This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Duplicate Firefox profiles problem, MacOS

  • 3 cavab
  • 0 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I am trying to 'fork' my FF, duplicating my profile on to a stick, then modify each one so that my work related bookmarks, saved passwords, cookies, history etc are in one profile, and my social/general bookmarks, cookies, passwords etc are in the other. I have done this and using about:profiles can open the non-default (USB stick) profile in a new window, or set the non default profile as default, close, re-open FF into the alternate profile. All good so far. However this isnt working quite as I expected. If I switch to alternate profile, save a bookmark to the shortcut bar, then switch back to the other profile then after a second or two the bookmark I saved in the other profile appears on the shortcut bar?!? This happens whether I have opened alt profile in a new window, or have changed the default profile and restarted FF into the other profile. Is this because in both instances it is using the same local directory? The doesnt seem to be an option to choose a different local directory for the alt profile. This would be ideal if possible as it would ensure that there are no data crumbs left on my PC when using the USB stick profile which is important for my work security. Any help really appreciated.

I am trying to 'fork' my FF, duplicating my profile on to a stick, then modify each one so that my work related bookmarks, saved passwords, cookies, history etc are in one profile, and my social/general bookmarks, cookies, passwords etc are in the other. I have done this and using about:profiles can open the non-default (USB stick) profile in a new window, or set the non default profile as default, close, re-open FF into the alternate profile. All good so far. However this isnt working quite as I expected. If I switch to alternate profile, save a bookmark to the shortcut bar, then switch back to the other profile then after a second or two the bookmark I saved in the other profile appears on the shortcut bar?!? This happens whether I have opened alt profile in a new window, or have changed the default profile and restarted FF into the other profile. Is this because in both instances it is using the same local directory? The doesnt seem to be an option to choose a different local directory for the alt profile. This would be ideal if possible as it would ensure that there are no data crumbs left on my PC when using the USB stick profile which is important for my work security. Any help really appreciated.

All Replies (3)

more options

This could be about the Mac Handoff feature.

discussions.apple.com/thread/251241669

Are both profiles connected to the same Firefox Sync account as that is another possible cause ?

more options

Thank you cor-el, it was the sync feature! I didnt actually realise I was logged in, DOH!

more options

You're welcome.