How Can I Load Specific Chrome Profiles Using Selenium's `--user-data-dir` Argument?

Leveraging Selenium to Manage Chrome Profiles with --user-data-dir

When using Selenium with Chrome, managing existing profiles and account settings can be tricky. This guide provides a solution.

Avoiding the Default Profile for Testing

For reliable testing, avoid using the default Chrome profile ("--profile-directory=Default"). The default profile's extensions, bookmarks, and history can interfere with test results.

Creating and Utilizing a Dedicated Profile

To ensure consistent test environments, create a dedicated Chrome profile:

1. Open Chrome and go to "chrome://settings/".
2. Under "People," select "Manage other people."
3. Add a new user, assigning a name and icon.
4. Enable "Create a desktop shortcut for this user" and click "ADD."

Identifying and Locating the Profile Directory

1. Find the profile directory name within the shortcut's properties (e.g., "--profile-directory=Profile 2").
2. Obtain the absolute path to this profile directory (e.g., "C:UsersThranorAppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataProfile 2").

Integrating the Profile into your Selenium Script

Use the --user-data-dir argument to specify your custom profile in your Selenium code:

<code class="language-csharp">ChromeOptions m_Options = new ChromeOptions();
m_Options.AddArgument($"--user-data-dir=C:/Users/Me/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data/Profile 2");
m_Options.AddArgument("--disable-extensions");
ChromeDriver m_Driver = new ChromeDriver(@"pathtoexe", m_Options);
m_Driver.Navigate().GoToUrl("somesite");</code>

This approach ensures that your Selenium tests utilize a controlled Chrome profile, preventing interference from your default profile's settings.

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