Forum Discussion
How do you create separate shortcuts for different profiles?
The default shortcut has this as a Target:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Dev\Application\msedge.exe" --profile-directory="Default"
I think if I substitute other values for the profile-directory I can get the shortcut to use a different profile, but am not sure what to name it. I searched around the application and AppData directories but nothing leapt out at me.
if I pin Edge to the taskbar I get a shortcut with this command
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Beta\Application\msedge.exe" --profile-directory="Profile 1"open the directory
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge Beta\User Data\and check if there are Profile folders called like
- Profile 0
- Profile 1
- etc....
if you need to identify them:
inside these directories you have a file called Preferences
open it with a text editor (i.e. notepad.exe) copy everything into https://jsonbeautifier.org/ click Format/Beautify and then open the profile tree
there you find the name of the Profile associated to your profile folder "Profile x"
14 Replies
- Try the path "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application". I was running the dev channel when I made my post. The normal release channel uses a directory called "Edge". This allows people to have multiple release channels installed at the same time.
chris_conley I tried this path and although I have two profiles in Edge, it is only showing me one program called msedge.exe
What to do?
Detailed description:
1. open Edge
2. Options
3. Profiles
4. only 1 profile exists:
- define and name this profile
- Pin the current Icon to the taskbar
- Create new profile and name it
- Switch to new profile
- Pin current icon to taskbar
- Create new profile and name it
- Switch to new profile
- Pin current icon to taskbar
- Repeat these steps for every additional profile.
- Go to C:\Users\(Username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts\
- Inside each folder is a link to the dedicated profile
- right click on the icon and choose 'send to'
- A shortcut will be placed wherever you want. f.e. Desktop
- Taskbar icon can be deleted
5. you have already existing profiles
- follow steps above without creating new profiles:
- (switch profile - pin to taskbar - switch profile - pin to taskbar - etc.)
- Go to C:\Users\(Username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\ImplicitAppShortcuts\
- Inside each folder is a link to the dedicated profile
- right click on the icon and choose 'send to'
- A shortcut will be placed wherever you want.
- Taskbar icon can be deleted
Please note:
default profile command is: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --profile-directory=Default
afterwards each profile increases by 1, starting by: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --profile-directory="Profile 1"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --profile-directory="Profile 2"
However, it seems that just adding these commands adds new profiles to the broswer than linking to the existing ones.
Profile folders can be found under:
C:\Users\(Username)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data
- Default or
- (Profilename e.g. IT) or
- Profile 1
- Profile 2
- etc.
IngeborgHawighorst: I think he meant Settings.
If you open multiple Profiles at the same time, each one gets an icon in the Taskbar. From there, you can right-click the icon in the Taskbar and select Pin to Taskbar (it should be the bottom-most selection).
USMA56795The way profile works are the original will be "default". Any additional profiles will start with profile (then a number) like Profile 1, Profile 2, etc.
If you want to open your second profile, it will be this below in the Target text box."C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Dev\Application\msedge.exe" --profile-directory="Profile 1"
I hope this helps.Eric E.
Eric_MS If I try this, it just creates a new profile named "Profile 1" for me, even though I replaced it with "Work" which is an existing profile in Edge. How can I make it open an existing profile I have in Edge Chromium?
Koen Zomers edge://version/ This page gives you the profile directory path for the current profile you are using.
