Google Search for Android Finally Catches Up with iOS on Incognito Mode

It’s a running joke among tech enthusiasts that iOS users often enjoy new app features long before Android owners ever see them. Ironically, even Google – the company behind Android – hasn’t been immune to this imbalance. One of its most used apps, the Google Search app, has had a convenient iOS-only feature for years: the ability to instantly switch to incognito mode directly from the search bar.

Now, at long last, that gap is about to close.

According to Android Authority, a recent beta version of the Google app for Android quietly introduces a long-requested feature: the ability to perform private, history-free searches with a single tap. Instead of saying “Incognito Mode” like it does on iOS, the Android app’s toggle is labeled “History Off Search.” Functionally, though, it’s the same thing – once you flip that switch, your searches and browsing will happen in complete privacy.

When activated, the results no longer open inside the Google app itself. Instead, they’re loaded in a Chrome Custom Tab that’s already running in incognito mode. This small but important detail means Android users can now search, browse, and follow links without leaving behind a trace in their history or personalized recommendations. For anyone concerned about digital privacy – or just wanting to avoid awkward search suggestions – it’s a welcome improvement.

Even better, this new feature integrates seamlessly with Chrome’s existing incognito system. If you tap a link that opens in Chrome, the browser will automatically remain in incognito mode, maintaining a consistent private experience. You can continue to explore web pages, click through articles, and view results just as you would normally, but none of it will be stored or synced to your Google account.

Until now, iPhone users had an additional, more subtle way to go incognito within the Google app: by tapping and holding their profile avatar. This quick shortcut instantly switched the app into private mode. Strangely, that clever shortcut has never existed on Android. It’s unclear if Google plans to replicate it, but the new toggle at least ensures Android users aren’t left behind anymore.

There’s no exact release date for the public rollout, but the fact that it’s already showing up in beta suggests it’s coming soon. For Android users, it’s about time. While an incognito switch might not be revolutionary, it represents something bigger – the long-overdue effort by Google to give its own platform the same level of polish and privacy that iOS users have enjoyed for years.

It’s admittedly odd that Google, of all companies, took so long to bridge this gap. Apple would never dream of offering a better version of one of its own apps on a rival platform. Perhaps this move signals a broader change in Google’s attitude – a subtle acknowledgment that Android users deserve first-class treatment too.