• Toolz
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: Asia
  • Registered: 2009-02-02
  • Posts: 937

Topic: Running two instances of Firefox

For ages I've been using the 'MOZ_NO_REMOTE' environment variable to run two instances of Firefox or Thunderbird. I've used in Linux too, but it only works when I've extracted binaries to my own folder - I could never get it to work with an apt-get supplied install - ie in /usr/lib/firefox

However I've just discovered the -no-remote switch. Apparently it's existed since at least 2006 but I never knew about it. Now no need for scripts - all that's needed is a shortcut of the form:

firefox-3.5 -no-remote -p profilename

Or I prefer to select my profile from the dialog that comes up using:

firefox-3.5 -no-remote -p

On a vanilla install that would be 'firefox', not 'firefox-3.5'.

You can run two profiles, same version, or you can test new releases or nightlies without closing your regular browser.

  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,429

Re: Running two instances of Firefox

Nice tip, thank you for sharing. smile

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  • Toolz
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: Asia
  • Registered: 2009-02-02
  • Posts: 937

Re: Running two instances of Firefox

Thanks!

Just to mention my current install uses a script that munges -p into 'pure' and thus fails. If you get this then use the full -profilemanager instead of -p