I'm using my personal laptop for work because the ones provided by my company are terrible. I'm trying to figure out the best ways to keep my work and personal life separate on the same device. This includes managing files, browser tabs, and other things like photos. Since I often share my screen during meetings, I want to avoid showing personal bookmarks or anything else. I don't do personal browsing during work hours, but I'm mainly worried about what's visible on my desktop and browser. Is it a good idea to set up two different user profiles on my laptop? I use Chrome as my browser—what's the best way to handle two bookmark profiles there? Is there anything else I need to consider? By the way, I'm on a Windows machine (Lenovo).
5 Answers
Just a reminder, it’s risky to mix work and personal on the same device. If your company has data protection policies, be cautious or else you might face job consequences. It's worth checking in with your IT team about device use. You could also consider dual-booting your system for a more secure approach. Just remember, that requires a larger drive.
Creating multiple user profiles makes total sense! It keeps your work environment clean and makes sure your personal stuff stays hidden during screen shares. Just set up a separate Chrome profile for work. You can easily switch between them, and it keeps both your bookmarks and history separated. This is the way to go!
Try using a separate browser for work, like Edge or even Chromium. It might give you a more organized feel and segregate your work from personal browsing without needing multiple user profiles. It's definitely a smoother experience!
I had the same issue with a forgettable work laptop. I invested in a KVM switch so I could connect my work laptop and personal setup to the same keyboard and monitor. If you do end up using your own laptop a lot, check your company's policies first. They might have rules on using personal laptops for work tasks. Just a heads up!
Don’t forget that your company policies might ban using personal devices for work purposes. It can lead to issues for both you and the company. Definitely consult with IT about the best practices before going any further!
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll make sure to talk to them about what I'm doing.
Yeah, our company didn't mind as long as we were upfront about it. The work laptops are just cumbersome when traveling, so it makes sense to use personal machines if they're better.