Chrome Profile Switcher is a free menu bar app for Mac that gives each browser profile its own Dock icon. The questions below cover what it does, which browsers it supports, what it asks for and why, and how to install, update or remove it. If your question is not here, email support@zwaystudios.com.
It is a small menu bar app for Mac that gives each browser profile its own icon in the Dock, with the profile's picture and a small browser badge. Click an icon and that profile's existing windows come forward. Click again to cycle to its next window.
How is it different from dragging Chrome to the Dock?
Dragging Chrome to the Dock gives you one icon for the whole app, because the Dock shows one icon per app. Chrome Profile Switcher adds one icon per profile, and clicking it brings back only that profile's windows.
Which browsers does it support?
Google Chrome (plus Beta, Dev and Canary), Brave, Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, Chromium, Yandex, Arc, Dia, Opera, Opera GX, Firefox (plus Developer Edition and Nightly), Zen, LibreWolf and Waterfox. Opera, Opera GX, Arc and Dia are matched when they have one profile. Safari is not supported.
How much does it cost?
It is free during the beta. You fill in a short form with your name and email, and the DMG downloads right away. There is no payment and no trial timer.
Why is it free?
The app is in beta, and it is free for the whole beta period. You can follow what changes on the public changelog and roadmap.
Is it safe?
The app asks for one permission, Accessibility, and uses it only to read window titles and bring the right window forward. It has no account and no analytics, and it goes online only to check for updates, which are EdDSA signed. It is not notarized by Apple yet during the beta.
Which permissions does it need and why?
Accessibility, asked on first launch, so it can read window titles and bring the right window forward. Screen Recording is optional and only used for live window previews. The profile icon apps need no permissions.
Why would it ask for Screen Recording?
Only if you want live previews of windows when you hover a profile icon. It asks the first time you click Show Live Previews. Without it, the hover panel still lists the windows with their titles.
Does it make a copy of Chrome for each profile?
No. Each profile icon is a tiny launcher app of about 2 MB stored in ~/Applications/Chrome Profiles. One real browser keeps running with the same logins, extensions and history.
Does it use a lot of memory?
No. Because it does not start a second copy of the browser, the only extra memory is the menu bar app and one small launcher per open profile, a few tens of MB each, far less than a second browser. Your browser itself uses the same memory as before.
How do I keep a profile icon in the Dock?
Right-click the profile icon, choose Options, then Keep in Dock. You can then drag it next to your other kept apps and arrange it like any app. There is also a Settings option to keep icons even when a profile has no windows.
A profile icon stayed on the kept apps side of the Dock divider after I unpinned it. What do I do?
macOS keeps a running app on the kept side of the divider until it restarts. Since version 1.4.1 the app restarts that icon for you a moment after you turn off Keep in Dock, and macOS puts it with your other open apps. On older versions, right-click the icon and choose Quit once.
Why is a profile icon missing?
Icons appear only for profiles with an open window, so open a window in that profile first. Check that the Accessibility permission is on, and that no two profiles share exactly the same name. For Opera, Opera GX, Arc and Dia, windows are matched only when the browser has one profile.
Two of my profiles have the same name. Why do they get mixed up?
For Chrome based browsers the app matches windows by the profile name in the window title. Two profiles with exactly the same name cannot be told apart, so rename one of them in the browser.
Does it work with windows on other desktops and displays?
Yes. Click a profile icon and macOS switches to the desktop or display where that profile's window is. The hover panel also shows windows that are on other desktops.
Can I open a new window or a private window in a specific profile?
Yes. Right-click the profile icon and choose New Window or New Incognito Window. You can also hover the icon and click the plus button to open a new window in that profile.
How does it update?
It updates itself. It checks every 6 hours for EdDSA signed updates and installs them when the app quits. You can also choose Check for Updates from the menu.
Which macOS version do I need?
macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Does it run on Intel Macs?
Yes. It is a universal app that runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. The DMG is about 3 MB.
macOS says it cannot check the app. How do I open it?
The beta is not notarized by Apple yet. Open System Settings, go to Privacy and Security, and click Open Anyway. You only need to do this once, and notarization is planned for when the app leaves beta.
How do I uninstall it?
Quit the app from its menu bar icon, then delete the app. Also delete the ~/Applications/Chrome Profiles folder, which holds the small profile icon apps.
What does it know about my browsing?
It reads window titles on your Mac to match windows to profiles. Nothing is sent anywhere: there is no account and no analytics in the app, and it goes online only to check for updates.
What is Focus Window Under Pointer?
An optional feature added in 1.5.0. When you rest the pointer on a window in any app, that window gets keyboard focus without being raised, so your first click lands. It is off by default and you turn it on from the menu bar icon or Settings.
Can I request a feature?
Yes. The public changelog and roadmap page takes feature requests. Planned items include a keyboard shortcut per profile, custom icons and better matching for Opera, Arc and Dia with several profiles.
How do I contact support?
Email support@zwaystudios.com. You can also send feature requests from the changelog and roadmap page.