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# Profiles deprecation

> Notice that Profiles are deprecated in Platform 6, replaced by environment variables and a platform.properties configuration file.

Starting with Platform 6, Profiles are deprecated. Platform 6 introduces a simplified configuration model based on environment variables and a `platform.properties` configuration file, replacing the legacy `properties.json` file and reducing the need for Profiles. For full details on the new configuration model, see [Configuration enhancements](/configure/environment-variables-properties-reference).

## What changed

In previous Platform releases, configuration was split between a `properties.json` file and a Profile stored in MongoDB. In Platform 6, configuration is consolidated into environment variables or a `platform.properties` file, and Profiles are no longer required.

The following Profile-related functionality has been deprecated:

* The `switchActiveProfile` API is no longer available.
* Switching the active profile through the Admin Essentials UI is no longer supported. Attempting to do so will return an error.
* The "Applications", "Adapters", and "Indexing" tabs previously found on the Profiles page have been moved to the new **Status** page in Admin Essentials. The Profiles page now only contains profile property configuration.

## What still works

Profiles can still be created and used for configurations that may change while the server is running. As of Platform 6, the only stateful property that requires a Profile is `prebuiltProps`.

When conflicting configuration values exist, Platform 6 resolves them in the following priority order:

1. Environment variable
2. Configuration file
3. Profile
4. Default value

For more information, see [Platform environment variables](/configure/environment-variables-properties-reference)

## Impact

Most users will not need to take any action. If your workflows and configuration do not depend on Profiles, no changes are required.

If you need to use a Profile — for example, to configure `prebuiltProps` for importing new pre-builts — you must set the active profile in your configuration file rather than through the UI:

#### Update your configuration file

Add or uncomment the `profile_id` property in your `platform.properties` (or legacy `iap.properties`) file and set it to the name of your profile.

#### Restart the Platform server

Restart the Platform server for the change to take effect.

For step-by-step instructions, see [Use pre-builts in Platform 6](/itential-platform/admin-essentials/pre-builts/use-pre-builts).