Command Line Parameters - Private vs Normal

[bluewizard]

Is it still possible to start Firefox with Command Line modifiers?

What I would like to do is have TWO profiles, one for normal browsing, and another for Private Browsing, but rather than switch profiles from within the Program, I would rather have one Desktop Icon for Normal and another for Private, and open the appropriate one.

Right now I accomplish this with Two separate independent Browsers. I prefer SeaMonkey, but Firefox is a nice back up. But, the possibility of two separate Command Line invoke Profiles for Firefox is also appealing.

Sadly support for SeaMonkey is fading. I know several Websites that refuse to recognize it as a legitimate Browser. Here is an example - http://petertyson.co.uk/ - though I have no trouble getting in using Firefox.

Thoughts?

If there are command line parameters for the current version of FireFox (60.0) can someone give me a link to them?

Any help would be appreciated.

Steve/bluewizard

[morat]

Try the following command line to open a non-default profile in permanent private browsing mode.

firefox.exe -private -P whatever

Command line options
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/Command_Line_Options
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Command_line_arguments

Similar thread
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/998630
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1092626

[bluewizard]

MORAT ... thanks. So ...whatever... is the PROFILE Name? As in -

firefox.exe -private -P bluewizard

Or should it be like this -

firefox.exe -private -P "bluewizard"

or does it matter?

I'll check those links, very helpful.

Steve/bluewizard

[therube]

about:profiles ?

Quotes shouldn't matter (AFAIK) unless your profile name has spaces in it.

[bluewizard]

OK, thanks, I think I got it now. Really just a matter of giving it a try.

Steve/bluewizard

[siffemoz]

Unless you're married to command line, you can have desktop shortcuts for multiple profiles and have them all open at the same time. That is done by using the -no-remote parameter on any profile shortcut other than your 'normal' profile shortcut.

e.g., firefox.exe -P "Private Profile" -no-remote

You can just copy your 'normal' FF shortcut, press F2, and rename it. Then R. click the icon > Properties and edit the Target line.

[bluewizard]

...That is done by using the -no-remote parameter on any profile shortcut other than your 'normal' profile shortcut.

e.g., firefox.exe -P "Private Profile" -no-remote

....

Do understand correctly that ... -no-remote- ... will open a completely new copy of the Program rather than simply opening a new Window in the existing program?

Presumably that is how it keeps the two profiles completely separate.

Learning more all the time. THANKS.

Steve/bluewizard

[bluewizard]

Unless you're married to command line, you can have desktop shortcuts for multiple profiles and have them all open at the same time....

You can just copy your 'normal' FF shortcut, press F2, and rename it. Then R. click the icon > Properties and edit the Target line.

No not remotely married to the Command Line, as you mention I'm going to add the ... -private ... and ... -P "profle" ... ... parameters to the command line of the DESKTOP SHORTCUT.

Steve/bluewizard

[siffemoz]

When you use -no-remote, it will start a new instance of FF using the profile you named. I don't think that's the same as opening a new window. Note: one of your FF icons must not use the -no-remote parameter; any others can.

[Brummelchen]

-no-remote or -new-instance

Open new instance, not a new window in running instance, which allows multiple copies of application to be open at a time.

firefox -new-instance -P "Another Profile"
Note: Not available for Windows, see bug 855899.

-no-remote
Do not accept or send remote commands; implies -new-instance.

firefox -no-remote -P "Another Profile"

while 1st is addressable with other commands 2nd deny any further commands.
regarding the note, only 2nd is available.
but -no-remote is not needed when starting another installation with another profile.
its often used with the portable or with several portable side by side.

[therube]

(

Note: one of your FF icons must not use the -no-remote parameter

Often said, but not true.
Now if all your Profiles are -no-remote, then an external program won't be able to open links in the browser.
That is part in parcel of what -no-remote means, does.
But by the same token that does not mean that you "must not use" -no-remote with "one" of your icons.
)

[Brummelchen]

sometimes reason when firefox refuses clicks in thunderbird ^^

[therube]

(Right. That's what I mentioned, "then an external program won't be able to open links in the browser".)

[bluewizard]

Thanks for the General Discussion, also very helpful.

Steve/bluewizard

[siffemoz]

(

Note: one of your FF icons must not use the -no-remote parameter

Often said, but not true.
Now if all your Profiles are -no-remote, then an external program won't be able to open links in the browser.
That is part in parcel of what -no-remote means, does.
But by the same token that does not mean that you "must not use" -no-remote with "one" of your icons.
)

OK to that, but I was thinking about running two profiles concurrently, which I often do. To do that, what I said is true; you need one icon/profile (let's call it 'original') not to use -no-remote. Any other icon that starts FF with another profile has to use -no-remote if 'original' is running, else all that happens is that another instance of 'original' is started.