Why Extension Settings Differ by Profile

Even when two browser profiles select the same extension, their options, sign-in states, and local data may differ. This is normally a result of profile isolation. MaskPilot can make the same extension package available to multiple profiles, but it does not automatically merge extension runtime data between them.

Separate the three layers first

Layer	What it controls	Automatically shared between profiles?
Store installation or local import	Which extensions are available to the account or device	Availability does not share runtime data
Per-profile extension selection	Which extensions a profile loads on its next launch	Selected separately for each profile
Extension runtime data	Options, sign-in tokens, local storage, and cache	Isolated with the browser profile by default

Assigning the same extension to two profiles only makes both profiles eligible to load it. It does not copy settings already saved in profile A into profile B.

If the extension does not load in one profile at all, start with load an extension only in selected profiles instead of treating “not loaded” and “different after loading” as the same problem.

Which differences are expected

• Signing in to an extension in one profile does not automatically sign in the other profile.
• Changing an extension option in one profile normally leaves the other profile’s value unchanged.
• Website authorization, cache, or a local database used by an extension may exist only in the current profile.
• Profiles using different browser versions may show compatibility or interface differences even when the extension name is the same.

Google’s official guide to using multiple Chrome profiles describes bookmarks, history, passwords, and other settings as separate profile information. Extensions can also choose different storage mechanisms. The Chrome Extension Storage API distinguishes local, session, and browser-sync storage. Whether an extension offers cross-environment synchronization therefore depends on its own implementation and sign-in model.

How to make settings consistent when required

1. Confirm that both profiles select the target extension, then fully close and relaunch them.
2. Check the extension version, browser version, and requested permissions in each profile to rule out compatibility differences.
3. If the extension provides an official export and import feature, validate the exported content in a test profile before importing it into another profile.
4. If the extension provides account-based sync, decide whether both browser profiles should use the same extension account and review exactly which data that sync includes.
5. Test with one non-sensitive option instead of production credentials.

MaskPilot does not create cross-profile setting sync on an extension’s behalf. If the extension has no supported sync or import mechanism, configure each profile separately. Do not manually copy browser data directories, because that can also carry cookies, tokens, and unrelated data that should remain isolated.

Boundaries when copying or sharing a profile

• Profile copy: Store-extension selections are copied. On the same device, the client also attempts to preserve available local-extension selections. The new profile still has independent browser data and does not inherit the source profile’s extension sign-in state or runtime data.
• One-time share: The recipient does not receive extension bindings, extension settings, sign-in state, or browser data. See share a profile configuration copy for the complete boundary.
• Local extension on another device: The local package and its profile bindings remain on the device where they were imported. Import and select it again on the new device by following manage local browser extensions.

“The extension selection was copied” does not mean “all data inside the extension was copied.” The first statement controls what loads at the next launch; the second remains part of the new profile’s independent browser data.

Why settings may become identical instead

If settings converge automatically across profiles, check whether the extension is signed in to the same cloud account or has enabled its own synchronization. That sync occurs at the extension or browser layer. It does not mean all MaskPilot browser data has been merged.

When only a small configuration needs to be shared, prefer the extension’s explicit export, import, or documented sync scope. Do not share website passwords, session data, or an entire profile directory merely to copy one option.

When settings suddenly disappear

Confirm that you opened the original profile rather than a copy, a profile created by sharing, or another profile with the same name. Then verify that the extension is still selected, the profile was fully relaunched, and a browser update did not introduce a permission or compatibility prompt. Continue with extension disabled after a browser update when applicable.

If extension settings disappear from the same profile after data recovery, treat it as a profile-data recovery issue rather than overwriting it with another profile’s directory. See sync and recover profile data for that workflow.

Before contacting support

Record both profile names, the extension name and version, browser versions, extension source, the exact option that differs, and whether the extension’s own account sync is enabled. Remove website accounts, extension tokens, cookies, proxy credentials, and other sensitive data from screenshots.