Creating a new Firefox profile on Windows: Difference between revisions

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m (fixed broken profiles manager anchor link)
(changed instructions to only show firefox.exe -P (no quotes) and uploaded new Windows 7 screenshots)
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* If Firefox is open, [[Kill application|close it completely]] by choosing "File -> Exit".  
* If Firefox is open, [[Kill application|close it completely]] by choosing "File -> Exit".  
* Go to the Windows Start Menu (bottom left button) and then select 'Run'.  On Windows 7 or Vista,  press  "windows key+R" if you haven't enabled the "Run command" option for the Start menu (details [http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2006/09/18/windows-vista-secret-3-bringing-back-start-run.aspx here])   
* Go to the Windows Start Menu (bottom left button) and then select 'Run'.  On Windows 7 or Vista,  press  "windows key+R" if you haven't enabled the "Run command" option for the Start menu (details [http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2006/09/18/windows-vista-secret-3-bringing-back-start-run.aspx here])   
* Enter (without quotation marks) "firefox -P" (i.e. firefox space hyphen P ) or "firefox.exe -P" and then click OK  
* Enter <code>  firefox.exe -P </code>  (i.e., firefox.exe space hyphen P) and then click OK  


:[[Image:ProfileMgr.png]]  
:[[Image:Runfirefoxexe-P.png]]  


* Click the 'Create Profile...' button on the 'Firefox - Choose User Profile' window that comes up.  
* Click the 'Create Profile...' button on the 'Firefox - Choose User Profile' window that comes up.  
:[[Image:ProfileMgr2.png]]
:[[Image:FxProfileMgr.png]]


* Click 'Next >' in the 'Create Profile Wizard' window that comes up.
* Click 'Next >' in the 'Create Profile Wizard' window that comes up.
:[[Image:ProfileMgr3.png]]
:[[Image:FxProfileMgr1.png]]
   
   
* Type in a new name in the 'Enter new profile name' box (about 10 letters long) and click 'Finish'.  '''Caution:'''  DO NOT click the "Choose Folder..." button unless you've read the [[Profile_Manager#Creating_a_new_profile |warnings given under Custom profile location for Firefox]].  
* Type in a new name in the 'Enter new profile name' box and click 'Finish'.  '''Caution:'''  DO NOT click the "Choose Folder..." button unless you've read the [[Profile_Manager#Creating_a_new_profile |warnings given under Custom profile location for Firefox]].  
:[[Image:ProfileMgr4.png]]  
:[[Image:FxProfileMgr2.png]]  


* Make sure that the 'Don't ask at startup' box is unchecked (you can change this later) and click the 'Start Firefox' box.  Firefox will start with the new profile.
* Clear the "Don't ask at startup" box so that it is unchecked (you can change this later) and click the 'Start Firefox' box.  Firefox will start with the new profile.
:[[Image:ProfileMgr5.png]]
:[[Image:FxProfileMgr3a.png]]


The 'Firefox - Choose User Profile' window will now appear whenever you start Firefox.  If you decide that you no longer want to see this window, check the 'Don't ask at startup' box the next time it appears.  The last selected profile will then start automatically when you next start Firefox and you will need to start the Profile Manager again to switch profiles.
The 'Firefox - Choose User Profile' window will now appear whenever you start Firefox.  If you decide that you no longer want to see this window, check the 'Don't ask at startup' box the next time it appears.  The last selected profile will then start automatically when you next start Firefox and you will need to start the Profile Manager again to switch profiles.


[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:Profiles]]

Revision as of 15:43, 12 April 2011

The Firefox Profile Manager 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 transfer some/all of your original settings over to it. All while still be able to go straight back to your original profile. It is suggested that you back up or export bookmarks from your old profile now, as a precaution, before moving on to the following stages.

The following assumes a standard Firefox installation on a standard Windows Operating System. If this does not apply to you, please see Profile Manager

  • If Firefox is open, close it completely by choosing "File -> Exit".
  • Go to the Windows Start Menu (bottom left button) and then select 'Run'. On Windows 7 or Vista, press "windows key+R" if you haven't enabled the "Run command" option for the Start menu (details here)
  • Enter firefox.exe -P (i.e., firefox.exe space hyphen P) and then click OK
  • Click the 'Create Profile...' button on the 'Firefox - Choose User Profile' window that comes up.
  • Click 'Next >' in the 'Create Profile Wizard' window that comes up.
  • Clear the "Don't ask at startup" box so that it is unchecked (you can change this later) and click the 'Start Firefox' box. Firefox will start with the new profile.

The 'Firefox - Choose User Profile' window will now appear whenever you start Firefox. If you decide that you no longer want to see this window, check the 'Don't ask at startup' box the next time it appears. The last selected profile will then start automatically when you next start Firefox and you will need to start the Profile Manager again to switch profiles.