---
title: Browser Profiles
subtitle: Save and reuse login state across sessions
description: Save and reuse browser state snapshots in the Skyvern Cloud UI to skip login flows by restoring cookies and session data from a previously authenticated browser session.
slug: cloud/browser-management/browser-profiles
keywords:
  - state snapshot
  - cookies
  - session restore
  - skip login
  - authenticated state
  - reuse
---

A **browser profile** is a saved snapshot of browser state: cookies, localStorage, and session files. Load a profile into a new [browser session](/cloud/browser-management/browser-sessions) and the browser starts with that saved state restored, skipping login flows you've already completed.

Profiles are ideal when you:

- Run the same automation repeatedly with the same account (daily reports, scheduled data extraction)
- Want to skip login steps that consume credits and time
- Need multiple workflows to share the same authenticated state

<Note>
Looking to manage profiles from code? See the [API & SDK guide](/optimization/browser-profiles) instead.
</Note>

---

## How profiles are created

Browser profiles are created automatically when you test a password credential with the **Save browser session** option enabled. There is no standalone "create profile" button; the profile is a byproduct of a successful login test.

### Creating a profile from a credential

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to the Credentials page">
    Click **Credentials** in the left sidebar under **General**.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Create or edit a password credential">
    Click **+ Add → Password** to create a new credential, or click the **pencil icon** on an existing one. Enter the username and password. See [Password Credentials](/cloud/managing-credentials/password-credentials) for details.

    <img src="/images/cloud/credential-add-password-form.png" alt="Add password credential dialog with name, username, and password fields" />
  </Step>
  <Step title="Enable Save browser session">
    Below the password fields, enable the **Save browser session** option. Enter the **login URL** for the site (e.g., `https://app.example.com/login`). You can also add optional context to help the AI navigate the login flow.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Test the credential">
    Click **Test**. Skyvern opens a browser, navigates to the login URL, signs in with the credential, and, if the login succeeds, saves the browser state as a profile. The profile is linked to this credential automatically.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Confirm the profile was saved">
    When the test completes, the credential row shows a **saved-profile** badge with the site hostname. This means the browser profile is ready to use.

  <img src="/images/cloud/credential-save-profile.png" alt="Credential listed with a profile badge" />
    
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
The **Save browser session** flow is the easiest way to create a profile. It handles the full lifecycle: open browser, log in, save state. No workflows or API calls required.
</Tip>

---

## When to refresh profiles

Cookies and session tokens expire. A profile that worked last week may not work today if the site's authentication tokens have a short lifespan.

**Signs a profile needs refreshing:**

- Tasks that use the profile start failing with login-related errors
- The browser loads a login page instead of the authenticated dashboard
- The site forces re-authentication after a set period

**To refresh:** go back to the credential, click **Test** again with **Save browser session** enabled. The new profile replaces the old one.

<Tip>
For sites with short-lived sessions (banks, healthcare portals), refresh profiles before each batch of runs. For sites with long-lived cookies (most SaaS apps), weekly or monthly refreshes are usually sufficient.
</Tip>

---

## Sessions vs profiles

| | Browser Session | Browser Profile |
|---|----------------|-----------------|
| **What it is** | Live browser instance | Saved snapshot of browser state |
| **Lifetime** | Minutes to hours | Days to months |
| **State** | Current page, cookies, open connections | Cookies, localStorage, session files |
| **Billing** | Charged while open | No cost when not in use |
| **Best for** | Back-to-back tasks, human-in-the-loop | Repeated logins, scheduled workflows |

---

## What's next

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card
    title="Browser Sessions"
    icon="browser"
    href="/cloud/browser-management/browser-sessions"
  >
    Keep a browser open across multiple tasks
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Password Credentials"
    icon="key"
    href="/cloud/managing-credentials/password-credentials"
  >
    Store the login details that profiles are built from
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Browser Profiles (API)"
    icon="code"
    href="/optimization/browser-profiles"
  >
    Create and manage profiles programmatically
  </Card>
</CardGroup>