Google refreshed the set of default profile pictures in Chrome in 2019. The new avatars first appeared in Chrome’s development builds and then replaced the older icons that you could pick for a browser profile.
The change did not please everyone. In a June 2019 comment on Chromium’s issue tracker, one user noted that the default profile icons had been swapped and said the new ones were harder to tell apart at small sizes because of their low contrast and similar colors. The same thread is a long-running request to let people use a custom picture for a Chrome profile, which was still open at the time.
Why profile pictures matter in Chrome
Chrome lets you keep separate profiles for work, home or other people who share the computer. Each profile has its own bookmarks, history, passwords and extensions. The profile picture and name are how you tell these windows apart at a glance, which is why the look of the default avatars drew attention.
How to add a Chrome profile
- Open Chrome.
- At the top right, click the Profile icon.
- Choose Add Chrome profile.
- Sign in with a Google Account if you want sync; the account name becomes the profile name.
- Pick a name, a photo and a color scheme.
How to change a profile’s picture
- Click the Profile icon at the top right.
- Under Other Chrome profiles, click Manage Chrome profiles.
- On the profile you want to change, click More, then Edit.
- Choose a different photo, enter a new name or pick another color theme. Changes save automatically.
To edit the profile you are using right now, click the Profile icon and choose Customize profile.
Today
Chrome still offers a set of illustrated avatars alongside colors and names for each profile, and the Customize profile screen is where you pick them. If a profile becomes cluttered with settings you no longer want, you can reset Chrome to its defaults without deleting the profile.
