Create and Use a Work Profile on Android (No Root)

Many Android users want a clean way to separate personal apps from work‑related ones without the hassle of a second device or rooting the phone. Android’s work profile (also called a managed profile) offers exactly that: a sandboxed space that behaves like a separate user, with its own app drawer, notification channel, and data store. This tutorial walks you through creating a work profile on any Android 7.0+ device using only ADB – no manufacturer‑specific tools, no root, and no enterprise enrollment required.

Before You Start

• Charge your phone to at least 50 %. The process involves a reboot.
• Enable Developer options (Settings > About phone > Tap Build number seven times).
• Enable USB debugging (Settings > System > Developer options > USB debugging).
• Install the Android Platform‑Tools (adb) on your PC or Mac.
• Use a good quality USB‑C to USB‑A cable; data transfer must be enabled on the phone when you connect it.

Step 1 – Verify ADB Connection

1. Open a terminal (Command Prompt, PowerShell, or macOS Terminal).
2. Run adb devices. You should see a device serial number with the word device next to it.

   adb devices
   List of devices attached
   ABCD1234567890    device

   If you see unauthorized, check the phone for a prompt asking to Allow USB debugging and tap Allow.
3. Optional sanity check: run adb shell getprop ro.build.version.sdk to see the SDK level (e.g., 30 for Android 11). The work‑profile feature is available from API 24 (Android 7.0) onward.

Step 2 – Create the Managed (Work) Profile

Android treats a work profile as a special user with the --managed flag. The following command creates it as a child of the primary user (user 0).

adb shell pm create-user --profileOf 0 --managed "Work Profile"

The command returns a line like Success: created user id 10. Remember the user ID – you’ll need it later to move apps.

What happens under the hood? Android creates a separate data directory (e.g., /data/user/10/) and a distinct launcher entry. The system also adds a small badge (a briefcase) to the work‑profile apps, making it clear which side they belong to.

Step 3 – Enable the Profile in the UI

1. On the phone, pull down the notification shade and tap the Settings gear.
2. Navigate to Accounts & backup > Users & accounts (the exact path may vary by OEM; look for “Users” or “Multiple users”).
3. You should see a new entry called Work Profile. Tap it and toggle Turn on. The device may ask you to set up a lock screen for the profile – you can use the same PIN/password as the primary user or a separate one.

Once enabled, you’ll notice a new work‑profile icon (a briefcase) appears in the status bar. The work profile now has its own app drawer, accessible by swiping up on the home screen or by tapping the briefcase badge.

Step 4 – Move Apps Into the Work Profile

Not every app can be moved; only those that support the managed‑profile flag. System apps (e.g., Settings) stay in the primary user, but most third‑party apps can be duplicated.

1. Identify the package name of the app you want to move. You can list all installed packages with adb shell pm list packages or use adb shell pm list packages -3 for user‑installed apps.
2. Use the pm install‑existing command to create a work‑profile instance:

   adb shell pm install-existing --user 10 com.example.app

   Replace 10 with the user ID you obtained in Step 2 and com.example.app with the real package name.
3. After the command succeeds, the app appears in the work‑profile app drawer, and a separate data folder is created under /data/user/10/. The original app remains in the personal profile, so you now have two isolated instances.

Example: To duplicate WhatsApp (package com.whatsapp) into the work profile, run adb shell pm install-existing --user 10 com.whatsapp. You’ll then have two independent WhatsApp installations – one for personal chats, one for work‑related communications.

Step 5 – Manage Permissions Separately

Because each profile has its own app sandbox, permissions are granted per‑profile. To adjust permissions:

1. Open the work‑profile Settings (tap the briefcase badge, then Settings).
2. Go to Apps & notifications > See all apps and select the duplicated app.
3. Tap Permissions** and enable/disable as you would for any app. The changes affect only the work‑profile instance.

adb shell pm grant --user 10 com.example.app android.permission.CAMERA

adb backup -user 10 -apk -shared -all -f work_profile.ab

adb restore work_profile.ab