Chrome: Can't open another Chrome browser after inserting "-pinned-tab-count=x" in target address under Chrome Shortcut icon

06
2013-12
  • Questioner

    I use Win XP. I'm using Google Chrome Dev Ver:4.0.249.30. I followed a guide as to how to pinned my tabs on Google Chrome permanently.

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7264/make-google-chrome-open-with-pinned-tabs/

    In my Chrome shortcut key, this is how my Target address looks like after following the guide:

    "C:\Documents and Settings\XXX\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --pinned-tab-count=3 "website-1-address" "website-2-address" "website-3-address"

    Note: the "website-1-address" , "website-2-address" , "website-3-address" is where I put the website address I desire, without the quotations. The reason I can't write down the website address is because I have a brand new account at superuser.com and thus, can't post more than one link. Grr.

    And it works as intended, when I open a new Chrome browser, the 3 websites are now represented as small icons in the newly opened Chrome tab bar.

    However, when I attempt to open another Chrome browser (by clicking on the same shortcut Chrome icon with the target address modified), the new Chrome browser doesn't appear. Instead, what happens is, in the current Chrome browser, 3 new normal tabs popped up. The 3 tabs are the same 3 websites as indicated above. With every click to the Chrome shortcut icon, the 3 same tabs open up in the current Chrome browser instead of opening up a new Chrome browser.

    The question is, what do I have to change to make sure that after a Chrome browser is open, I'm able to open another Chrome browser, with the permanent pinned tab feature in tact of course.

    Thanks in-advance.

    • Answers
  • mlsteeves

    As awesome as superuser is, because you are using the developer stream (ie alpha) version of Chrome, you should probably ask the question through the chromium site, so that the developers working on Chrome will likely see it. There is a chance that this could be a bug.

    Here is a link that describes where to ask the questions/check that the issue already exists:

  • Area 51

    You are right, I should have posted the problem on Google Chrome forums, but I only thought about it after posting my thread here at superuser.com :(

    However, I found the answer to my problem, thought I share it here in case there are others like me.

    The trick is, under the target address in the Chrome shortcut icon, you should only have the following:

    "C:\Documents and Settings\XXX\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --pinned-tab-count=3

    As you can see, I've not placed the website addresses in the target address. Instead:

    A. Click on the Wrench icon on Chrome,
    B. Go to Options.
    C. Under the Basics tab, the section that says On Startup, tick Open the Following Pages:
    D. And proceed to enter in the website address that you wish to have permanently pinned on Google Chrome.

    Doing it this way solves the problem of preventing me in opening additional Chrome browsers.


    • Related Question

    How can I get a new browser session when opening a new tab or window on Firefox/Chrome?
  • Mercer Traieste

    When opening new Internet Explorer window, a new browser session is issued. Therefore you can login with two different accounts on the same service (let's say gmail). The same does not apply when opening a new tab in the same window on IE.

    How can I get a new browser session when opening a new tab or window on Firefox?

    How about Google Chrome?


    • Related Answers
  • Robert Ivanc

    In Chrome you can use private browsing to achieve the same.

    Chrome - Wrench(tools) menu/open new window without history

    In Firefox you can use IE tab extension, and have another tab rendered with an IE engine to achieve the same effect.

    Here are some other options: http://www.computer-realm.net/managing-multiple-gmail-accounts-with-firefox/

  • Ivo Flipse

    It seems that there is a handy chrome extension called "Session Buddy" that does just this

    enter image description here

    Session Buddy is a flexible session management extension that allows you to easily save, edit, and restore your browser sessions.

    • Quickly save the current session from the Session Buddy interface or from the right-click menu on any web page.
    • Flexible restore options allow restore of sessions into the original set of windows, a single window, or the current window.
    • Automatic capture of your 10 most recent sessions is especially handy for recovering a session after a browser or system crash.
    • Name and edit your saved sessions with ease.
    • Populate a session from a simple list of URLs.
    • Export a session to text or CSV format (more formats in development).
    • Control the types of tabs that Session Buddy recognizes.
    • Keyboard shortcuts make working with sessions a snap.
  • random

    For Google Chrome, you can set a shortcut to open up an Incognito session via the following:

    "C:\path-to\chrome.exe" /incognito

    Or simply CTRL + Shift + N while using the normal state. Only difference is that when you're incognito, the cookies and history won't stick.

  • jonsca

    By creating multiple profiles in the profile manager (firefox -p from start menu) and then creating a MOZ_NO_REMOTE environment variable with a value of 1, Firefox will allow multiple sessions in multiple windows.

    I've tried it myself with Firefox 8 and it works. I have an web application that has no logout button, and before I found this I had to keep opening and closing Firefox completely to switch between accounts (admin and user for testing). This has helped greatly.

  • galacticninja

    This Firefox extension allows that:

    Multifox

    Multifox is an extension that allows Firefox to connect to websites using different user names. Simultaneously!

    For example, if you have multiple Gmail accounts, you can open them all at the same time. Each Firefox window, managed by Multifox, accesses an account without interfering each other

    Each Multifox window is flagged with a number indicating the identity profile. Logins made in windows with different numbers are isolated.

    Logins are preserved the same way they are in “regular” windows. Even if you close the window or quit Firefox.

    The identity profile of each window is preserved when Firefox restores the session.

    It can also easily switch between profiles:
    enter image description here

  • Brad

    I have made a Chrome extension that allows you to use multiple Gmail accounts (and other accounts) by launching Chrome in a new session.

    It is called New Chrome Session, and you can download it here: http://www.musatcha.com/software/NewChromeSession/

  • elijabaley

    With firefox this solution worked like a charme!!

    http://www.fusioncube.net/index.php/multiple-sessions-firefox

    It's almost the same of what proposed in the answer by "Shawn" "MOZ_NO_REMOTE environment variable with a value of 1" It adds an advice for creating multiple links on desktop for opening the different firefox sessions

  • Gowtham

    Chrome is bringing multi profile. Already available in canary builds. You can switch profile instantly.