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New profile isn't acting as a separate profile

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So I created a new profile because I have multiple accounts on one website, and I like to be able to use them all at the same time. I used to use Chrome, but after the new update, it doesn't load at all, so I've recently made the switch to Firefox. I have my default browser and I made a new profile. But when I got to open the new profile in a new browser, it acts just like my default browser. Same bookmarks, same history, same logins. When I log out of a web account on my default browser, it logs me out of the account on the new profile. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a different way to open it? Thank you.

So I created a new profile because I have multiple accounts on one website, and I like to be able to use them all at the same time. I used to use Chrome, but after the new update, it doesn't load at all, so I've recently made the switch to Firefox. I have my default browser and I made a new profile. But when I got to open the new profile in a new browser, it acts just like my default browser. Same bookmarks, same history, same logins. When I log out of a web account on my default browser, it logs me out of the account on the new profile. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a different way to open it? Thank you.

Chosen solution

apatheticity said

I have my default browser and I made a new profile. But when I got to open the new profile in a new browser, it acts just like my default browser. Same bookmarks, same history, same logins.

Not your fault: the "Launch profile in new browser" button does not work if Firefox is currently running in your default profile. It would be more logical for the buttons to be grayed under those circumstances, but I suspect it's something that won't get fixed very soon.

Here are two options:

(1) Create a desktop shortcut direct to your alternate profile.

That's a duplicate of your Firefox shortcut, but then go into its Properties and edit the Target:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P "MyNewProfile" -no-remote

You need -no-remote to create a separate instance.

(2) Use Containers.

This is a new feature that is still maturing, but the idea is that you can open new tabs and new windows in a separate security context with an independent cookie jar. The default categories are generic, but you can create your own to meet your own needs. This add-on helps tremendously:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/

Containers are convenient, but a separate profile still has advantages, such as different add-on settings and being able to change the toolbar area theme so it's totally obvious that you're in a different browser.

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Chosen Solution

apatheticity said

I have my default browser and I made a new profile. But when I got to open the new profile in a new browser, it acts just like my default browser. Same bookmarks, same history, same logins.

Not your fault: the "Launch profile in new browser" button does not work if Firefox is currently running in your default profile. It would be more logical for the buttons to be grayed under those circumstances, but I suspect it's something that won't get fixed very soon.

Here are two options:

(1) Create a desktop shortcut direct to your alternate profile.

That's a duplicate of your Firefox shortcut, but then go into its Properties and edit the Target:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P "MyNewProfile" -no-remote

You need -no-remote to create a separate instance.

(2) Use Containers.

This is a new feature that is still maturing, but the idea is that you can open new tabs and new windows in a separate security context with an independent cookie jar. The default categories are generic, but you can create your own to meet your own needs. This add-on helps tremendously:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/

Containers are convenient, but a separate profile still has advantages, such as different add-on settings and being able to change the toolbar area theme so it's totally obvious that you're in a different browser.

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer