Google Chrome browser allows you to add multiple profiles, so if multiple people are using your PC, they can access their personal space while browsing. When it is time to clean up your browser, you might want to remove the extra profiles that are no longer in use. Here we show you how to remove profiles from Google Chrome.
Good to know: if you’re a designer, check these useful Google Chrome extensions that are sure to enhance your workflow.
How to Add a New Profile on Google Chrome
First things first – let’s see how you can add a new profile to your Google Chrome browser. Profiles is a feature that’s available in the desktop version of Google Chrome, but not in the mobile app. You get only one profile in the Chrome app whether you’re using the browser on Android or iOS. If you want to add more people to your Android device, add them as a separate user on your device and they can use the browser from there.
Open Google Chrome on your PC. If you’ve already created a few profiles but want to set up a new one, click the Add button. If you haven’t created a profile before in Chrome, you’ll be taken to the Choose search engine screen directly.
Now, if you have a Google account, you’re encouraged to sign in with it. Nevertheless, if for some reason you don’t want to or you don’t have one, you can opt for the option to Continue without an account.
If you’ve been using this email in Chrome on another device, you have the option to turn on sync and access your bookmarks, extensions, or history from your PC.
Note: while profiles aren’t available in the mobile Chrome app, you can still port any bookmarks or history information on your PC if you browsed while logged in with the same Google account on your mobile device!
On the next page, you’ll have to opt for your preferred search engine. The options are numerous. Click Set at default once you’ve made the selection.
Finally, name your profile and select a color scheme. That’s it, you’ve now created your new profile.
Now you’ll see the profile listed the next time you launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer. If you don’t have the option to Show at startup enabled, you will find your profile by clicking on the small image in the upper right corner of the address bar and selecting your profile from there.
Tip: check how to enable Chrome extensions even while you’re browsing in Incognito mode.
How to Remove Profiles on Google Chrome
If you want to remove a profile (or more) from Google Chrome, it’s simple. Follow the steps below.
In your Google Chrome browser, click on your profile picture in the upper right corner of the display. Click on the tiny gear icon next to Other profiles.
You’ll be taken to the screen where you can select your profile. Click on the three dots on the card of the profile you wish to remove. Select Delete.
On the next page, confirm your decision to delete this profile. That’s it, your profile has been removed.
If you wish to delete another Chrome profile, follow the same steps again to remove it from your browser.
FYI: did you know that you can install Chrome extensions in the Microsoft Edge browser? Check our post to learn how to do that.
What Happens After I Remove a Chrome Profile From My Device?
After you remove a profile from your Chrome, all bookmarks, sign-in methods, autofill data, and browser history associated with that particular profile will be deleted from your browser.
How to Add a Deleted Chrome Profile Back
As mentioned above, once a profile is deleted, the info associated with it is removed from view. Chrome does not have a native option that allows you to bring back your profile. However, check these workarounds if you want to restore a deleted Chrome profile.
If You Signed up with a Google Account
If you signed up with a Google account when creating your Chrome profile, then bringing it back is easy. Just create a new profile using the same Google email address by following the steps outlined in the first section. You’ll find that your bookmarks, history, and additional data will once again be available for you.
If You Didn’t Sign Up with a Google Account
If you haven’t signed up with a Google account when creating the profile you wish to restore now, the process it’s a bit more tricky, but not impossible.
On a Windows machine, you can use Task Scheduler to create a snapshot of previous versions of your folders (in this case, the Chrome folders.) Then you can restore this backup after you’ve deleted your profile.
Open Task Scheduler and click on Action -> New folder. Proceed to name your folder.
Next, double-click on Task Scheduler Library in the left-side column to view the new folder and click it.
Press Action -> Create Task.
In the new pop-up window, name your task and add a small description. Then tick the Run whether user is logged in or not option.
Next, switch to the Triggers tab and press the New button.
Check the Daily option and add a time when you’d like to create the backup. Press OK at the bottom.
Now move to the Actions tab and press the New button.
In the Program/script field, type the following:
wmic
In the Add arguments (optional) box, add:
shadowcopy call create Volume=C:\
Press OK.
Finally, switch to the Settings tab and enable the three options at the top. Press OK.
Input the password to the Microsoft account you’re using to log into Windows. That’s it. The task should now be all set up. It will run at the hour you’ve set it to.
Once a snapshot has been created, you can restore any Chrome profiles you’ve deleted after this happened. First, make sure you close any Chrome windows that are active.
Open a File Explorer window and go to:
C:\Users\Yourusername\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome
Here you should see the User Data folder. Right-click it and select Properties from the context menu.
Switch to Previous Versions and select the most recent version, then press Restore. Wait a few seconds until the process is complete.
Now, reopen your Chrome browser. You should be able to view your deleted profile now complete with all your bookmarks and other data.
On a Mac computer, you need to have Time Machine set up to do the same. Then head on to this location:
/Users/Yourusername/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
Create a new Profile folder, then copy and paste the contents from Time Machine into this folder.
Related: if you’re a writer, check the top must-have Chrome productivity extensions.
You can continue to customize your Chrome experience even further. For instance, check how to assign custom hotkeys to your Chrome extensions. You can also try and enable parallel downloading in Chrome.
Image credit: Freepik, Flaticon All screenshots by Alexandra Arici
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