Safari: switching between profiles is a nightmare

[Niccolò Mineo]

Hi there, I am noticing an inconsistent behavior when switching between profiles: if you have some open tabs, the "Switch to <profile-name> Window" option in the profile dropdown disappears!

This means that "switching" is not actually possible: you can only create a new window with new tabs and I dare you close that window... the tabs will be lost.

Has anyone found an alternative to going back to using one single profile with multiple tab groups?

 

[KALLT]

I have this issue also. This makes the feature far less usable for me, because I like having a single window. Given that iOS always shows a profiles button, I suspect this a bug.

 

[SoYoung]

I really don't understand the purpose/hype for the Safari profiles. For some reasons, it works way better on iOS / iPadOS than macOS. Not only you can't switch profiles, but on mac the "profiles" are just new safari windows, so why bother with this when you could just open a new safari window. In iOS the profiles are integrated into the same window and it's way better that way. On top of that, even if you change the front page favorites for the new profile, the keyboard shortcuts for favorites will always be the one for the default profile no matter in witch profile you are so again....whats the point to using this?

At this point the tab groups are still more useful than profiles.

 

[unfriendSafari]

Hi there, I am noticing an inconsistent behavior when switching between profiles: if you have some open tabs, the "Switch to <profile-name> Window" option in the profile dropdown disappears!

This means that "switching" is not actually possible: you can only create a new window with new tabs and I dare you close that window... the tabs will be lost.

Has anyone found an alternative to going back to using one single profile with multiple tab groups?

Exactly. It is a mess. I like the ease of Brave profiles and the simplicity of Firefox containers, but the Apple team didn't think Safari profiles through and I've encountered what you mention. Still can't use Safari. Geez

 

[Malisa Timo]

Hi there, I am noticing an inconsistent behavior when switching between profiles: if you have some open tabs, the "Switch to <profile-name> Window" option in the profile dropdown disappears!

This means that "switching" is not actually possible: you can only create a new window with new tabs and I dare you close that window... the tabs will be lost.

Has anyone found an alternative to going back to using one single profile with multiple tab groups?

I have the same Problem. I just switched to safari to see what its all about. very disappointing so far..

 

[edjusted]

I gotta say I like how Chrome handles profiles. Each profile is almost like having another browser instance. It remembers your opened windows, tabs, the whole bit. I was really hoping that Safari profiles would be like that.

 

[GlenK]

Ok, I'm so glad to see this thread!! Was starting to think I was losing it!!

 

[MBAir2010]

I gave up after something on the iPad wont load a certain sports site to my safari profile was not accepted in personal window created on the MacBook Air M1.
this was "ultra pro" private browsing and perhaps the host blocked such privacy behavior?

things are good now, I just wont use person profiles again.

 

[myklbykl]

I just wasted a bunch of time setting up Safari with profiles and tab groups and I could not longer switch within the same window. I don't want to end up with a bunch of windows. Why take this function away just because I have tab groups? Also, why does the switching button disappear when the tab groups are open? I should be able to switch to a different tab group or a different profile easily and quickly. Why make this so cumbersome?

 

[GlenK]

There's got to be something I'm missing. Have watched several YouTubes which all show you how to create profiles but none of them show you how to switch between profiles and keep the profile setups intact.

 

[fonzy91]

How has this not been addressed yet? Having two separate windows completely defeats the purpose.

 

[Gian Luca]

Apple is very clear here:

Use profiles in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

Starting with Safari 17, you can use profiles to keep your browsing separate for topics like work, personal, or school. Each profile has separate history, cookies, website data, extensions, Tab Groups, and favorites.

support.apple.com

The company writes:

"Switch to [Profile] Window: Switches to another profile without opening a new window. To keep your browsing history separate, this option is available only from a window that shows your start page or an empty page—before you visit another page".

On the one hand it's a good idea, but the result is a nightmare. In my opinion, the separate history should be optional, with the possibility of creating profiles that have a separate history (and then the switch provides a new window) and profiles instead in which the history is not separated (then the switch can occur without opening a new browser window).

Let's hope Apple reads user needs.

 

[SoYoung]

In short this feature is just completely useless. On the mac I just open a new regular window, dont see the need to open a whole new profile the way it works now.

On the iPad new profiles open on the same window so it just make this even more confusing.

 

[outlawarth]

Has anyone been able to figure out how to quickly change profiles?

 

[CostasD]

I guess the fastest way to switch profiles is by right clicking Safari icon in the dock.

 

[kecinzer]

I'm switching between profiles (Safari windows) with shortcut to switch between multiple windows of one app (CMD + button upper to TAB).
Or with mouse over Window menu where are list of all Safari windows (profiles).