Browser profiles in the Mac Dock, for every browser
by ZwayStudiosupdated
Chrome Profile Switcher gives each browser profile its own icon in the Mac Dock, and it works with far more than Google Chrome. It supports Chrome, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi, Chromium, Yandex, Arc, Dia, Opera, Opera GX, Firefox, Zen, LibreWolf and Waterfox. Safari is the one major browser it does not support.
Why every browser has the same problem
The macOS Dock shows one icon per running app. A browser is one app, so all of its profiles share one icon, no matter how many work, personal or client profiles you keep. Chrome Profile Switcher adds a small launcher icon for each profile, with that profile’s picture and a badge for the browser. Click it and that profile’s existing windows come forward. Click again to cycle to its next window.
Supported browsers at a glance
| Browser | Profile icons | How windows are matched | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome (plus Beta, Dev, Canary) | Yes | Profile name in the window title, checked against the browser’s “Local State” file | Two profiles with the same name cannot be told apart |
| Brave (plus Beta, Nightly) | Yes | Profile name in the window title | Same matching as Chrome |
| Microsoft Edge (plus Beta, Dev) | Yes | Profile name in the window title | Same matching as Chrome |
| Vivaldi | Yes | Profile name in the window title | Same matching as Chrome |
| Chromium | Yes | Profile name in the window title | Same matching as Chrome |
| Yandex | Yes | Profile name in the window title | Same matching as Chrome |
| Arc | Yes | Matched when Arc has one profile | Several profiles not yet told apart (on the roadmap) |
| Dia | Yes | Matched when Dia has one profile | Several profiles not yet told apart (on the roadmap) |
| Opera and Opera GX | Yes | Matched when the browser has one profile | Several profiles not yet told apart (on the roadmap) |
| Firefox (plus Developer Edition, Nightly) | Yes | Each profile runs as its own process | Profiles read from profiles.ini |
| Zen | Yes | Each profile runs as its own process | Same matching as Firefox |
| LibreWolf | Yes | Each profile runs as its own process | Same matching as Firefox |
| Waterfox | Yes | Each profile runs as its own process | Same matching as Firefox |
| Safari | No | Not supported | Safari profiles are not exposed in a way the app can use |
The three ways windows are matched
By window title. Chrome, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi, Chromium and Yandex add the profile name to the end of each window title once you have more than one profile. The app reads those titles through the macOS Accessibility API and compares them with the profile list the browser keeps in its “Local State” file. If two profiles have exactly the same name, rename one.
By process. Firefox, Zen, LibreWolf and Waterfox run each profile as a separate process. A window belongs to the profile of the process that owns it, so there is no guessing from titles at all.
By single profile. Opera, Opera GX, Arc and Dia do not show the profile name in window titles. When one of these browsers has a single profile, every window belongs to it and the icon works normally. With several profiles, the app cannot yet tell them apart. Better matching for these browsers is listed under Now on the roadmap.
How this compares with other Dock icon apps
As of 29 September 2026, the other Dock profile icon apps we know of focus on Google Chrome. Okie Dockie’s own FAQ says Arc, Brave and Edge are not supported today. Superdock’s own guide says Brave, Edge and Arc windows are not attributed to profiles. Both have strengths of their own, such as notarization and extra window tools. See the comparison hub for a fair side by side look.
Getting started
- Download Chrome Profile Switcher. It is free during the beta.
- Open the app and turn on Accessibility when asked. That is the only permission it needs.
- Open a window in each profile of any supported browser. The icons appear in the Dock by themselves.
For questions about permissions, privacy or updates, see the answers page.