Chrome Multiple Profile Setup
A guide to using and organising multiple user profiles in Chrome.
Disclaimer: Never share account details without permission. If someone has your device with multiple accounts setup then they will be able to access any of them using this system.
This post will cover:
- What are Chrome profiles?
- How to add a person or profile
- How to manage sync
- How to switch to another person or profile
- Change a name or photo
- Remove a person or profile
What are Chrome profiles?
Chrome profiles allow you to set up multiple user profiles within the Chrome browser. This is incredibly useful when you are using a range of different accounts for accessing different sites such as Medium and Google and often need to move between accounts. It not only allows you to avoid logging in and out repeatedly, but it also loads set homepage(s) and any bookmarks associated with that profile.
Switching between profiles once they’re set up only takes a couple of clicks and removes the need to log in each time.
How to add a person or profile
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Navigate to the top right of the page and double click the small icon circular profile icon located between the favourite icon and the thee dots.
3. Select ‘Manage People’ from the drop down menu.
4. Click ‘Add person’.
5. Keep the name and picture the same if you are using a shared profile or customise it if it is your own personal account.
6. Click ‘Add’.
7. This will open up a new window for this profile, navigate back to the icon in the top right and click ‘Turn on sync…’ this will sync bookmarks, history, passwords and other settings automatically when you sign on using this account on a different machine.
- You will be prompted to sign into that account with the account information (email and password).
8. Your accounts will now be linked. If you click back into the account icon you are on and then ‘Manage people’ again you can see all accounts within your profile.
How to manage sync
If you turn on sync, the information on your profile becomes available in your Google Account. However, if you do not wish to sync everything, you can change what information is saved.
- Open Chrome, then click the three dots located next to the user icon in the right hand corner of the page.
- Next click ‘Settings’.
3. This will open the Settings tab, from there select ‘Sync and other Google services’.
4. Then choose ‘Manage sync’ from the options provided.
5. The ‘Manage sync’ page allows you to choose what information syncs across from that account. Click the slider next to ‘Sync everything’ to see the various sync options.
6. Click the sliders to deactivate or activate them. Sliders that are dark blue with the circle on the right are active. Inactive sync sliders will be appear as a paler blue with the circle to the left.
How to switch to another person or profile
- Click into the account icon you are on and then ‘Manage people’ again you can see all accounts within your profile.
2. Choose which account you wish to access and click on the icon for that account. This will open the homepage for this account in a new tab.
Change a name or photo
- Navigate to the account you wish to edit the name or photo of as described above.
2. Click the three dots located next to the user icon in the right hand corner of the page, then ‘select settings’.
3. Click ‘Chrome name and picture’.
4. Amend the name and icon using the display shown below.
Remove a person or profile
- Navigate to the top right of the page and double click the small icon located between the favourite icon and the thee dots icon.
2. Select ‘Manage People’ from the drop down menu.
3. Select the three dots icon in the top right of the user account profile, then select ‘Remove this person’ from the drop down menu.
4. Confirm the removal by clicking ‘Remove this person’.
5. The user profile will no longer be visible in your account. This removes the account from your browser but the account will still exist.
