If you use Microsoft Edge for both your personal life and your job, you likely have two separate browser profiles set up to keep your personal bookmarks and work passwords separate. However, Edge includes a feature called “Automatic profile switching.” If you are browsing on your Personal profile and you click a link to a Microsoft 365 SharePoint document or an Outlook email, Edge will instantly intercept the click, completely close your current window, and force the link to open in your Work profile.
While Microsoft intended this to be a seamless way to keep you organized, it is incredibly jarring. If you deliberately wanted to view that work document in your personal window (perhaps to compare it side-by-side with a personal file), having the browser forcibly hijack your window management is highly frustrating.
You can turn off automatic profile switching so that Edge respects your current profile context at all times.
How to Disable Automatic Profile Switching
This setting is managed in the Edge Profiles menu.
- Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Profiles.
- Under the “Your profile” section, click on Multiple profile preferences (you may need to scroll down slightly).
- Locate the toggle switch labeled Automatic profile switching.
- Turn this toggle to the Off position.
The next time you click a work-related link while using your personal profile, the link will open exactly where you clicked it. You will retain total manual control over which profile you use for any given website.