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Google Enables Multiple Users in Latest Chrome Release


December 14th, 2011
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The latest version of Google Chrome is now available and it supports multiple users/profiles. Back in October we released a blog explaining how to setup multiple instances of Google Chrome on your PC. I still use this technique today and have found it very helpful to keep my Google business chrome separate from my personal Chrome. Through using Google Chrome’s synchronization feature, one may keep their chromes synchronized across multiple computers, but before this latest Chrome release you’d have to invoke a few operating system hacks to run multiple versions of chrome on a single PC.

Now with the latest release of Chrome, multiple users/profiles are enabled. If you share a computer with someone else, then you’ll find this feature helpful.

How to Add Users

  1. Current Chrome Version: firstly, make sure your Chrome is up to date. Chrome automatically updates itself, but sometimes you have to do it manually. In Chrome click the wrench and then click “About Google Chrome.” This will run a check for any available updates and will automatically install them. Please wait until it is complete. Then restart your browser.
  2. Accessing New User Tools: in Google Chrome >> click the wrench >> click the options link. Under the optinos window click on the personal stuff tab. You should now see a new section in your personal options which says Users. Click on Add New User.
  3. Synchronizing New User: once your new user is setup, you’ll want to synchronize this user to a Google account so you can login to this user from any Google chrome on any computer. You’ll be able to setup this Google account under this same section.
  4. That’s it! now when you open Chrome, if you have more than one user enabled, you’ll see a small avatar on the upper left of the browser. Simply click on this icon to change users.

Limitations

While this new feature is certainly great, I have decided to continue using multiple profiles the way that I did previously. There are three reasons for this decision:

  1. Privacy: using the new user feature doesn’t actually create a new instance of Chrome. Therefore, locally stored cookies, variables, etc., will be storied in the same place as other users; only separated by a few folders.
  2. Customization: using the old method to achieve multiple chrome profiles, you are able to create unique program shortcuts on your desktop and application launchers.

    Multiple Chrome Profiles

    This image above shows how you can completely separate your different chromes in Windows 7, be creating different application shortcuts and icons.

  3. Usability: it’s easier to click a single shortcut icon rather than having to open up a new user window by first clicking your regular Chrome shortcut.

We are thrilled that Chrome has enabled this new feature and it should prove very useful to diverse web surfers.

By: Jonathan Gibbons
Web Ventures Plus
Owner & Chief Webmaster