It should stop tracking activity in the Maps app

May 10, 2019 09:32 GMT  ·  By

As part of its efforts to improve privacy, Google is getting ready to release a new feature for Google Maps users.

A brand-new Incognito mode for Google Maps will go live in the coming weeks, according to an official announcement released by the company itself earlier this week.

The Google Maps Incognito mode will have the same goal as in Google Chrome, for instance: it will stop user tracking, so any data related to your activity within the app should no longer be stored. For example, no matter what you search in Google Maps, that data will no longer be saved.

Places and directions that you receive will thus remain anonymous and won’t be tied to your Google Account.

Available on all supported platforms

Enabling the Incognito mode in Google Maps will be an easy process, as demoed by Google in the tweet you can check out at the end of article. All you have to do is to click the Google Account profile picture in Google Maps and then tap the option that reads “Turn on Incognito mode.”

Technically, this feature should go live on all platforms, including not only Android, but iOS, but it remains to be seen if Google will embrace a phased rollout or bring it to everyone at the same time.

One particular scenario where this feature will come in handy is in Android Auto. As one of the top navigation apps, Google Maps is one of the apps that drivers use to get around when getting behind the wheel, and this incognito mode would technically help them prevent some searches and locations they’re navigating to from being tracked.

No specific ETA has been provided on the rollout, but Google said the new Incognito mode should go live for users “in the coming weeks.”