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Where Chrome profiles are stored on a Mac

Updated October 9, 2026·1 min read
Short answer

Chrome stores profiles in ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/. Your first profile is in a folder called Default, and each added profile is Profile 1, Profile 2 and so on. The human-readable name you see in Chrome is not the folder name; the mapping is kept in a file named Local State.

The path

~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/

In Finder choose Go, Go to Folder and paste that path. The Library folder is hidden by default, so Go to Folder is the easy way in.

What you will see

  • Default: the first profile Chrome created.
  • Profile 1, Profile 2…: profiles added later, numbered in the order they were made.
  • Local State: settings shared by all profiles, including the list of names.

Chrome Beta, Dev and Canary have their own folders next to it, such as Chrome Beta.

Finding the folder for a named profile

Open chrome://version in the profile you want. The Profile Path line shows its exact folder. That folder name is what you give to --profile-directory on the command line.

Be careful

Quit Chrome before copying or moving a profile folder, and keep a backup. A profile holds logins, history and extension data.

What is inside a profile folder

  • Bookmarks and Preferences: your bookmarks and settings in plain files.
  • History, Cookies and Login Data: databases Chrome manages; do not edit them.
  • Extensions and Local Extension Settings: installed extensions and their data.
  • Cache folders: safe to clear from Chrome, large and rebuildable.

Backing up a profile

Quit Chrome completely, copy the profile's folder to somewhere safe, and keep Chrome closed while you do it. Restoring means putting the folder back in the same place. Syncing with a Google account is simpler for bookmarks, passwords and extensions, and does not replace a full copy of local data.

Questions people ask

Can I move the folder?

Chrome expects it in this location unless you start it with a different --user-data-dir. Moving it by hand can break the profile list.

Does deleting a profile in Chrome delete the folder?

Yes, Chrome removes the profile's data when you delete the profile from its own menu.

Try Casement

Casement is a menu-bar app for Mac that puts each Chrome profile in the Dock as its own icon and adds snap layouts, hover-to-focus, a window switcher, Dock window lists, a drop shelf and display controls..

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