Every time you open Chrome, a screen asks “Who’s using Chrome?” and shows your profiles before the browser fully loads. If you only use one profile regularly, this screen is just an extra click you never asked for. Here is how to turn it off, and everything else worth knowing about Chrome profiles.
Why the Profile Selector Appears
Chrome shows the profile selector screen automatically when your browser has more than one profile. It is designed for shared computers where different people each have their own Chrome profile with separate bookmarks, history, and saved passwords. If you added a second profile at some point and no longer need to switch between them often, the screen is just friction.
How to Disable the Profile Selector Screen
- Open Chrome and click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the browser.
- Click the gear icon at the bottom of the profile menu (next to “Other profiles”).
- The profile picker screen opens. Uncheck the box that says Show on startup.
That is it. Chrome will now open straight to your last-used profile without stopping at the selector screen.
How to Re-Enable It
Changed your mind? Reverse the steps above. Click your profile icon, click the gear icon, and check the Show on startup box again.
What If the Option Is Missing?
If you do not see a gear icon or a “Show on startup” checkbox, Chrome may only have one profile. The profile picker only appears when there are two or more profiles, so the option to disable it will not show up until a second profile exists.
You can check how many profiles you have by clicking the profile icon and looking at the list under “Other profiles.”
How to Delete a Chrome Profile You No Longer Need
If you added a profile by accident or no longer need a second one, deleting it removes the profile selector entirely (since Chrome will have no reason to show it).
- Click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Click the gear icon.
- On the profile you want to remove, click the three-dot menu (More options).
- Select Delete.
- Confirm by clicking Delete profile. This removes all local data for that profile, including its bookmarks, history, and saved passwords.
If the profile is signed into a Google account, your synced data (bookmarks, passwords, etc.) stays safe in your Google account. Only the local copy is removed.
How to Switch Between Profiles Without the Startup Screen
Disabling the startup screen does not stop you from switching profiles whenever you need to. Click the profile icon in the top-right corner at any time to switch to another profile or open a new profile window. Chrome opens a separate window for each profile, so your tabs stay separate.
Good to Know
- Each Chrome profile has its own bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, extensions, and settings. Switching profiles is like switching to a completely different browser setup.
- You can open multiple profiles at the same time. Each one runs in its own window.
- If you use Chrome on a Chromebook, your ChromeOS login already separates users at the system level. Chrome profiles within ChromeOS are a different layer on top of that.
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