Google has announced a new feature for its Chrome browser on iOS that allows users with enterprise accounts to switch easily between personal and work profiles. The update is designed to keep browsing data separate between the two accounts and aims to improve productivity and security for corporate users.
The feature is available only to organisations using Chrome Enterprise and does not support switching between two regular, non-managed Google accounts. It mirrors the user experience found on desktop, where account switching is already a standard capability.
Enterprise integration on iOS
The new account-switching capability forms part of Google’s broader enterprise offering. Employees in companies that have adopted Chrome Enterprise can now sign into their work-managed Google account on an iOS device and navigate seamlessly between their work and personal profiles within the Chrome browser.
To switch accounts, users tap their profile icon in Chrome and select the desired account. This process mirrors how switching works on Chrome desktop versions. The implementation ensures that data, such as browsing history, saved passwords, and open tabs, is kept entirely separate between work and personal profiles, helping to maintain privacy and comply with corporate data policies.
In addition, IT administrators gain more control over how the browser is used in the work profile. They can restrict access to specific websites, enforce security settings, and access security-related reports for managed devices. These capabilities are designed to provide companies with greater oversight of employee browsing habits when using company-managed accounts, without compromising personal usage.
No similar support for Android Chrome
Although Android supports work profiles across the entire operating system, it does not offer an identical experience within Chrome itself. Instead of allowing in-browser account switching, Android presents work and personal environments through different versions of the Chrome app, tied to the device’s system-level profile management.
This means that Android users cannot switch between personal and work accounts from within Chrome, unlike their iOS counterparts. On Android, work profiles are integrated across all Google apps through the operating system, allowing users to experience two distinct app environments rather than relying on an in-app switch.
The new iOS feature does not provide the same level of flexibility for non-enterprise users. While desktop Chrome allows users to switch between multiple Google accounts easily, this feature remains unavailable for personal accounts on both iOS and Android mobile platforms.
A step towards improved mobile productivity
Google’s move reflects a growing focus on hybrid work environments and the need for better tools to manage personal and professional life on mobile devices. By offering separate work and personal browsing environments within Chrome for enterprise iOS users, the company is responding to the needs of businesses that want enhanced security without compromising ease of use.
Although this update is currently limited to iOS and enterprise accounts, it signals the potential for further enhancements to mobile Chrome in future. Whether similar support will eventually be extended to Android users or personal accounts remains to be seen.
