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I think most users like having their sync setup automatically with their email, and most Chrome users have Gmail so it’s one simple step to sync. Firefox has a

I think most users like having their sync setup automatically with their email, and most Chrome users have Gmail so it’s one simple step to sync. Firefox has a separate profile process that is cumbersome. And switching profiles is even worse, I think you have to use command line switches to get profile manager?

drlemur 3y ago
I think you're talking about the Mozilla Accounts feature (recently renamed from Firefox Accounts). It is not as smooth an experience as Google accounts, but it works reasonably well. Firefox has a separate profile feature, and it is one of the great things about Firefox. You can access profiles through "about:profiles". You can (at least on Linux, don't think it's possble on MacOS) start firefox with a profile chooser. Each profile is a completely isolated browser instance -- no shared bookmarks, cookies, history, anything.
yetanother12345 3y ago
Go to your "mozilla/firefox" folder, and locate the file "profile.ini". On linux the path is ~/.mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini It is a regular text file. And here's a shortcut for you: $ nano ~/.mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini Once you've opened it, find this line: StartWithLastProfile=1 - edit 1 to become 0 in stead, then save[0]. You only need to do this once. Added: After this edit you will be able to choose a profile on each launch (forgot that little detail). Also, Thunderbird works the same way if you want a set of alternative profiles for your email. [0] To save: [ctrl]+[s] or [ctrl]+[o]. To exit [ctrl]+[x] (can't assume everyone knows nano)
- nytesky 3y ago
  I really appreciate the detailed tutorial and I will use this, but this is kind of illustrating the problem with Firefox. And yeah the Profiles are not automatically associated with Mozilla accounts, you have to setup each separately per profile I think. Or use containers — which are amazing but another complex use case for the average user compared to chrome sync experience.
Izkata 3y ago
Browse to "about:profiles" and you can create/delete/switch profiles (including set which is default) without any command line anything. It's a bit ugly looking though.
- beej71 3y ago
  This is the best way currently IMHO. I have a link to it in the toolbar.

drlemur 3y ago

I think you're talking about the Mozilla Accounts feature (recently renamed from Firefox Accounts). It is not as smooth an experience as Google accounts, but it works reasonably well. Firefox has a separate profile feature, and it is one of the great things about Firefox. You can access profiles through "about:profiles". You can (at least on Linux, don't think it's possble on MacOS) start firefox with a profile chooser. Each profile is a completely isolated browser instance -- no shared bookmarks, cookies, history, anything.

yetanother12345 3y ago

Go to your "mozilla/firefox" folder, and locate the file "profile.ini". On linux the path is ~/.mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini It is a regular text file. And here's a shortcut for you: $ nano ~/.mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini Once you've opened it, find this line: StartWithLastProfile=1 - edit 1 to become 0 in stead, then save[0]. You only need to do this once. Added: After this edit you will be able to choose a profile on each launch (forgot that little detail). Also, Thunderbird works the same way if you want a set of alternative profiles for your email. [0] To save: [ctrl]+[s] or [ctrl]+[o]. To exit [ctrl]+[x] (can't assume everyone knows nano)

nytesky 3y ago
I really appreciate the detailed tutorial and I will use this, but this is kind of illustrating the problem with Firefox. And yeah the Profiles are not automatically associated with Mozilla accounts, you have to setup each separately per profile I think. Or use containers — which are amazing but another complex use case for the average user compared to chrome sync experience.

Izkata 3y ago

Browse to "about:profiles" and you can create/delete/switch profiles (including set which is default) without any command line anything. It's a bit ugly looking though.

beej71 3y ago
This is the best way currently IMHO. I have a link to it in the toolbar.