How to Open Multiple Chrome Instances at the Same Time
Whether you want to keep your work and personal accounts separate or there are multiple users accessing Chrome on the same system, opening multiple Chrome instances simultaneously can be quite useful. In this article, we will explore different methods to achieve this.
Using Guest Mode or Incognito
Guest Mode and Incognito are both great options for opening multiple Chrome instances. Guest Mode provides a clean slate every time, erasing all browser history and cookies. On the other hand, Incognito also doesn't save browser history or cookies, but allows you to access your bookmarks, passwords, and other data.
Chrome Canary
Chrome Canary is Chrome's experimental counterpart, mainly used for testing new features before they are introduced to the stable version of Chrome. Many users have found Canary useful for creating an extra instance to work on. With Canary, you can try out new features and log in with a different ID altogether.
Adding Another User
Chrome has a built-in feature that allows you to create multiple instances by adding profiles. This feature is often overlooked but can be quite handy. Here's how you can do it:
- Open Chrome and click on the profile icon in the top right corner of the browser.
- Click the “+ Add” sign at the bottom of the tab.
- Assign a name for the profile and choose a thumbnail from the given options.
- Check the “Create a Desktop Shortcut” option if you want to quickly open this specific Chrome instance.
- Tap on “Add” to finish creating a new profile.
A fresh tab will pop up, where you can set up a new account or log in to sync everything. You can set up multiple profiles by duplicating these steps.
Removing a user profile is also easy. Click on the profile icon in the top right corner, then click on “Manage People.” From the new tab, hover over the profile you want to delete and select “Remove this person.” Confirm the deletion.
Adding new instances makes it easier to keep your workspaces independent. You no longer have to sign out of your work account to access your personal one. While extensions like SessionBox can also create new sessions within the same tab, using Chrome's native method to add multiple profiles is more convenient.
Now you know how to open multiple Chrome instances at the same time. Enjoy!
Also read: How to Do Advanced Find Search in Google Chrome
Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”