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

Want two separate browsers that are NOT connected or synced

  • 9 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Hi, I use a firefox browser for my work stuff. I use Opera for my personal stuff. I want to use firefox quantum to use for my personal stuff, but when I downloaded it, it immediately synched it to all my work tabs.

I do not WANT browsers that sync, I want them separate - it is critical I maintain two separate browsers. I would like to use Firefox for both, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks!

Hi, I use a firefox browser for my work stuff. I use Opera for my personal stuff. I want to use firefox quantum to use for my personal stuff, but when I downloaded it, it immediately synched it to all my work tabs. I do not WANT browsers that sync, I want them separate - it is critical I maintain two separate browsers. I would like to use Firefox for both, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. Is there a way to do this? Thanks!

All Replies (9)

more options

You have choices! Either do not use Sync on your personal Firefox, or create two separate Firefox Accounts, one for work and one personal. If you need an extra email address for that, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and probably others offer free email accounts.

To disconnect a browser from a Firefox Account:

  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

In the left column, click "Firefox Account" and then on the right side, use the "Disconnect" button. That will prevent further Sync activity on that installation of Firefox.

Does that work?

more options

That's the thing, I'm not signed in, on purpose. So it shouldn't be doing that. But it recognizes my computer even when I'm not signed in.

more options

If you go to the Options page and look at the Firefox Account section, what does it look like? Like the attached image?

more options

No, it doesn't. It looks like one where I'm signed in, only I'm not.

more options

annedenise said

Hi, I use a firefox browser for my work stuff. I use Opera for my personal stuff. I want to use firefox quantum to use for my personal stuff, but when I downloaded it, it immediately synched it to all my work tabs. I do not WANT browsers that sync, I want them separate - it is critical I maintain two separate browsers. I would like to use Firefox for both, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. Is there a way to do this? Thanks!

Are you trying to install firefox quantum having firefox with work stuff on the same computer/user accont?

In this case, Sync has nothing to do with this. You just need separate profiles.

more options

annedenise said

jscher2000 said
If you go to the Options page and look at the Firefox Account section, what does it look like? Like the attached image?
No, it doesn't. It looks like one where I'm signed in, only I'm not.

As suggested before, if that panel shows you are set up to use Sync, there should be a Disconnect button. Click the Disconnect button.

more options

TyDraniu said

Are you trying to install firefox quantum having firefox with work stuff on the same computer/user accont? In this case, Sync has nothing to do with this. You just need separate profiles.

Good point, I was assuming two different computers!

more options

annedenise said

I want to use firefox quantum to use for my personal stuff, but when I downloaded it, it immediately synched it to all my work tabs. I do not WANT browsers that sync, I want them separate - it is critical I maintain two separate browsers. I would like to use Firefox for both, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. Is there a way to do this? Thanks!

Installing Firefox a 2nd time won't make a difference; Firefox will use a common Profile where user data is stored, without the user specifically creating a 2nd Profile to keep "work" and "personal" Firefox data separate. Firefox Sync doesn't come into play; it's not separate data when the user is using one Profile. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

more options

You can disconnect from Sync by clicking the e-mail address in the "3-bar" Firefox menu button drop-down list or go to "Options/Preferences > Sync".

To remove all Sync traces: Delete the signedInUser.json file in the Firefox profile folder and delete the Weave folder (Sync was formerly named Weave). Remove an existing chrome://FirefoxAccounts entry in the Firefox Password Manager.