How to Create and Use Multiple Profiles in Microsoft Edge Like a Pro

How to Create and Use Multiple Profiles in Microsoft Edge Like a Pro

Microsoft’s shift to the Chromium engine for its Edge browser has made a big difference. Besides improving performance and supporting tons of extensions, it also comes with unique features such as collections and tracking prevention that set it apart from the Chromium crowd. Microsoft Edge even adds a new dimension to your navigation by allowing you to create and use multiple profiles.


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The new Microsoft Edge Chromium web browser lets you easily configure multiple user profiles. It also allows you to move easily between profiles and offers the possibility of defining a default profile to avoid any confusion if you wish. If you have a business account, you can also automatically configure the browser to change profiles depending on the type of content.

Here’s what you need to know about creating and using multiple profiles in Microsoft Edge Chromium on PC and Mac.

Create a new profile

Microsoft Edge Chromium should have created a new profile automatically the first time you used it. And in the meantime, you’ve probably signed in with a Microsoft account to synchronize your browsing data. But you don’t have to be blocked using the same profile for all your browsing activities.

For example, you can surf the Internet without synchronizing your browsing data with your Microsoft account. Or you can have another Microsoft account (personal or work) to which you want to log in and access certain sites or synchronize specific forms of data. If so, you can create a new profile quite easily.

Step 1: Click the profile icon in the upper right corner of any Edge window.


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2nd step: In the profile drop-down menu that appears, click Add Profile.


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Step 3: Click on Add.


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Step 4: Click Confirm to finish creating the profile.


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You can start using the profile immediately. Any bookmarks you create or passwords you save will be stored locally, separate from your other profile data.

If you want to back up your data online and synchronize passwords and favorites between devices, you must sign in with a Microsoft account.

Connect to profile

In cases where you have another Microsoft account (professional or personal), you can easily use it to connect to the profile you just created. This protects your passwords and favorites, but you can also access your data on other devices by signing in with the same Microsoft account.

Step 1: Click the profile icon, then click Connect.


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2nd step: Select Work or school account if you want to connect with a work account or Microsoft account if you want to connect with a personal account.


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Step 3: After logging in with your account credentials, click Synchronize to start synchronizing your browsing data.


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You can also click Customize to select the specific forms of data that you want to synchronize with your Microsoft account.

Point: Go to Edge Settings> Profiles> Sync to manage your Edge Sync settings at any time.

Switch between profiles

You can continue to create and connect to additional profiles. Switching between Microsoft Edge profiles is also very easy. Just click on the profile icon, then select the profile you want to start using.


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Any profile you switch to will open in a separate window. You can then juggle between the profile windows via the taskbar (PC) or Mission Control (Mac).

Edit profile name and image

By default, Microsoft Edge labels your profiles in the order in which you add them (such as Personal, Personal 2, Personal 3, and so on). You can always rename them. You can also add or edit your profile photo.

Step 1: Click the profile icon, then click Manage Profile Settings.


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2nd step: Click the Plus icon (three dots) next to the profile, then click Edit.


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Step 3: Replace the default profile label with the name you want. To add or modify the profile picture, click Change picture.


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Note: Click Edit Image to display the Microsoft Account web portal, where you can then upload a new image. If you are not logged into the profile, you can only select one image from the dozen of profile photos integrated into the browser.

When you’re done, click Update.

Set the default profile

Microsoft Edge will open the last profile you used each time you click an external link (for example, from an email client). Since this is not possible at all times, you can specify a default profile for this action instead.

Step 1: Click Manage Profile Settings from the profile drop-down menu. Then click on Multiple Profile Preferences.


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2nd step: Open the menu next to “Default profile for external links”, then select the profile you want to set as the default.


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The change will be saved automatically.

Automatic profile switching

If you signed in to a profile with a work or school account, Microsoft Edge automatically prompts you to switch to the relevant profile (personal or work) depending on the type of content you access. If you want to prevent this from happening or if you do not receive such prompts, you must disable or enable the appropriate setting.

Step 1: Click Manage Profile Settings from the profile drop-down menu. Then click on Multiple Profile Preferences.


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2nd step: Use the switch next to automatic profile switching to deactivate or activate the function.


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The change will be saved automatically.

Log out of the profile

Microsoft Edge lets you easily sign out of a profile. Your data will then stop synchronizing with the Microsoft account, but the data already synchronized will continue to stay online. You can also choose to erase all navigation data stored locally when you log out, but this will also cause your profile to be deleted by the browser.

Step 1: Go to the Edge Settings pane, switch to the profile you want to sign out of, and click Sign Out.


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2nd step: In the confirmation box that appears, click Sign out to disconnect your Microsoft account from the profile.


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Warning: By checking the box next to “Clear bookmarks, history, passwords and other browsing data from this device”, you will also delete the entire profile.

You can then continue to use the profile offline or reconnect with the same Microsoft account later. You can also sign in with another Microsoft account, but you will then have to choose between merging all existing data or starting from scratch.

Profile yourself

Microsoft Edge Chromium’s ability to create multiple profiles and connect with different Microsoft accounts should help separate the different workflows and better manage your browsing activity. The fact that you can also specify a default profile and even allow the browser to automatically switch between work and personal profiles should have many use cases. Well done, Microsoft.

Then:

Did you know that you can have Microsoft Edge display each website in dark mode? Click on the link below to find out how.

Last updated June 5, 2020

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