Command-line flags, also called switches, change how Chrome or Edge starts. They are typed into the launch command, not into a browser settings page. They can start the browser with extensions disabled, open directly into private mode, or use a separate testing profile.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Chrome or Edge on Windows or Mac when instructions tell you to start the browser with a flag such as –disable-extensions. This is different from chrome://flags, which is an experimental settings page inside the browser.
Add a flag on Windows with a shortcut
Use a duplicate shortcut first so your normal browser shortcut remains untouched.
- Right-click a Chrome or Edge desktop shortcut and choose Properties.
- Open the Shortcut tab.
- Find the Target field. It contains the browser exe path in quotation marks.
- Click after the closing quote, add one space, then type the flag, such as –incognito or –disable-extensions.
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Close every browser window.
- Launch the browser from the edited shortcut.
Add a flag on Mac with Terminal
Mac flags are usually applied for one launch through Terminal.
- Quit Chrome or Edge completely.
- Open Terminal with Spotlight.
- For Chrome, run open -a “Google Chrome” –args –disable-extensions, replacing the flag if needed.
- For Edge, run open -a “Microsoft Edge” –args –disable-extensions.
- Close and reopen normally from the Dock or Applications folder when you want to launch without the flag.
More control
Useful examples
–incognito opens a private window. –disable-extensions starts with extensions off. –user-data-dir with a folder path launches a separate profile, useful for testing without touching your real bookmarks or passwords.
Command-line flags are not chrome://flags
chrome://flags changes experimental browser features from inside Chrome. Command-line flags change startup behavior before the browser opens. The names overlap, but they are separate systems.
Remove a Windows flag
Right-click the shortcut, open Properties, and delete only the flag text after the quoted path. Keep the path itself intact. If the shortcut breaks, create a fresh shortcut from Start or Applications.
Test risky flags on a copy
A mistyped or incompatible flag can stop a shortcut from opening the browser correctly. A duplicate shortcut keeps your normal launch path clean.
Sources
- Chromium Project – List of Chromium command line switches (2025)
- Google Chrome Help – Fix a webpage that will not load (2025)