Solved Windows 11 Start Menu issues with pinning Chrome shortcuts with Profiles

I am a Chrome users and I have about 5 Chrome profiles that I have to use on a daily basis. I have had this issue since Windows 10 but when I go to pin my Chrome shortcuts that launch Chrome into each profile only the first pinned shortcut shows on the Start menu and all the rest are ignored. It's like Windows sees that you already have a shortcut to chrome.exe pinned to the Start menu and won't add another. Also the name given to the shortcut is also ignored like "Chrome - Personal" when pinned will just get renames to Chrome. I have tried opening the folder that holds the shortcuts to the Start menu and manipulating it there and I can rename the pinned shortcut there but again only 1 will show up. does anyone have a hack or work around for this?

Actually I think I might have just finally figure it out..

1. Open the Start menu and click "All apps >". Scroll down to find "Google Chrome"
2. Right click on the Google Chrome entry it and select "More > Open File Location".
3. Windows Explorer should open to the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" folder which is the Start Menu folder for all users
4. Right click the Google Chrome icon and check to see if it is pinned to the Start menu, if it is unpinn it.
5. Delete the Google Chrome shortcut from the directory as this version seems to override your custom Google Chrome shortcut that points to your default profile and has a custom icon with your profile picture.
6. Navigate to your users Start Menu folder "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" and copy form your desktop your custom Google Chrome Profile shortcuts.
7. Open the Start Menu > All apps > and find your shortcuts you pasted in the previous step, right click each one and pin them to the Start Menu

It's a PITA to do this but it makes it so much easier to launch Chrome into the profile that you need rather than launching the default one and then switching to the profile you need.

MrCaspan said:

It's a PITA to do this but it makes it so much easier to launch Chrome into the profile that you need rather than launching the default one and then switching to the profile you need.

Click to expand...

Hi there, welcome to the forum!

Not sure what kind of "switching" you are referring to but isn't it just 2 clicks? 1. Launch Chrome and 2. Click a profile you want to use.
I think this is the tidiest way to use Chrome.

OP you good man you.

For anyone having the issue with your 'default' profile appearing without a logo in the Start menu:

1. Enter the profile manager in Chrome: Click on your profile icon > then the Cog icon next to "Other Profiles"
2. Delete your default profile (that's the first profile you've signed into when installed Chrome)
3. Re-add it back normally
4. Follow MrCaspian's post....

MrCaspan said:

Actually I think I might have just finally figure it out..

1. Open the Start menu and click "All apps >". Scroll down to find "Google Chrome"
2. Right click on the Google Chrome entry it and select "More > Open File Location".
3. Windows Explorer should open to the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" folder which is the Start Menu folder for all users
4. Right click the Google Chrome icon and check to see if it is pinned to the Start menu, if it is unpinn it.
5. Delete the Google Chrome shortcut from the directory as this version seems to override your custom Google Chrome shortcut that points to your default profile and has a custom icon with your profile picture.
6. Navigate to your users Start Menu folder "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" and copy form your desktop your custom Google Chrome Profile shortcuts.
7. Open the Start Menu > All apps > and find your shortcuts you pasted in the previous step, right click each one and pin them to the Start Menu

It's a PITA to do this but it makes it so much easier to launch Chrome into the profile that you need rather than launching the default one and then switching to the profile you need.

Click to expand...

Finally the solution for a problem that was making me crazy for months. Thank you!!!!!

MrCaspan said:

Actually I think I might have just finally figure it out..

1. Open the Start menu and click "All apps >". Scroll down to find "Google Chrome"
2. Right click on the Google Chrome entry it and select "More > Open File Location".
3. Windows Explorer should open to the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" folder which is the Start Menu folder for all users
4. Right click the Google Chrome icon and check to see if it is pinned to the Start menu, if it is unpinn it.
5. Delete the Google Chrome shortcut from the directory as this version seems to override your custom Google Chrome shortcut that points to your default profile and has a custom icon with your profile picture.
6. Navigate to your users Start Menu folder "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" and copy form your desktop your custom Google Chrome Profile shortcuts.
7. Open the Start Menu > All apps > and find your shortcuts you pasted in the previous step, right click each one and pin them to the Start Menu

It's a PITA to do this but it makes it so much easier to launch Chrome into the profile that you need rather than launching the default one and then switching to the profile you need.

Click to expand...

Just commenting to mention that this workaround is still required as of May 2023 for Windows 11 - and this workaround completely resolved the issue for me which was:
Having two Chrome profiles - only one of them (the 2nd profile) was able to be pinned and launched with consistency. The other would either have to be prompted for which profile to use (with the ask on launch option checked) or it would default to the last used profile (if I had last used (active window or closed) profile 2, it would open that, if profile 1 was last used, it would open that one).
This workaround allows for both profiles to be pinned to the task bar, allowing for either to be opened regardless of which was last being used.

Thank you for the detailed instructions and saving me the continued headache.