Did you know that Google's browser – Chrome – can handle multiple accounts at once?
Do you manage several accounts and find switching between them a hassle?
Does it happen that you want to open a file, but it wants to sign you out first?
Do you get around it by using several browsers? You don't have to. And it's easy. Take a look at our guide.
As a Google partner, we supply the G Suite solution to companies. What is key for us is that users tap the solution's potential as soon as possible and find it making their work easier as soon as possible.
One way to do that is the ergonomics of working with the browser. The G Suite package of apps works best in the CHROME browser (download it here): not only do the apps run fastest in it, and since version 55 it is no longer such a RAM hog at all (that's a note for the people in your IT department :-)), but it also supports a whole range of extras that can come in handy at work – specifically multiple user profiles (or offline mode for e-mail, calendars and files in Drive).
Multiple profiles in the browser let you:
switch quickly between accounts
have separate bookmarks for each account (I need one set for work, another for my private account)
have passwords saved for each account
have different Chrome extensions for each profile
keep your private and work accounts separate
when you sign in, the browser is set up the way you are used to
How does it all work?
In the top right corner of the browser window you have the name of your current account, e.g. IVO. If you want to add another account, click Switch accounts and, at the bottom of the new window, choose Add person.
Name the profile and choose a picture (everything can be changed at any time) and click Save.
Now all you need to do is enter your e-mail address and password.
The browser will then prompt you to sync your data – that is, your bookmarks and the information relating to your account. And that's it.
We recommend changing the name and picture of your earlier profiles. The name because the browser automatically offers your first name, in both cases – so we recommend telling the names apart. And the picture (which nobody but you can see) makes it easier to see which account you want to switch to.
To actually switch between accounts, just click the name in the top right and choose Switch person. Or right-click and pick from the options.
What next? Improve your CHROME browser
To finish, a recommendation of a handful of Chrome browser extensions that have worked well for us:
Saving interesting pages or links to the app
KEEP (notes) Automatic text completion
Auto Text Expander Casting your screen to a Chromecast TV
Easy password management
You will find more in the Chrome browser store: chromestore
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