Chrome profiles keep each person's or each account's bookmarks, history, passwords and settings separate in one copy of Chrome. To add one on a computer, select Profile at the top right, then Add Chrome profile, and choose a name, photo and colour scheme.
Here's the catch. A profile is a way of keeping things tidy, not a lock. Google is clear that anyone who has your device can switch to any other Chrome profile on it, and if they open yours, they can see things like the websites you've visited. Only share your computer with people you trust, and give a casual borrower Guest mode instead.
Profile, Guest mode or Incognito: which one
| Option | Best for, as of October 2026 | What's kept |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome profile | Sharing a computer with family, or keeping work and personal accounts apart | Its own bookmarks, history, passwords and settings |
| Guest mode | Lending your computer, borrowing someone else's, or a public computer at a library or cafe | Nothing: history, cookies and site data are deleted when you exit |
| Incognito mode | Browsing privately on your own computer | Your info and settings stay, but no browsing history is saved |
How to add a Chrome profile
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, select Profile, then Add Chrome profile.
- Choose whether to sign in with a Google Account. If you do, the profile name becomes your Account name automatically.
- Choose a name, photo and colour scheme.
Signing in to the new profile is optional, but it's what lets that profile save its bookmarks, passwords and other settings to the Google Account and reach them on other devices where you're signed in. On a Chromebook, the equivalent is adding another person to the Chromebook itself.
How to switch between profiles
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, select Profile.
- Choose the profile you want to switch to.
If several people use the same computer, you can have Chrome show every profile each time a new browser session opens. Select Profile at the top right, and under Other Chrome profiles select Manage Chrome profiles, then at the bottom check Show on startup. Then nobody opens Chrome straight into somebody else's profile by accident. On a Chromebook you can use multiple accounts at the same time instead.
Change a profile's name, photo or colour
- On your computer, open Chrome and select Profile at the top right.
- Under Other Chrome profiles, select Manage Chrome profiles.
- At the top right of the profile you want to edit, select More, then Edit.
- Enter a new name or choose a new photo or colour theme. Changes save automatically.
For the profile you're in right now, there's a faster route: select Profile, then Customize profile.
How to remove a Chrome profile
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, select Profile.
- Under Other Chrome profiles, select Manage Chrome profiles.
- Select the profile you want to remove.
- At the top right of that profile, select More, then Delete.
- To confirm, select Delete.
This one's permanent on that computer. After you remove a profile, its bookmarks, history, passwords and other settings are erased from the computer. Anything the profile saved to a Google Account stays in that account; if it was never signed in, export what you want to keep first.
Using Guest mode
To open it, select Profile at the top right, then Open Guest profile. In Guest mode, websites you visit won't appear in the browser history, and the guest can't see or change any other profile's info. When you're done, close it:
- On Windows and Linux, select Close at the top right corner.
- On a Mac, select Close at the top left corner.
- Or, on any computer, select Profile at the top right and, from the menu, select Close guest.
When Guest mode closes, the browsing history, cookies and site data from that session are deleted from the computer. There are two limits. Guest mode isn't available on Chromebooks, which have their own way to browse as a guest. And if there's a supervised user on the computer, Guest mode isn't available when all non-supervised profiles are locked. Google's tip still applies inside Guest mode: only log into sensitive websites on devices you trust.
Profiles and signing in to Chrome
A profile and a Google Account sign-in are two different layers. The profile is the container on this computer. Signing in to Chrome inside that profile is what saves its bookmarks, reading list, passwords, payment info, extensions, web apps and settings to your Google Account, so they follow you to other devices where you're signed in with the same account. Tabs and browsing history are a separate switch you turn on afterwards.
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- In the profile, select More at the top right, then Settings, then You and Google.
- Select your account name.
- Turn on History and tabs.
Do that in each signed-in profile you want synced. A work profile and a personal profile each keep their own history and tabs, which is the whole point of having two.
My verdict on Chrome profiles
Give every regular user of a computer their own profile, and give one-off borrowers Guest mode. If you juggle work and personal Google accounts, a profile each is the cleanest fix I know: separate bookmarks, separate passwords, no mixing. Before you delete an old profile, export its bookmarks if it was never signed in. Once your profiles are set up, tab groups help you keep each one organised.
Frequently asked questions
Can other people see my Chrome profile?
Yes, if they have your device. Anyone with your device can switch to any Chrome profile on it and see info like the websites you visited.
What happens when I delete a Chrome profile?
The profile's bookmarks, history, passwords and other settings are erased from the computer.
Does Guest mode save my browsing history?
No. Websites you visit in Guest mode won't appear in the browser history, and when you exit, your browsing history, cookies and site data are deleted.
Is Guest mode the same as Incognito mode?
No. Guest mode is for lending or borrowing a computer. Incognito is for browsing privately on your own computer, where your info and settings are still available.
Do I need a Google Account to make a Chrome profile?
No. Signing in is optional, but it lets the profile save bookmarks, passwords and settings to your account and use them on other devices.
