Firefox - Create and Run Multiple Profiles

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 instances of Firefox.

2 - Open the "Run" or "Start Menu Search" box and type "Firefox.exe -ProfileManager" (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 -ProfileManager" (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 25/03/2012
Clarified

Updated 7/06/2016
The command "Firefox.exe -P" no longer opened the Profile Manager, on my PC.
"Firefox.exe -ProfileManager" worked OK.

Updated 10/08/2018
See Post #6 below.

 

[AllOnTheBus]

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

 

[lehnerus2000]

Thanks 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]

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?

 

[C-11]

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]

Hmm ...

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

 

[lehnerus2000]

Update August 2018

I haven't tested this tutorial with Firefox Quantum versions.

A recent post by Martin Brinkmann on gHacks indicates that this tutorial should still work.
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/08/06/a-detailed-look-at-aboutprofiles-in-firefox

This tutorial also works on Pale Moon.

You need to replace firefox.exe with palemoon.exe (in the commands described above).

Default location of important files:profiles.ini
C:\Users\<Your User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Moonchild Productions\Pale Moon\profiles.ini profile(s)

C:\Users\<Your User Name>\AppData\Roaming\Moonchild Productions\Pale Moon\Profiles\<Profile Name>