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Is there a Profile Switcher (and if not, is it even possible to write one?)

bernd.wechner
bernd.wechner
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Sure, I can select a profile at startup and/or with the ProfileManager. But let's be frank, if you're keen to work on two profiles and switch quickly (like work and play say) with different, independent histories, tabs, add-ons and more, i.e.e different profiles quite secure from one another, then we'd also like to be able to switch quickly between them from the UI, a button on the toolbar perhaps.

It looks like once, there was a plug-in that did that:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1199529

but I can't find one now, and so I'm left wondering:

1) is that because I haven't found it yet? or 2) Is that because none exists? And if so: Is that because it's not possible to write such an add-on?

I just wonder if there's some technical reason this can't be done that explains why it perhaps hasn't been.

Simple toolbar button to close this profile and open another. Ideally of course without a complete restart of Firefox, but including one of course if that's inescapable (though one might ask Mozilla to support holding two or more complete profiles/contexts open in memory at once)

Sure, I can select a profile at startup and/or with the ProfileManager. But let's be frank, if you're keen to work on two profiles and switch quickly (like work and play say) with different, independent histories, tabs, add-ons and more, i.e.e different profiles quite secure from one another, then we'd also like to be able to switch quickly between them from the UI, a button on the toolbar perhaps. It looks like once, there was a plug-in that did that: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1199529 but I can't find one now, and so I'm left wondering: 1) is that because I haven't found it yet? or 2) Is that because none exists? And if so: Is that because it's not possible to write such an add-on? I just wonder if there's some technical reason this can't be done that explains why it perhaps hasn't been. Simple toolbar button to close this profile and open another. Ideally of course without a complete restart of Firefox, but including one of course if that's inescapable (though one might ask Mozilla to support holding two or more complete profiles/contexts open in memory at once)

All Replies (2)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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There were add-ons that let you switch profiles, but with the coming of Quantum, many are no longer compatible.

Go to the Mozilla Add-ons Web Page {web Link} (There’s a lot of good stuff here) and search for what you want.

On my Windows computer, I wrote a batch program that would start one of my several installed Firefox versions and connect it to its own profile.

Each version of Firefox needs to run using its own profile.

When I run the browser like that, I use a batch file command to launch each Firefox version separately.

Here is an example (on one line only); 

C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\firefox.exe -no-remote -P Firefox_v_57

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Command_Line_Options 

Usage: C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\firefox.exe [ options ... ] [URL]
      where options include:
 
 -h or -help        Print this message.
 -v or -version     Print Firefox version.
 -P <profile>       Start with <profile>.
 -migration         Start with migration wizard.
 -ProfileManager    Start with ProfileManager.
 -no-remote         Do not accept or send remote commands; implies -new-instance.
 -new-instance      Open new instance, not a new window in running instance.
 -UILocale <locale> Start with <locale> resources as UI Locale.
 -safe-mode         Disables extensions and themes for this session.
 -console           Start Firefox with a debugging console.
 -jsconsole         Open the Error console.
 -browser           Open a browser window.
 -new-window  <url> Open <url> in a new window.
 -new-tab     <url> Open <url> in a new tab.
 -preferences       Open Options dialog.
 -search     <term> Search <term> with your default search engine.
 -setDefaultBrowser Set this app as the default browser.
the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Have you tried using about:profiles  ? Type that in the URL bar and hit Enter.

Other Profiles can be opened via the Launch profile in a new browser button. (a new window) No restart is needed.

And about:profiles can be bookmarked or you can create a bookmark for about:about to be able to access all the about: protocols via a bookmark, which is what I do,