Using multiple profiles - Firefox

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Revision as of 11:52, 30 July 2010 by Dmcritchie (talk | contribs) (installing different version of Firefox similar to Beta testing)
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General tips for multiple profiles

If you are using multiple Firefox profiles, these tips may be helpful:

  • Use Color Toolbar(s) to identify profile | userstyles.org styling to color code your Firefox browser and dialog windows to identify the profile in use. The style is installed, used and managed with the Stylish extension available at addons.
  • You can have only browser and profile together that constitute your Default browser. The term "default browser" is used to describe the URL and file associations that determine which web browser is launched when you open an Internet shortcut or HTML file or when you click a link in a mail application like Thunderbird or Outlook Express, if you have more than one web browser installed on your system. So your additional profiles would not be your default browser. You can make Firefox with the profile you are using the default later on, if you want.
  • (Windows) Create Windows Quick Launch shortcuts
  • (Windows) Use the Launchy extension to open current page in another profile with a customized "launchy.xml" file (sample) with -no-remote to start each profile. (Don't use it to launch your default profile, at least not with -no-remote). [1] [2]
  • Keep in mind that profile names are case-sensitive.
  • Try to avoid renaming of a profile name in the Profile Manager because it does not change the actual filename, which may lead to confusion though correct in the profiles.ini file.
  • Even though you can have spaces in a profile name it is not a good idea as there are instances where you need to specify a profile name but cannot enclose the profile name in quotes such as in llaunchy.xml used by by the "Launchy " extension.
  • (Windows) Change the shortcut icon for a Firefox version by right clicking on the startup icon, then under properties, shortcut, change icon. Won't apply to a specific profile but will help identify the version of Firefox.
  • Use a JSON bookmarkbackups file from your default profile to restore to your test profiles, if you need bookmarks, bookmarklets, or keyword shortcuts (details here). (JSON files are database backups and were introduced in Firefox 3)
  • Install Open Profile Folder extension at least in your default profile to give you quick access to your Firefox profile data. In Firefox 3.6 and later you can use "Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder" to go to the profile folder.


Installing additional betas or secondary profiles

Major points have already been mentioned above. Always reply "do not make Firefox your default browser" as these are test profiles or Betas, you can always change later.

Installing a secondary test profile

Installing a test profile for same version of Firefox.

  • Use the Profile Manager to install a new profile. If you start Firefox with a missing/unknown profile name you will get the Profile Manager and you can ask to install a new profile, and will have to give the new profile name (case-sensitive).
  • Do not make Firefox your default browser.

Installing a Beta Version or other versions for testing

Beta versions will install the Firefox application into their own directories but suggest always use custom install anyway, as you would need to do if testing another version of Firefox.

  • You will want to create a new profile to be used only with your Beta or other version of Firefox.
  • Do not make Firefox your default browser when using this new profile.

Installing a Release Candidate

Release Candidates are normally installed as a replacement for your existing Firefox application, they will by default install into the default application files, and will use your default profile. Be careful, if you want different application directories, or profile. See Testing pre-release versions.

See also