diff --git a/client/cmd/up_daemon_test.go b/client/cmd/up_daemon_test.go
index f61f11000..fe8d27ed7 100644
--- a/client/cmd/up_daemon_test.go
+++ b/client/cmd/up_daemon_test.go
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 )
 
@@ -18,8 +20,11 @@ func TestUpDaemon(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	origDefaultProfileDir := profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir
 	origActiveProfileStatePath := profilemanager.ActiveProfileStatePath
+	origDefaultConfigPath := profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath
 	profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir = tempDir
 	profilemanager.ActiveProfileStatePath = tempDir + "/active_profile.json"
+	// Without this the loader reads the real /var/lib/netbird/default.json.
+	profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath = filepath.Join(tempDir, "default.json")
 	profilemanager.ConfigDirOverride = tempDir
 
 	currUser, err := user.Current()
@@ -28,8 +33,14 @@ func TestUpDaemon(t *testing.T) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	identity, err := ipcauth.CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to read this process's identity: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
 	sm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
-	created, err := sm.AddProfile("test1", currUser.Username, nil)
+	created, err := sm.AddProfile("test1", &identity)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to add profile: %v", err)
 		return
@@ -47,6 +58,7 @@ func TestUpDaemon(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir = origDefaultProfileDir
 		profilemanager.ActiveProfileStatePath = origActiveProfileStatePath
+		profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath = origDefaultConfigPath
 		profilemanager.ConfigDirOverride = ""
 	})
 
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
index 95d4c564f..f14b955f9 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ func baseConfigDir() (string, error) {
 	return os.UserConfigDir()
 }
 
-func getConfigDirForUser(username string) (string, error) {
+func getConfigDirForUserLegacy(username string) (string, error) {
 	if ConfigDirOverride != "" {
 		return ConfigDirOverride, nil
 	}
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/error.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/error.go
index d83fe5c1c..4f896a5f4 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/error.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/error.go
@@ -6,4 +6,9 @@ var (
 	ErrProfileNotFound      = errors.New("profile not found")
 	ErrProfileAlreadyExists = errors.New("profile already exists")
 	ErrNoActiveProfile      = errors.New("no active profile set")
+
+	// ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile is returned when the active profile state names
+	// an ID that several profiles hold and does not say whose directory the
+	// active one sits in.
+	ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile = errors.New("active profile is ambiguous")
 )
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/migration.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/migration.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a53d5aff3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/migration.go
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+package profilemanager
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/user"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/getent"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+)
+
+// MigrateLegacyProfiles prepares the per-username layout for a daemon that
+// addresses profiles by ID and owner.
+//
+// Two things have to be settled before a directory name can stop carrying
+// meaning. Every profile needs an ID no other profile holds, since a legacy ID
+// is a display name two accounts can each have, and the profiles of the account
+// the machine last ran as need their owner recorded, which the active profile
+// state is the only lossless record of.
+//
+// The profiles.v1 directory is the marker and is created only once both are
+// done, so a run that fails leaves no marker and is retried on the next start.
+// Callers log a failure and carry on rather than refusing to start.
+func (s *ServiceManager) MigrateLegacyProfiles() error {
+	dest := s.profilesDirPath()
+	if _, err := os.Stat(dest); err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("load profiles: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	active, err := s.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("active profile state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	unresolved, err := s.rekeyDuplicateIDs(profiles, active)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := s.stampActiveUserDir(profiles, active); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if unresolved != "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q is still held by more than one profile, the active profile state does not say which one is active",
+			ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile, unresolved)
+	}
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dest, 0700); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create shared profile directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("profile migration complete, %s now marks it done", dest)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// rekeyDuplicateIDs gives every profile sharing an ID a fresh one, in place.
+// The file stays in its directory, only its name changes, so nothing that holds
+// a path to a sibling file is disturbed.
+//
+// It returns the one ID it could not settle, empty when it settled them all.
+func (s *ServiceManager) rekeyDuplicateIDs(profiles []Profile, active *ActiveProfileState) (ID, error) {
+	groups := make(map[ID][]*Profile, len(profiles))
+	for i := range profiles {
+		p := &profiles[i]
+		if p.ID == defaultProfileName {
+			continue
+		}
+		groups[p.ID] = append(groups[p.ID], p)
+	}
+
+	var unresolved ID
+	activeDir := sanitizeProfileName(active.Username)
+	for id, group := range groups {
+		if len(group) < 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Renaming the active profile without knowing which of the namesakes it
+		// is would leave the active state pointing at nothing. The recorded
+		// username is the only thing that tells them apart, so without it the
+		// safer move is to leave the group alone and keep resolving it the old
+		// way.
