View source for Opening a new instance of your Mozilla application with another profile

''This article explains how to open multiple instances of your Mozilla application at the same time, using different profiles.  It was written for Firefox but also applies to Thunderbird and [http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/ SeaMonkey 2].  Thunderbird users should read [[Run multiple copies of Thunderbird at the same time]] for additional information.''


When Firefox is running and you try to open another Firefox process, a new  window is opened instead, in the already running process.  You can use  the <code>-no-remote</code>  [[command line arguments|command line option]] to start a new Firefox process that is invisible to the first process.  [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=325509]   By using <code>-no-remote</code> along with the  <code>-P</code> option to select a different profile,  you can open multiple instances of Firefox at the same time, using separate profiles. [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3173145#3173145]  Selecting a different profile from the one used in the first process is necessary because [[Profile in use|profiles are "locked" when in use]].  

'''Important:'''  Never use -no-remote to start the "default" profile (the one that is set to open without asking when you launch Firefox).  That's because when you launch Firefox, for example,  by clicking a link in your mail program, you will get a [[Profile in use|Firefox is already running but is not responding]] message if the default profile is already in use.  The solution is to always start the default profile normally and launch all others with -no-remote. Then it will work. [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3202348#3202348]

You can use a [[shortcut to a specific profile]] to open Firefox using <code>-no-remote</code>.  For example,  to open a profile named "My Profile" using -no-remote,  enter the following in the Target field of a Windows desktop shortcut (adjust the path, if different):
 "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P "My Profile" -no-remote 

'''Note:''' You can also open the [[Profile Manager]] with Firefox already running, by using <code>-P -no-remote</code> without including a profile name. 

===See also=== 
* [[Starting your Mozilla application with a specified profile]]
* [[Using multiple profiles - Firefox]]

===Related bug reports=== 
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=325509 Bug 325509 - add -no-remote switch to disable remote stuff]
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=650078 Bug 650078 - -no-remote browser accepts remote commands]
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=716110 Bug 716110 - split -new-instance flag out of existing -no-remote flag]


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