Windows 7 - Firefox - Create and Run Multiple Profiles

lehnerus2000

How to Create and Run Multiple Profiles Firefox

Description:
Firefox lets you create and use multiple profiles.
You can use your existing profile(s) as a template for new ones (e.g. copy it).

Advantages:

Each profile will remember its own bookmarks, downloads, history & session.
Each profile should remember its position on the Taskbar.
You can run multiple profiles simultaneously (see below) and transfer items between them.

Default location of important files:

profiles.ini
C:\Users\<Your User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\profiles.ini

profile(s)
C:\Users\<Your User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile Name>

To create a new profile:

1 - Close all opened instanced of Firefox.

2 - Open the "Run" or "Start Menu Search" box and type "Firefox.exe -P" (without the quotes; remember the space; Capital P). The FF Profile Manager will open.

3 - Choose "Create Profile".

4 - Click "Next".

5 - Enter the name for the new profile (e.g. stocks, new, etc.).

6 - Click on "Finish". Your new profile should appear in the list.

7 - Repeat until you have created the required number of profiles.

8 - Remember to deselect, "Don't ask at startup".

The next time you start FF, the Profile Manager should open and you can select the desired profile from the list.

To duplicate an existing profile:

1 - Make a copy of your profile (e.g. "default") and then change the name (e.g. "Default User"). Repeat for as many profiles as you like. (see "Default location of important files:" above)

2 - Close all opened instanced of Firefox.

3 - Open the "Run" or "Start Menu Search" box and type "Firefox.exe -P" (without the quotes; remember the space; Capital P). The FF Profile Manager will open.

4 - Choose "Create Profile".

5 - Click "Next".

6 - Enter the name of the copied profile that you edited.

7 - Click on "Choose Folder".

8 - Navigate to the copied profile folder that you made and click "OK".

9 - Click on "Finish". Your new profile should appear in the list.

10 - Remember to deselect, "Don't ask at startup".

The next time you start FF, the Profile Manager should open and you can select the desired profile from the list.

To run multiple profiles at the same time:

1 - Open the "Run" or "Start Menu Search" box and type "firefox.exe -P <profile name> -no-remote" (without the quotes; remember the space; replace the blue section with the profile name).

2- Repeat as necessary.

You can create a shortcut for each profile:

1 - Create a new FF shortcut for each profile and name it (e.g. stocks, new, etc.).

2 - Replace the "firefox.exe" in the "Target:" box, with "firefox.exe -P <profile name> -no-remote" (without the quotes; remember the space; replace the blue section with the profile name).

In this gif I have created a shortcut to my anime profile.

Updated and Clarified 25/03/2012

AllOnTheBus · 01-12-2012

I can see a lot of work has gone into creating this tutorial- excellent work!

lehnerus2000 · 01-12-2012

Quote: Originally Posted by AllOnTheBus

I can see a lot of work has gone into creating this tutorial- excellent work!

Thank you for those kind words.

Hopefully it all makes sense.

~~I've still got to add a section for changing the default profile location.~~
I may create a new tutorial for that (if one doesn't exist).

mike6623 · 03-24-2012

All that happens when I enter Firefox -P is it opens a new instance of firefox? No profile manager opens.

What am I doing wrong?

Flatiron · 03-24-2012

Quote: Originally Posted by mike6623

All that happens when I enter Firefox -P is it opens a new instance of firefox? No profile manager opens.

What am I doing wrong?

You need to close Firefrox completely, then type firefox -p in the Run command.

lehnerus2000 · 03-24-2012

I noticed that if I type "Firefox -P" into the "Start Menu Search" or "Run" box

AND
you only have one profile
AND/OR
Firefox is running,
the Profile Manager won't open.

Try typing "Firefox.exe -P" instead (without the quotes; Capital P).

Does this help?

I'll modify the tutorial.
Thanks for reporting your problem.

Windows 7 - Firefox - Create and Run Multiple Profiles

Firefox - Create and Run Multiple Profiles

Firefox - Create and Run Multiple Profiles problems?