SwitchBuild status How to use multiple Claude accounts on a Mac
You can keep separate Claude accounts signed in on one Mac by using separate browser profiles for the web, or separate Claude Desktop profiles with a utility such as Switch. Choose based on where you want to work: browser windows or native desktop apps.
A guide from Switch, an independent Claude Desktop profile manager. Switch is currently a personal build; there is no public download yet.
Choose where your accounts will live
A work account and a personal account represent different contexts. The useful question is how to reach either one without signing out of the other. A browser profile keeps a web session separate. A Switch profile gives a Claude Desktop account its own login and colored Dock icon.
| Approach | Where you work | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Sign out, then sign in | The same app or browser session | You authenticate when changing accounts. |
| Browser profiles | Separate browser windows | Each profile keeps a separate web session. |
| Switch profiles | Claude Desktop on macOS 14+ | Separate logins, colored Dock icons and profile shortcuts. Switch is currently a personal build. |
The browser route is useful today if you do not need a desktop profile manager. Switch’s public download is not available yet.
Set up separate browser profiles
In Safari 17 or later, profiles separate cookies and website data as well as browsing history. Create named profiles for Work and Personal, open a window for each, then sign in to Claude with the corresponding account. These are browser sessions; they do not create separate Claude Desktop apps. Apple explains Safari profiles and their setup.
Chrome also has profiles for keeping work and personal browsing separate. Add a profile from the profile menu, give it a recognizable name, and use that browser window for the intended account. Google’s Chrome profile guide covers creation and switching.
Use a profile for each Claude Desktop account
Switch is a native SwiftUI/AppKit manager for separate Claude Desktop accounts. It keeps the manager small: a manually ordered list of profiles, eight color choices and visible keyboard shortcuts. It does not replace Claude with a browser interface.
- Open the manager from the Switch Dock icon.
- Create a named profile for each account and choose a color.
- Sign in to each profile separately and check the account you are using.
- Open the profile from its Dock icon, the manager or its assigned shortcut.
Profiles can stay open together. The manager can be closed while keyboard switching remains available, provided Switch is still running. See the Switch setup guide for requirements and current availability.
What separate profiles do and do not change
Switch organizes access to accounts you already have. It does not supply Claude access, combine subscriptions or change an account’s usage limits. Claude continues to connect to Anthropic normally.
A profile is also not a security sandbox. Names and colors help you recognize the account you are using; they do not replace your organization’s policies about files and services. Cloud connectors must be authorized for each account. Local Claude Code definitions can be shared selectively, without copying credentials or overriding existing choices.
Switch does not currently provide a complete import or recovery flow. Plan to sign in to your profiles separately rather than assuming your existing installation will be migrated.
Pick the workflow you need
Choose browser profiles if separate web sessions meet your needs. Choose a desktop profile workflow when dedicated Dock icons and direct keyboard switching matter. If your main challenge is keeping work and personal tasks distinct, start with a consistent naming and color scheme before adding more profiles.
Continue with organizing work and personal Claude accounts or switching profiles from the keyboard.