How to run different Firefox profiles at the same time

This tutorial will explain how to run separate Firefox profiles at the same time, how to quickly switch between them, and why you might want to use multiple profiles.

First a bit of background. If you share your computer with someone else, you’re probably familiar with the Firefox Profile Manager already. In a nutshell, it allows you to create separate “accounts” (called Profiles) for each person that uses your computer. However, even if you’re the only one that uses your computer, the Profile Manager can be very handy.

You might have noticed that the more addons and Toolbars you have installed, the slower Firefox becomes. It can also lead to Firefox using more system resources (memory and CPU). Using separate profiles, you can install only the addons that you use for specific tasks in each profile. Here’s an example - if you use Firefox for web development and you have a lot of web development related addons installed, you can create a profile specifically for when you’re doing web dev work. That way the rest of the time when you’re using Firefox just to surf, those plugins won’t be loaded. Another advantage to using a separate profile is that you can create a specific set of Bookmarks (and a different Bookmarks Toolbar) containing just web development related sites and resources. Yet another advantage is what you don’t install in your second profile - distraction addons (the StumbleUpon Toolbar, Email notifiers etc).

Using the addon ProfileSwitcher you can quickly change from one profile to another - and even use both at the same time.

1. Head over to Kaosmos website and install it. As with all Firefox addons, you’ll need to restart Firefox to finish the installation.
2. Select File -> Open Profile Manager.



3. If you’ve never added another profile, there will only be online listed - default. Click the Create Profile… button to add a second one.



4. Review the info on the Introduction screen, and click Continue.


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5. Give your new profile a name - ideally a descriptive one. Click Done.


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6. Highlight your new profile, and click Start Firefox.



7. Now you’ll have your old (default) profile, and your new profile, both running at the same time. Any addons that you install in one profile, will not be added to the other. The same holds true for bookmarks, browsing history etc.


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8. At any point in time if you want to launch a different profile, select File -> Launch another profile and then select the one you want to open.



9. You can also set ProfileSwitcher to automatically close the “open” profile when you launch a new one. To do so, select Tools -> Add-ons

and from the Add-ons list, click the Preferences button in the ProfileSwitcher section.



10. Select the behaviour you want Firefox to adhere to when you change profiles (never close the current profile, always close the current profile, or always ask what to do).



11. Now you can simultaneous profiles, or quickly switch between them. Note: for each profile you setup, you’ll probably want to install at least one common addon - ProfileSwitcher. That way each profile you create can quickly switch to another.