+		if id == active.ID && activeDir == "" {
+			log.Warnf("leaving %d profiles named %q as they are, the active profile state does not say which one is active", len(group), id)
+			unresolved = id
+			continue
+		}
+
+		for _, p := range group {
+			wasActive := id == active.ID && filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(p.Path)) == activeDir
+
+			fresh, err := generateProfileID()
+			if err != nil {
+				return "", fmt.Errorf("generate profile ID: %w", err)
+			}
+			if err := rekeyProfile(p, fresh); err != nil {
+				return "", err
+			}
+
+			if wasActive {
+				active.ID = fresh
+				if err := s.SetActiveProfileState(active); err != nil {
+					return "", fmt.Errorf("repoint active profile: %w", err)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return unresolved, nil
+}
+
+// renameFile is os.Rename, replaced in tests that need a rename to fail.
+var renameFile = os.Rename
+
+// movedFile is a completed rename, kept so it can be undone.
+type movedFile struct{ at, was string }
+
+// rekeyProfile renames a profile and its state file to a fresh ID.
+//
+// The state file move first and the profile file last, we try to restore if
+// renaming the profile file.
+func rekeyProfile(p *Profile, fresh ID) error {
+	// A legacy profile's display name is its filename, so it has to be in the
+	// file before the filename stops meaning anything. The loader already
+	// falls back to the stem, so writing p.Name is a no-op when the file
+	// carries a name of its own.
+	if err := writeProfileName(p.Path, p.Name); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("record display name of %s: %w", p.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	dir := filepath.Dir(p.Path)
+
+	var moved []movedFile
+	for _, suffix := range []string{stateFileSuffix, prefsFileSuffix} {
+		src := filepath.Join(dir, p.ID.String()+suffix)
+		if _, err := os.Stat(src); err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		dst := filepath.Join(dir, fresh.String()+suffix)
+		if err := renameFile(src, dst); err != nil {
+			undoMoves(moved)
+			return fmt.Errorf("rekey %s alongside profile %s: %w", filepath.Base(src), p.ID, err)
+		}
+		moved = append(moved, movedFile{at: dst, was: src})
+	}
+
+	target := filepath.Join(dir, fresh.String()+".json")
+	if err := renameFile(p.Path, target); err != nil {
+		undoMoves(moved)
+		return fmt.Errorf("rekey %s: %w", p.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("profile %q in %s now has the unique ID %s", p.ID, dir, fresh)
+	p.ID, p.Path = fresh, target
+	return nil
+}
+
+// undoMoves puts back what a half-finished rekey moved, so the next start finds
+// the profile as this one did and can rekey it from scratch.
+func undoMoves(moved []movedFile) {
+	for _, m := range moved {
+		if err := renameFile(m.at, m.was); err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("could not move %s back to %s after a failed rekey, it is now orphaned: %v", m.at, m.was, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// stampActiveUserDir records the owner of every unowned profile in the
+// directory of the account the active profile state names.
+//
+// That name is the one lossless input the old layout left behind. Resolving it
+// forward, from name to uid, avoids reversing a sanitized directory name, which
+// no amount of enumeration does reliably.
+func (s *ServiceManager) stampActiveUserDir(profiles []Profile, active *ActiveProfileState) error {
+	if active.Username == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	u, err := getent.LookupUser(active.Username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resolve %q: %w", active.Username, err)
+	}
+
+	principal, ok := principalForUser(u)
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("account %q has no usable id %q", active.Username, u.Uid)
+	}
+
+	dir := sanitizeProfileName(active.Username)
+	for i := range profiles {
+		p := &profiles[i]
+		if len(p.Owners) > 0 || p.LegacyUserDir != dir {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := stampPrincipal(p.Path, principal); err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("leaving %s unowned, its owner could not be recorded: %v", p.Path, err)
+			continue
+		}
+		log.Infof("recorded %s as the owner of %s, the directory it sits in is that account's", principal, p.Path)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// principalForUser turns a resolved account into an owner principal. os/user
+// reports a numeric id on Unix and a SID on Windows, which is what tells the
+// two kinds apart without a build tag.
+func principalForUser(u *user.User) (string, bool) {
+	if uid, err := strconv.ParseUint(u.Uid, 10, 32); err == nil {
+		return ipcauth.UIDPrincipal(uint32(uid)), true
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(u.Uid, "S-") {
+		return ipcauth.SIDPrincipal(u.Uid), true
+	}
+	return "", false
+}
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/migration_test.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/migration_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a9c53385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/migration_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,291 @@
+package profilemanager
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"os/user"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// currentUserPrincipal returns the running account's name and the owner
+// principal migration should record for it. Migration resolves a real account
+// through the host's user database, so there is nothing to stub.
+func currentUserPrincipal(t *testing.T) (string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("the windows path records a SID rather than a numeric uid")
+	}
+
+	u, err := user.Current()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	uid, err := strconv.ParseUint(u.Uid, 10, 32)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	return u.Username, "uid:" + strconv.FormatUint(uid, 10)
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_StampsTheActiveAccountsDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	username, principal := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		dir := sanitizeProfileName(username)
+		mine := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "work", nil)
+		theirs := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "someone-else", "theirs", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: username}))
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{principal}, readOwners(t, mine))
+		assert.Empty(t, readOwners(t, theirs),
+			"only the account the active state names has a directory we can attribute")
+		assert.DirExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir),
+			"the marker is written once both halves are done")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_IsIdempotentAndSkipsOnceMarked(t *testing.T) {
+	username, principal := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, sanitizeProfileName(username), "work", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: username}))
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{principal}, readOwners(t, path))
+
+		// A profile appearing after the marker is left to the per-caller claim.
