How to create a new Firefox Profile

Why would you want a new profile?  The main reason is the same regardless of if you are using the browser at work for testing or if you are using the browser at home for recreation: different add-ons, configurations, and settings.

In my case, at the office, I have a profile set up with which I run automated tests in Selenium IDE.  The reason I can't use my normal browser is two-fold:

1. The add-ons which I need for Selenium IDE to run without failing for stupid reasons are dangerous to have installed for everyday manual use.
2. Everyone on my team needs to have the same setup so that we can all run the tests without having any compatibility issues.

So, how to set it up?  Fairly easy.  See these links for reference.

• Multi-Firefox
• Command line Arguments

On your Windows system, first run (Windows-r)

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -ProfileManager -no-remote

Or From Mac's Terminal, enter this command:

/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox-bin -ProfileManager -no-remote

*Note:  If your FF installation is in a different location, you have to specify that location.

The argument -ProfileManager specifies that the application starts with the Profile Manager.
The argument -no-remote enables multiple instances of the application with different profiles.



It will then open up the Firefox Profile Manager:

 When you click to create a new profile, click the Next button and enter the profile name.  Then click Finish.

 

*Note: You should make sure that in the Profile Manager, you have "Don't ask at startup" checked, otherwise, FF will ALWAYS open with the Profile Manger, and you'll have to click the profile, and then click Start Firefox for the browser to start.  It's a PITA.


After you have your profile set up, you can create a shortcut to that profile (easier done on Windows than on Mac OS).

For Windows, right click drag the application to a new location and create a shortcut.  Right click the shortcut and click properties in the shortcut menu.  In the "Target" field enter -p ${profileName} after the application, where ${profileName} = the name of the created profile.  In my example, the new profile's name is Upload, so I would add  -p Upload to the end of the target:

Target:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p Upload

{space}-p{space}Upload

 

*Note: the arguments come AFTER the quotation mark (")

For Mac, follow these instructions to set it up (when I do it myself, I'll do a write up).

I also have it on Rocket Dock.  It has a separate field provided to place the argument, so it's easy to set up.

Now, when you open your shortcut, it will open up the profile which was specified!  All you have to do is install the addons you need, configure the options and settings how you want, and you're ready to go!!

Hope this helps you out if you've never created a profile.
Please let me know if it did help, if you got stuck somewhere, if anything was typed in a confusing way, if clarifications are needed, or any other suggestions on how this post could be more helpful.


Thanks! :-)