How to Hide Your Location History in Google Maps Using Incognito Mode

By Leanne Hays Wed, 01/15/2020

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You can keep your navigation history a secret in Google Maps on your iPhone by using the new Incognito mode feature. This new way to hide your location history in Google Maps on your iPhone is similar to Incognito mode in Google Chrome, which offers a private browsing window and deletes browsing history when it's closed. This tip will show you how to keep your Google Maps location searches, maps, and navigation history private by using Incognito mode in the iPhone Google Maps app. And what information doesn't get hidden by Google Maps Incognito mode.

Before we get started, make sure your Google Maps app is updated to the latest version.

How to Hide Your Navigation & Search History in Google Maps:

Open the Google Maps app and make sure you're signed in to your Google account.
Tap on your account icon (your photo or initial) in the upper right corner.
Then tap Turn on Incognito mode.
You should now see the Incognito icon win the upper right corner.
A black dot will indicate your location while using Incognito mode.

What Is Hidden in Incognito Mode in Google Maps?

Now Google Maps won't save your Google Maps search history, send location sharing notifications, update your Location History, or use your activity to personalize Maps for you. But not everything is hidden. Google Maps Incognito map doesn't prevent your internet service provider, voice search, other apps, or other Google services from tracking or saving your location history and search activity.

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Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, and has written hundreds of in-depth how-to and troubleshooting articles. She's a former Associate Editor for iPhone Life magazine, and has written for the Iowa Source, as well as web content for education marketing. Leanne has an associate's degree in education, with a focus on curriculum development, as well as a bachelor's degree in science. She has over nine years of experience with SEO, social media management, and web development and writing. Despite years of web work, Leanne is by no means an early adapter; she's only owned a smartphone for five years, which makes her highly sympathetic to the learning curve of new iPhone owners. She enjoys making reader's lives easier and putting her education experience to work by walking them through the most practical ways to use Apple devices, step-by-step.

In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.