Google is ramping up its privacy initiative with the introduction of Google Maps incognito mode on Android and iOS. This means that both Android and iOS users will now be able to search for locations and get directions without worrying about their data being associated to a Google account.
Today, Google announced that incognito mode for Google Maps will start rolling out to Android and iOS devices over the next few weeks. However, it’s worth noting that Android users will be getting it first.
The new feature which Google announced during I/O 2019, has some drawbacks. For instance, once enabled you won’t enjoy a personalized maps experience, and you won’t get recommendations based on previous searches.
Once the feature is available, you can switch on incognito mode by selecting the option from the menu that appears when you tap on your profile picture in the Google Maps app.
If you want to return to a personalized Maps experience, you can easily turn the feature off with a toggle in the account switcher.
To sum it up, what Google Maps incognito mode does is essentially allow you to search and view map locations without having this information stored on your Google account history.
In Google’s words: “When you turn on Incognito mode in Maps, your Maps activity on that device, like the places you search for, won’t be saved to your Google Account and won’t be used to personalize your Maps experience. You can easily turn on Incognito mode by selecting it from the menu that appears when you tap your profile photo, and you can turn it off at any time to return to a personalized experience.”
Have you tried Google Maps incognito mode? Let us know down in the comments below. And please don’t forget to share.