Creating a new Firefox profile on Windows: Difference between revisions

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You can then use your newly created additional profile just as it is, [[import bookmarks]] to it immediately or [[migrating settings to a new profile|migrate some/all of your original settings over to it]]. All while still be able to go straight back to your original profile.
You can then use your newly created additional profile just as it is, [[import bookmarks]] to it immediately or [[migrating settings to a new profile|migrate some/all of your original settings over to it]]. All while still be able to go straight back to your original profile.


This example is based on Windows XP -


#If Firefox is open, close it completely by choosing File -> Exit
#If Firefox is open, close it completely by choosing File -> Exit
# Right click your Firefox Desktop shortcut and select 'Properties'. Copy the location in the 'Target' box. It should look something like this:  ''' "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"''' 
# Go to the Windows Start Menu (bottom left button) and then select 'Run'. Enter (without quotation marks) "firefox.exe -P" (i.e. firefox.exe space hyphen P ) then click OK.
# Go to the Windows Start Menu (bottom left button) and then select 'Run'. Paste the copied location into the box that opens. Now, to the end of that location type, Space hyphen p (''' -p'''), like this :  ''' "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p'''    then click OK.
# Select the 'Create Profile' button on the 'Choose User Profile' window that comes up. Follow the Profile Wizard and enter a new name in the 'Enter New Profile Name' box (about 10 letters long). Press 'Finish'.
# Select the 'Create Profile' button on the 'Choose User Profile' window that comes up. Follow the Profile Wizard and enter a new name in the 'Enter New Profile Name' box (about 10 letters long). Press 'Finish'.
# Ensure that the 'don't ask at startup' box is unchecked (you can change this later) and select the 'Start Firefox' box.
# Ensure that the 'don't ask at startup' box is unchecked (you can change this later) and select the 'Start Firefox' box.

Revision as of 20:34, 4 January 2007

The Firefox Profile Manger allows you to create an additional profile while retaining your original one. This is useful not only for having separate settings for multiple users, but also for troubleshooting. You should NOT delete any existing profile unless you are absolutely sure that you will never need it again. If in any doubt, then please leave alone.

You can then use your newly created additional profile just as it is, import bookmarks to it immediately or migrate some/all of your original settings over to it. All while still be able to go straight back to your original profile.


  1. If Firefox is open, close it completely by choosing File -> Exit
  2. Go to the Windows Start Menu (bottom left button) and then select 'Run'. Enter (without quotation marks) "firefox.exe -P" (i.e. firefox.exe space hyphen P ) then click OK.
  3. Select the 'Create Profile' button on the 'Choose User Profile' window that comes up. Follow the Profile Wizard and enter a new name in the 'Enter New Profile Name' box (about 10 letters long). Press 'Finish'.
  4. Ensure that the 'don't ask at startup' box is unchecked (you can change this later) and select the 'Start Firefox' box.

See also

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