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# Manage Profiles and Choose a Template

A profile is a saved control setup: it contains the mappings that connect your inputs to gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or PlayAbility actions.

## Create a profile from a template

1. Open **Profiles** from the sidebar.
2. Select **Add a new profile**. If you do not have any profiles yet, select **Create your first profile** instead.
3. On **Select a base template**, browse the available templates.
4. If needed, use **Filter by output** to show templates that produce gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or other output types.
5. Select the template that best matches how you want to play.
6. Select **Use this template**.

PlayAbility creates the profile, makes it current, and opens it in **Mapping**. You can use the included mappings as they are or customize them.

Choose **Starter** when you want an empty profile. Other templates provide working examples such as head and face control, mouse control, keyboard remapping, racing controls, or a complete gamepad layout.

If you select a template whose name is already in use, PlayAbility gives the new profile a distinct copy name.

## Load a different profile

1. Open **Profiles**.
2. Find the profile you want.
3. Select its **Load this profile** button.

The selected card changes to **Current profile**, and PlayAbility opens that profile in **Mapping**.

Changing profiles replaces the current profile's mappings. The special **Global** profile is different: its mappings run alongside every regular profile. Global is useful for controls you always need, such as profile-switching shortcuts or an emergency **Release All** action.

## Rename, duplicate, reorder, or delete a profile

1. Load the profile you want to manage.
2. Open **Mapping**.
3. Select **more** beside the profile name.
4. Choose the operation you need:
   - **Rename Profile** changes the profile name. This is not available for the Global profile.
   - **Duplicate Profile** creates a separate copy of the profile and its mappings.
   - **Reorder Mappings** shows drag handles and move-up or move-down controls beside the mappings.
   - **Remove Empty Mappings** deletes every action row that does not yet have a trigger.
   - **Delete Profile** permanently removes the profile after confirmation.
5. Follow the confirmation prompt when one appears.

Renaming and duplicating profiles require PlayAbility Pro Edition. If a profile is marked **Read-Only**, its mappings and management controls cannot be changed; follow the **Read-Only Profile** banner to review the available upgrade option.

Before deleting a profile you may want later, export a profile backup or share the profile first.

## Verify the profile

1. Open **Profiles** and confirm the intended card says **Current profile**.
2. Open **Mapping** and review the actions and triggers in that profile.
3. Activate one of its triggers.
4. Confirm the corresponding mapping responds and the expected output is produced.

When testing a regular profile, remember that active Global mappings also run.

## Troubleshooting and limitations

### The template list is empty after filtering

Select **Reset filters** to show every template again.

### Creating a profile shows a profile-limit prompt

Follow the prompt carefully. Depending on your account, creating another editable profile may require replacing your current editable profile or upgrading to Pro Edition. Replacing a profile removes the existing one, so make a backup first if you need to preserve it.

### The profile is Read-Only

Only editable profiles can be changed. Load an editable profile or use the upgrade option shown in the **Read-Only Profile** banner.

### Rename or Duplicate Profile is disabled

These operations require Pro Edition. The Global profile also cannot be renamed.

### A profile switch does not seem to change the controls

Confirm the selected card says **Current profile**, then check **Mapping**. Global mappings remain active with regular profiles and may be producing the control you still see.

### A deleted profile is needed again

Deletion has no undo command. Import a previously exported backup or re-import a shared copy if one is available.

## Related articles

- [Create Your First Profile in PlayAbility](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/create-your-first-profile-in-playability-18kxz16/)
- [Build and Edit a Mapping](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/build-and-edit-a-mapping-u0q0bs/)
- [Back Up, Import, Export and Share Profiles](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/back-up-import-export-and-share-profiles-14iip1d/)
- [Automatically Switch Profiles for Different Apps](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/automatically-switch-profiles-for-different-apps-f9lmlw/)