Incognito mode of Chrome affects Mobile Center visual functionality

  • KM03182110
  • 15-Jun-2018
  • 15-Jun-2018

Summary

Opening incognito mode in Google Chrome version 65 and above on Android device will cause Mobile Center VNC window to freeze

Question

Opening new incognito tab in Google Chrome on Android device will make the (VNC) of Mobile Center to freeze.

The user will be able to click and trigger actions in Mobile Center VNC  and they will be executed on the Android Device, but they won't be displayed on the VNC display.

The VNC display freezes to the moment just before opening the incognito tab.

When you close the session and re-open a new session on the same device Mobile Center will again project the same display "the moment just before opening the incognito tab", no matter if the incognito mode is already off and Google Chrome application is closed.

 

Answer

Starting with Chrome 65 and above, screenshots are no longer permitted by Android at a system level when private browsing. When attempting to capture a screen, even just the start page for incognito mode, users will be met with a “Couldn’t capture screenshot†notification from Android system.

This alert notes that “Taking screenshots isn’t allowed by the app or your organizationâ€

This restriction also blocks the VNC display of Mobile Center.

 

If incognito mode is needed in order to test First Time User Experience - avoid caching, cookies etc.

The workaround is to clear the cache from Chrome > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data > Clear Data > Clear.

Note that in order to reset the VNC currently you can either restart the device from Mobile Center or reconnect the device physically.