Warning

Disabling incognito is usually not enough to protect your children. Before reading the answers to this question, please read the two "Dear readers" sections below.

Background

Google Chrome for Android includes a feature called incognito mode. This feature, when I activate it, is designed to help prevent Chrome from automatically remembering and storing information about which websites I've visited in the past.

To help protect myself, I've installed the free version of Qustodio (a Web filtering/monitoring app) on my Android device. Unfortunately, as soon as the user enters incognito mode, Qustodio for Android stops working.

What are my options? Well:

• I could try upgrading to Android 6 or higher, or to CyanogenMod 13 or higher, or could buy a device that ships with one of these OSes preinstalled. A support knowledge base article on the Qustodio website claims that, on these operating systems, Qustodio works fine even when incognito mode is active. But I suspect that this claim may be inaccurate. I don't know for sure. Please leave a comment below.

• I could do the following procedure:

  1. Install the free version of NetAddictSoft plus the Brehm browser. Mr. Brehm's claims aren't all correct; in truth, there's an easy way to clear the Brehm browser's history. But the free version of NetAddictSoft claims to be able to monitor all use of the Brehm browser and email out weekly usage reports. (Note that, on most devices, NetAddictSoft can only monitor usage of the Brehm browser, and cannot monitor usage of Chrome or Firefox or any other browser.)
  2. Configure Smart App Lock or similar to prevent the use of other browsers. (Note: Smart App Lock isn't perfect, and it's possible to defeat it.)

I might do the above procedure, but: My device has an old Android version installed. For me to upgrade to a newer Android version, I'd have to switch to a third-party ROM, and this would be a hassle.

• I could spend money on a more-powerful filter, such as NetSpark or GenTech. But I'd rather not spend any money.

• I could contact Qustodio's support team and send in a bug report. But I hear they can't really help. The feature is experimental. (Source.) And it's been experimental for years now. It's not really fully supported.

• I could uninstall Qustodio, could install Norton Family, and could try Norton Family's incognito-detection feature. But I don't want to bother doing that either.

• I could look into why Qustodio doesn't work when incognito mode is active, then file a feature request with Google to ask them to fix the problem.

• I could sell my phone and buy an iPhone or iPad. They include built-in Web filtering. I don't know whether or not it's any good.

• I could sell my phone and switch to a phone without built-in Wi-Fi. Perhaps a Palm Treo or Centro or an old BlackBerry.

But I don't want to choose any of the above options.

My question

On desktop OSes, I already know that it's possible to disable Google Chrome's incognito mode. But I also use Android. How can I disable Google Chrome's incognito mode on my Android device?

Please assume the following:

• I always run the latest version of Android.

• My device is owned and controlled by me. It is not administered by a Google Apps domain administrator at my workplace or my school. And so I cannot use the Google Apps admin console to disable incognito mode. (I also don't want to pay a fee in order to sign up for Google Apps for Work.)

• I am willing to root my device.

_{I thank Android.SE user Lucky for inspiring this question.}

Dear readers: Disabling incognito mode may be completely insufficient. Please read on.

Please remember that, even if you disable Google Chrome's incognito mode, there are other ways for device users to browse the Web without leaving any tracks. You must also install a filter.

I haven't looked into filters very recently.

As of a few years ago:

Free options include Qustodio and Google Family Link. The free version of Norton Family perhaps not as good. If you're willing to pay, I've read that NetSpark or GenTech are better than the free products.

In general, Android filtering software is not as good as desktop filtering software.

You may also want to collect up your spouse's and kids' new and old Android devices, and to lock them all in your bedroom every night.

Dear readers: Test your filter, immediately after installation, and again at least yearly.

Once you install a filter, always test it to make sure that it works. Go to a few blocked websites and make sure they're blocked. If you have monitoring enabled, check to see that it does what it's supposed to.

Even if a filter's control panel claims that it's working, the filter might not actually be working at all. You must test it yourself.

Test your filter again periodically. At least once a year; preferably more often.

Retest after major operating-system or browser upgrades, and again whenever a supplemental browser (e.g. Firefox) is installed.

Filters are not foolproof. Many kids can bypass the filters without the parents knowing. But a filter may still be better than no filter.