How to Copy Chrome User Profile to Another Profile

Whether you’re setting up a new device, creating an additional user account, or simply want a consistent browsing experience across multiple platforms, transferring your Google Chrome user profile is an essential step. By doing so, you can effortlessly synchronize your settings, extensions, bookmarks, and more, without the need to start from scratch.

In this complete walkthrough, we’ll guide you through the process of copying a Chrome user profile to another profile, detailing the steps to export and import saved passwords and discussing the array of data types that can be transferred.

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Why copy a Chrome profile?

There are several reasons why you might want to copy or transfer your Chrome profile to another profile or computer:

Easier setup: Instead of manually reinstalling extensions, reconfiguring settings, and reorganizing bookmarks, copying your Chrome profile can save time and effort.
Seamless transition: If you’re switching to a new computer or creating a new user account, copying your Chrome profile ensures that your browsing experience remains consistent.
Backup and restore: Creating a backup of your Chrome profile allows you to restore your data if your browser becomes corrupted or if you accidentally delete important information.

Also see: How to Add Shortcut to Chrome New Tab Page

Locating the Chrome user profile folder

Before you can copy your Chrome profile, you must first locate the Chrome User Profile folder on your computer. The location of this folder varies depending on your operating system:

Windows: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
macOS: /Users/{username}/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
Linux: /home/{username}/.config/google-chrome

Replace {username} with your actual username on the computer.

Useful tip: How to Make Bookmarks Open in New Tab in Chrome

Creating a backup of the Chrome user profile

Once you’ve located the Chrome User Profile folder, the next step is to create a backup of the folder. Follow these steps to do so:

Close all instances of Google Chrome to ensure that the profile files are not in use.
Open the Chrome User Profile folder.
Look for a folder named Default. This folder contains your Chrome profile data.
Right-click on the Default folder and select Copy.
Choose a destination folder where you want to store the backup, then right-click and select Paste.

You now have a backup of your Chrome profile that you can use to import your data to another profile or computer.

Importing the backup into a new profile

To import the backup of your Chrome profile into a new profile, follow these steps:

Ensure that Google Chrome is installed on the destination computer or user account.
Close all instances of Google Chrome.
Navigate to the Chrome User Profile folder on the destination computer or user account, as described in the previous section.
If there is an existing Default folder in the destination Chrome User Profile folder, rename it to Default.old to create a backup.
Copy the Default folder you backed up earlier to the destination Chrome User Profile folder.
Open Google Chrome.

Your browsing data, extensions, and settings should now be available in the new profile.

Linked issue: Chrome Keeps Freezing on Windows 11, What to do?

Transfer Chrome profile to new Windows user

If you want to transfer your Chrome profile to a new Windows user account, you can follow the same process as described in the “Importing the backup into a new Chrome profile” section. However, you will need to use the Chrome User Profile folder path for the new Windows user account.

Create a new Windows user account or log in to the desired account.
Close all instances of Google Chrome.
Navigate to the Chrome User Profile folder on the new Windows user account, replacing {username} with the username of the new account: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data.
If there is an existing Default folder in the destination Chrome User Profile folder, rename it to Default.old to create a backup.
Copy the Default folder you backed up earlier to the destination Chrome User Profile folder.
Open Google Chrome. Your browsing data, extensions, and settings should now be available in the new Windows user account.

Handy guide: How to Change User Account Name in Windows 11

Exporting and importing saved passwords in Google Chrome

While copying the Chrome profile will transfer most of your browsing data, you might also want to specifically export and import your saved passwords for added convenience. The following steps outline how to do this:

Exporting saved passwords

Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu located in the top-right corner of the window.
Navigate to Settings.
Select Autofill from the left pane and then select Password Manager.
Click on the three-dot menu next to “Saved Passwords” and select Export passwords.
When prompted, click on Export passwords again.
You will be asked to enter your computer’s password or authenticate using your fingerprint (for macOS) to continue. After authentication, choose a location to save the .csv file containing your passwords.

Note: The exported passwords file is in plain text CSV format, which is not encrypted. Make sure to handle and store this file securely to avoid unauthorized access to your passwords.

Importing saved passwords

On the destination computer or user profile, open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu located in the top-right corner of the window.
Navigate to Settings.
Select Autofill from the left pane and then select Password Manager.
Click on the three-dot menu next to “Saved Passwords” and select Import.
Locate and select the .csv file containing your exported passwords, then click on Open.

Your saved passwords should now be imported into the new Chrome profile. Keep in mind that importing passwords will overwrite any existing saved passwords in the destination profile.

Types of data that can be transferred

When you transfer a Chrome profile, various types of browsing data and settings are copied over to the new profile or computer. These include:

Bookmarks: All your saved bookmarks and bookmark folders will be transferred, allowing you to easily access your favorite websites on the new profile or computer.
Extensions: Any extensions you’ve installed in your Chrome browser will be copied, along with their respective settings and data. This saves time, as you won’t need to manually reinstall and configure your favorite extensions on the new profile.
History: Your browsing history, including the websites you’ve visited, will be transferred to the new profile, allowing you to access previously visited pages quickly.
Autofill Data: Any autofill data you’ve saved in Chrome, such as addresses, phone numbers, and credit card details, will also be transferred.
Cookies and Site Data: Cookies and site data from websites you’ve visited will be copied, allowing you to stay logged in to websites and maintain your preferences on the new profile or computer.
Settings: Your Chrome settings, such as default search engine, startup pages, and appearance settings, will be transferred, ensuring that your browsing experience remains consistent across devices or user accounts.
Tabs and Windows: If you use the “Continue where you left off” feature in Chrome, your open tabs and windows will be transferred, allowing you to pick up your browsing session on the new profile or computer.

Handling multiple profiles

Google Chrome allows you to create and manage multiple profiles, which can be useful for separating work and personal browsing or sharing a computer with multiple users. To create a new profile, follow these steps:

Open Google Chrome and click on the profile icon located in the top-right corner of the window.
Click on Add in the “Other profiles” section.
Enter a name for the new profile and choose an avatar, then click on Add.

Now, you can switch between profiles by clicking on the profile icon and selecting the desired profile from the list.

You can use the steps outlined in this guide to copy and transfer Chrome profiles between different users or devices, ensuring that each profile retains its unique browsing data and settings.

Troubleshooting common issues

If you encounter issues while transferring your Chrome profile, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

Ensure Chrome is closed: Make sure all instances of Google Chrome are closed before copying the profile folder to prevent data corruption.
Check folder permissions: Verify that you have the necessary permissions to access and modify the Chrome User Profile folder on both the source and destination computers or user accounts.
Disable sync: If you use Google’s sync feature to synchronize your browsing data across devices, consider temporarily disabling sync before transferring your profile to avoid potential conflicts or data loss.
Update Chrome: Make sure that Google Chrome is up-to-date on both the source and destination computers or user accounts. Updating Chrome can resolve compatibility issues and ensure a smooth transfer process.

Update Chrome browser

Final thoughts

By copying your Chrome profile to another profile or computer, you can enjoy a seamless transition and maintain a consistent browsing experience, without the need to manually recreate your preferences, settings, and browsing data.

An alternative to manually transferring your Chrome profile is using Google Account Sync, which allows you to automatically synchronize your bookmarks, extensions, history, settings, and other browsing data across multiple devices by simply signing in to your Google account. This method offers a more convenient and secure way to keep your data up-to-date and accessible on various devices without the need for manual backup and transfer.