Google Chrome getting killer upgrade — and it’s an iPhone exclusive

Google Chrome
(Image credit: Big Tuna Online/Shutterstock)

If you're an iPhone Chrome user, soon you'll be able to hide your Incognito pages behind Face ID.

If you have Chrome tabs open that you'd rather others not see, then this feature means your secrets will be safe even if you hand over your phone to someone else. As the patch notes on the TestFlight app (via 9to5Google) explain: "When you return to the Chrome app, your incognito tabs will be blurred until you confirm it’s you."

The latest Chrome iOS beta gives the option for you to hide your private browser pages behind your iPhone's unlocking system. You can use Touch ID or Face ID to do it, so you won't need an iPhone 12 or iPad Pro specifically to use this feature.

Google Chrome iOS Beta

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

To activate the feature, you need to go to the Privacy section of the settings menu, and enable the option "Lock Incognito tabs".

It's only available on the beta version of Chrome iOS at the moment, and there's no room on the testing program for new users to try it out. Plus. not all beta users currently have access to the feature, so there's no guarantee of trying the feature even if you're already signed up.

However, within a few months we might expect this feature to go live for the basic Chrome app, so all iPhone and iPad users will be able to try it out. The next big update for Chrome is due in March, but it may be the following update before the feature is considered ready for its debut.

Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.