OS X can access quickly. The particular settings that are stored depend on your type of Mac and the types of devices connected to it. The settings include your designated startup disk, display resolution, speaker volume, and other information.

Note: To print these instructions, open Help Viewer’s Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear), then choose Print.

Shut down your Mac.

Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Option, Command (⌘), P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.

Turn on your Mac.

Immediately press and hold the Option-Command-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.

Continue holding the keys down until your Mac restarts, and you hear the startup sound for the second time.

Release the keys.

Resetting PRAM may change some system settings and preferences. Use System Preferences to restore your settings.

Last Modified: May 8, 2014