Google Map Introduces Incognito Mode for Android
Google Maps, the leading smartphone mapping service by Google, is adding new features every day. Last month we had published an article about Google Maps’ new feature for iOS users to report road accidents. Now Google has added one more feature to the map app. This new feature lets you enable incognito mode for Google Maps. The feature was first spotted back in May at Google I/O conference, and it was said that the feature would be available in the coming months. Now finally, Google has started rolling out this Google Maps incognito mode. For now, this is only available for Android users. Update for iOS may follow suit in the near future.
In a Google Map Support post, Maps community manager Olivia T announced that the “Maps Incognito is launching for… Android users.” This is a staged rollout that means it might take some time for your Google Maps app to receive the update. So, don’t panic if you don’t see that update yet.
What is Google Maps Incognito Mode?
You might be wondering, what is this Incognito mode, and do you really need it?
By default, when you search for something on Google Maps or use the navigation, it saves your activity to your Google account. Google and Google Maps later use those data to recommend your various resultants, places to visit, or activities to do in your local area. When the Incognito mode is enabled, it doesn’t save your location history or search data, it will come handy when you don’t want others to see what place you went or what place you searched. You know, sometimes we just want to keep something to ourselves.
How to Enable Google Maps Incognito Mode
Currently, the incognito mode for Google Maps is only available on Android. So, this guide is for Android users only. When Google brings the feature to iOS users, we will update this article with methods to enable Google Maps incognito mode on iOS.
- Update your Google Maps app from the Google Play Store.
- Tap on your profile picture icon situated on the top right corner.
- Here, along with all of your Email accounts, there should be a new option named ‘Turn on Incognito mode.’
- Tap on that option, and the Incognito mode should be enabled.
Once the Incognito mode is enabled, whatever you search or place you visit, Google won’t save them to your Google account.
To disable Incognito mode, tap on your profile picture and select ‘Turn off Incognito mode.’
Final Word
Google is slowly but increasingly adding more privacy features to all of its Google products. First, it was with YouTube when they introduced Incognito mode on YouTube and now on Google Maps. Google still has a long way to go before gaining that trust from users. What do you think of this new feature? If you ask me, I would say it is a step in the right direction. Please let us know what do you think of this new Google Maps feature. Also, don’t forget to share this article on your social media wall and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
