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It can become rather frustrating if you have to constantly sign out of one account and log into another one throughout the day just to access and use the multiple online services that are tied to both of them. With that in mind, today's SuperUser Q&A post provides some helpful advice for a frustrated reader.

Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.

The Question

SuperUser reader JoeM wants to know if it is possible to use multiple profiles in Google Chrome at the same time:

Some of my online accounts are tied to a personal Gmail address while others are tied to a business Gmail address. They are needed for automated logins on websites like StackExchange, for example.

If I want to log in to this group (i.e. StackExchange), then I have to sign out from my business Gmail account and log in with my personal Gmail account.

Is there a way that I can use something like multiple profiles in Google Chrome at the same time? For example, in one screen I can log into my personal Gmail account and use the services connected to it, then in another screen log into my business Gmail account and use the services connected to it.

Is it possible to use multiple profiles in Google Chrome at the same time?

The Answer

SuperUser contributor DrBreakalot has the answer for us:

Google Chrome does support multiple profiles as explained via this help topic page (covers multiple kinds of devices): Share Chrome with Other People

Every profile is its own separate instance of Google Chrome, each with its own saved tabs and sessions.

I have a profile button in the top right corner of my browser that allows me to switch profiles. I use it on both my work and personal computers. The screenshot shown below is from Google Chrome 46.0.2490.80 running on OSX.

can-you-use-multiple-profiles-in-google-chrome-at-the-same-time-01

Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.