The problem with these profiles is that it is hard to switch to another profile without wasting two to three seconds and a few clicks. There is no built-in shortcut key to quickly switch between profiles, so you have to go through the standard process to switch between profiles. While we might not be able to change the process, we can at least do it with keyboard shortcuts instead of clicking everywhere. It is faster to press keyboard shortcuts, and you don’t have to leave the keyboard to grab the mouse. In this post we will show you how to switch Chrome user profiles just with keyboard shortcuts and another method to quickly access a desired Chrome profile.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Switch Chrome User Profiles
First we need to access Chrome profile switcher options; the default keyboard shortcut for this is “Ctrl + Shift + M.” Just press “Ctrl + Shift + M” on any active window in Chrome, and the profile switcher should drop down from the top-right corner. Here press the “Down” key once to highlight the “Switch person” option and then press Enter.
A new window will open up where you can see all of your Chrome profiles. Use the left and right arrow keys to navigate between profiles, and press Enter to open the one you need. The selected profile should open in a new window.
It still might seem a somewhat longer process, but it is more convenient than clicking through the whole process. After using this process a few times, you should get the hang of it and easily switch Chrome user profiles.
Create a Taskbar Shortcut for Your Desired Profile
You can also create a quick access icon in the taskbar for any of the Chrome user profiles and access it easily with a single click or use the keyboard shortcut. This does require a prior setup and a space in your Windows taskbar, but it is much faster and easier. To do so, make sure you access Chrome with the profile that you would like pinned to the taskbar, as you cannot edit someone else’s profile. Now, go to Chrome settings by clicking on the main menu and then selecting “Settings..”
In the settings you will find all your profiles under “People.” Here, click on your profile (“current” will be written next to it), and then click on “Edit” below. Click on the “Add desktop shortcut” button while editing, and a desktop shortcut will be added.
You can also access the profile from the desktop, but putting it in the taskbar is better for quick access. Just drag and drop the Chrome profile icon in the taskbar, and it will be added. To access it, just click on it or press “Windows + (Number Key).” Here, “Number Key” is the position number of the Chrome profile icon on the taskbar. In our example (screenshot below), it is located in the 2nd position, so we need to press “Windows + 2..”
Conclusion
You can use both methods to switch to your desired Chrome user profile. The second method is much faster compared to the first one, but if you don’t like icons in the taskbar, the first method should get you through fast enough. If you know any other methods to switch Chrome profiles faster, share in the comments below.
