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# Automatically Switch Profiles for Different Apps

Automatic profile switching watches the application in the foreground and loads the profile assigned to that application's process. It is useful when different games or programs need different control layouts.

## Prerequisites

- Create every profile you want to switch between before adding rules.
- Open each target application at least once so it is easy to find under **Open windows**.
- Use a regular game profile as the target. The Global profile already runs alongside regular profiles and normally does not need an app rule.

## Add an app-to-profile rule

1. Open **Settings**.
2. Select **Advanced**.
3. Under **Focused app**, find **Find apps**.
4. Select **Profile form**.
5. In **Browse apps**, select **Open windows**.
6. Select **Refresh list** if the application is not already shown.
7. Search for the application, then select its row.
8. Under **Add app → profile**, confirm that **Process name** was filled.
9. Choose the matching **Profile**.
10. Select **Add**.
11. Turn on **Auto-switch profile by focused app**.

The new rule appears under **Profile per app**. Process names are stored in lowercase without a trailing `.exe`.

If the application is not open, try **All processes** or **Installed** in the app browser. You can also type or paste its process name directly into **Process name**.

## Add rules for more applications

Repeat the procedure for each application and select a different profile where needed. Each listed rule contains:

- The normalized process name
- The profile PlayAbility will load
- A **Remove** button

To change the profile for an existing rule, use its **Profile** list. To change its process name, remove the row and create it again.

## Verify automatic switching

1. Keep **Auto-switch profile by focused app** on.
2. Open two applications that have different rules.
3. Bring the first application to the foreground.
4. Wait briefly, then confirm its assigned profile becomes current.
5. Bring the second application to the foreground and confirm the profile changes again.

At the top of **Focused app**, **Active window now** shows the process PlayAbility currently detects. Use this value to diagnose a rule that does not match.

PlayAbility ignores its own window while checking rules, so opening Settings does not replace your game profile.

## Tune foreground detection

The default polling interval is suitable for most people. If switching is noticeably delayed:

1. Expand **Advanced** at the bottom of **Focused app**.
2. Adjust **How often to detect the active app (ms)**.
3. Test the switch again.

The allowed range is 200 to 10,000 ms. A shorter interval detects changes faster but checks the foreground application more often.

## Troubleshooting and limitations

### The app is missing from Open windows

Start the application and make sure it has a visible window, then select **Refresh list**. If it still does not appear, search **All processes** or **Installed**, or copy the value from **Active window now**.

### The wrong executable was selected

Some games use a launcher and a separate game process. Bring the actual game window to the foreground and use the process shown under **Active window now**, not the launcher name.

### The rule exists, but the profile does not change

- Confirm **Auto-switch profile by focused app** is on.
- Confirm the target profile still exists.
- Compare the rule's process name with **Active window now**.
- Expand **Advanced** and review **Last error** if one is shown.

### A broad process name matches the wrong application

Foreground rules support exact and partial process-name matching. Use the most distinctive full process name available. Avoid short fragments that can also appear in another application's process name.

### Switching happens when a launcher opens

Remove the launcher rule and create a rule for the game's actual process instead.

### The profile changes, but no output reaches the app

Profile switching and output filtering are separate. Confirm **Main Output** is on and check whether **Limit remapped output using the lists below** is blocking the foreground application.

### A deleted or renamed profile was used by a rule

Update the rule's **Profile** selection after a rename. Remove stale rules whose profile no longer exists.

### Checking Settings appears to stop detection

PlayAbility ignores its own process so you can configure the feature safely. Return focus to the target application to test its rule.

## Related articles

- [Manage Profiles and Choose a Template](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/manage-profiles-and-choose-a-template-ogzx1x/)
- [Automatically Allow or Block Outputs by Foreground App](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/automatically-allow-or-block-outputs-by-foreground-app-gduyjt/)
- [Use the System Tray While Playing](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/use-the-system-tray-while-playing-1mcj93e/)