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How to Set Up Multiple Browser Profiles

Applies toMicrosoft EdgeGoogle Chrome
4 min fix Updated 9 Mar 2026 · 6 months ago

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Click your profile picture in the top right corner of Chrome or Edge, click Add or Add Profile, sign in with the new account, and choose a distinct color theme to tell them apart.

Checked against Google Chrome Releases between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

Browser profiles let you maintain separate browsing environments — each with its own bookmarks, history, extensions, saved passwords, and sign-in accounts. This is useful for separating work and personal browsing, or for managing multiple accounts without constantly signing in and out. This article shows how to create and switch between profiles in Edge and Chrome.

Before You Start ​

  • Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome (latest version).
  • No admin rights required.

Instructions ​

1. Create a New Profile in Microsoft Edge ​

Set up a separate browsing environment.

  1. Click your profile picture (or the person icon) in the top-right corner of Edge.
  2. Click Add profile (or Manage profile settings > Add profile).
  3. In the setup dialog, choose:
    • Add to create a fresh profile without syncing.
    • Sign in to link the profile to a Microsoft account for bookmarks and settings sync.
  4. A new browser window opens with the new profile. A profile created without signing in starts with none of your existing bookmarks — to bring them across, see How to Import and Organize Browser Bookmarks.
  5. Customise the profile name and icon in Settings > Profiles.

2. Create a New Profile in Google Chrome ​

Set up a separate browsing environment.

  1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of Chrome.
  2. Click Add (or + Add at the bottom of the profile list).
  3. Choose a name, colour theme, and optionally sign in to a Google account.
  4. Click Done.
  5. A new Chrome window opens with the new profile.

3. Switch Between Profiles ​

Quickly move between your work and personal profiles.

  1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. A list of available profiles appears.
  3. Click the profile you want to switch to.
  4. A new window opens with that profile's bookmarks, history, and settings.
  5. You can keep multiple profile windows open simultaneously.

4. Customise Each Profile ​

Make profiles visually distinct.

  1. Open the profile you want to customise.
  2. Go to Settings > Profiles (Edge) or click your profile picture > Manage profiles (Chrome).
  3. Set a unique:
    • Name (e.g., Work, Personal, Side Project).
    • Colour theme — Each profile gets a distinct colour on the title bar.
    • Avatar/icon — Choose a picture or icon to identify the profile.
  4. These visual cues help you immediately know which profile you are in.

5. Delete a Profile ​

Remove a profile you no longer need.

WARNING

Read this before you start — deleting a profile is not reversible from the browser.

If the profile is signed in and syncing, its bookmarks and passwords are held in that Microsoft or Google account, and they come back the moment you sign in again on this computer or any other. If it is a local profile that was never signed in, there is nothing to restore from.

Not sure which you have? Open the profile and look for a signed-in account at the top right. Signing it in and letting it sync takes a minute, and turns an irreversible step into a reversible one. To check what is actually syncing first, see How to Manage Saved Passwords in Your Browser.

  1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
  2. Click Manage profile settings (Edge) or the gear icon (Chrome).
  3. Find the profile you want to delete.
  4. Click the ⋯ (three dots) menu on the profile card and select Delete.
  5. Confirm the deletion. All bookmarks, history, and saved data for that profile are permanently removed from this computer.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

Use separate profiles for work and personal browsing to keep passwords, browsing history, and bookmarks completely isolated. This also prevents accidentally signing into personal accounts on work sites.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Cannot create a new profileBrowser policy restrictionSome organisations restrict profile creation. Ask IT to allow additional browser profiles for your account, and say what you need the second profile for.
Extensions missing in new profileExtensions are per-profileInstall the required extensions in each profile separately.
Profiles look the same and are confusingNo visual customisation appliedSet unique names, colours, and avatars for each profile to differentiate them.

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Frequently asked questions

Why should I use profiles instead of just signing out and back in?
Profiles keep your bookmarks, history, extensions, and saved passwords completely separate. This prevents your work bookmarks from cluttering your personal browser, and stops you from accidentally saving work passwords to your personal Google account.
How do I switch between profiles quickly?
Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select the other profile from the list. It will open in a new window. You can also pin both profile icons to your Windows taskbar.