Use Multiple Firefox Profiles at the Same Time
Did you know that you can run more than one Firefox profile at once? This can be extremely useful if you want to test out extensions more easily, create a web development profile, run a slimmed down profile just for Gmail, or if you just want to have a clean profile.
The first thing you'll need to do is create a new profile. You'll need to run the following from a run dialog or command prompt, adjusting the path if necessary.
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe -profilemanager
Create an extra profile by using the Create Profile wizard, and make sure that each profile has a distinct name. You'll also want to leave the "Don't ask at startup" box checked.
The next thing you'll want to do is make another shortcut to Firefox. You can just copy/paste the current shortcut if you feel like it, then open up the properties page and go to the Shortcut tab.
Add the following to the end of the Target box. As you can see, my profile was named Geek, so that's what I used.
-P PROFILENAME -no-remote
Now on the second shortcut, which I suggest you give a relevant name to, go into the same place except use the profile name for the secondary profile. Make sure you use the -no-remote option!
Now you should be able to use either shortcut to open a new Firefox window specific to that profile. Extensions, bookmarks, themes, will all be specific to the profile, and a new profile will start off at default.
Note: This assumes you are using Firefox 2.0. If you aren't, then you should be.
what's the 'no-remote' part do?
Cool tip, I always wanted to have a developer based profile and a surfing profile so that I could use different extensions for different profiles
This definately comes in handy for me. Thanks for the tip.
@Ben
the -no-remote option enables Firefox to run with multiple profiles…
Heh… I didn't know that either, I asked a friend and he told me… Hope that helps out other people too.
This is awesome, only 1 problem: It now always uses my Web profile to open external links (so clicked from another program, mail for example). Any idea on how to force it to use my normal profile?
Thanks for the tip. it was very useful for me.
@Blizz
To set which version of firefox opens from other external applications like Outlook then edit the Registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > App Paths > firefox.exe
In that location, change the values of the (Default) and Path keys to match your Firefox installation you want as the default.
Great! I searched for it for a long time… Thanks for this tip!
thank u
@t.mski:
There is an easier way to set the default browser than messing with the registry (I had to do this, as I have both Firefox 2.0.0.13 and Firefox 3 Beta 5 installed).
In Firefox, go to "Tools > Options > Advanced > "General" tab". In the "System Defaults" field, there is a button marked "Check Now". Click that to make the current version of Firefox open the default choice for applications accessing it externally.
@Blizz
However, I don't think that answers Blizz's question. Blizz, I don't know the answer, but I would assume that Firefox may use the first profile by default? Perhaps if you changed the name so that the profile that you wanted to use with external applications was listed first, than this might solve that…