+		late := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, sanitizeProfileName(username), "late", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+		assert.Empty(t, readOwners(t, late))
+	})
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_RekeysDuplicateIDsAndKeepsTheActiveOne(t *testing.T) {
+	username, principal := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		dir := sanitizeProfileName(username)
+		writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "work", nil)
+		writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "someone-else", "work", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configDir, dir, "work"+stateFileSuffix), []byte("{}"), 0600))
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: username}))
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+
+		profiles, err := sm.loadAllProfiles()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		ids := map[ID]int{}
+		for _, p := range profiles {
+			ids[p.ID]++
+			if p.ID != defaultProfileName {
+				assert.Equal(t, "work", p.Name, "the display name outlives the filename it came from")
+			}
+		}
+		for id, n := range ids {
+			assert.Equal(t, 1, n, "%s is still shared after migration", id)
+		}
+
+		state, err := sm.GetActiveProfileState()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, ID("work"), state.ID, "the active profile follows its new ID")
+
+		active, err := sm.ActiveProfilePath(state)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, dir, filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(active)),
+			"and still resolves inside the account that was running it")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{principal}, readOwners(t, active))
+		assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, dir, state.ID.String()+stateFileSuffix),
+			"the state file follows the profile it belongs to")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_UnresolvableAccountLeavesNoMarker(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "ghost", "work", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{
+			ID: "work", Username: "no-such-account-here",
+		}))
+
+		require.Error(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+		assert.Empty(t, readOwners(t, path))
+		assert.NoDirExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir),
+			"an unfinished run leaves no marker, so the next start tries again")
+	})
+}
+
+// failRenamesOf makes every rename of a file with the given suffix fail, and
+// returns the function that lets them through again.
+func failRenamesOf(t *testing.T, suffix string) func() {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	orig := renameFile
+	failing := true
+	renameFile = func(from, to string) error {
+		if failing && strings.HasSuffix(from, suffix) {
+			return errors.New("simulated rename failure")
+		}
+		return orig(from, to)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { renameFile = orig })
+
+	return func() { failing = false }
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_AStateFileThatCannotFollowRollsBackTheRekey(t *testing.T) {
+	username, _ := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		dir := sanitizeProfileName(username)
+		mine := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "work", nil)
+		writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "someone-else", "work", nil)
+		state := filepath.Join(configDir, dir, "work"+stateFileSuffix)
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(state, []byte("{}"), 0600))
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configDir, dir, "work"+prefsFileSuffix), []byte("{}"), 0600))
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: username}))
+
+		allowRenames := failRenamesOf(t, prefsFileSuffix)
+
+		require.Error(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+		assert.NoDirExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir),
+			"a rekey that could not finish leaves no marker, so the next start tries again")
+		assert.FileExists(t, mine, "the profile is back under the ID its state file still carry")
+		assert.FileExists(t, state, "and so is the state file that had already moved")
+
+		// The next start finds the profile exactly as the failed one did, and
+		// the state file are still beside it once the rekey goes through.
+		allowRenames()
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+
+		profiles, err := sm.loadAllProfiles()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		ids := map[ID]int{}
+		var rolledBack *Profile
+		for i := range profiles {
+			p := &profiles[i]
+			ids[p.ID]++
+			if p.ID != defaultProfileName && filepath.Dir(p.Path) == filepath.Join(configDir, dir) {
+				rolledBack = p
+			}
+		}
+		for id, n := range ids {
+			assert.Equal(t, 1, n, "%s is still shared after migration", id)
+		}
+
+		require.NotNil(t, rolledBack)
+		for _, suffix := range []string{stateFileSuffix, prefsFileSuffix} {
+			assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, dir, rolledBack.ID.String()+suffix),
+				"%s follows the profile it belongs to", suffix)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_NamesakesTheStateCannotTellApartLeaveNoMarker(t *testing.T) {
+	username, _ := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		dir := sanitizeProfileName(username)
+		mine := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "work", nil)
+		theirs := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "someone-else", "work", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work"}))
+
+		require.ErrorIs(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles(), ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile)
+		assert.NoDirExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir),
+			"the marker would retire the only pass that can still separate them")
+		assert.FileExists(t, mine, "so both namesakes are left as they are")
+		assert.FileExists(t, theirs)
+
+		profiles, err := sm.loadAllProfiles()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, 2, countID(profiles, "work"),
+			"the group keeps the ID, since rekeying it would leave the state pointing at nothing")
+
+		// And until they are separated the active profile does not resolve to
+		// whichever of them happened to sort first.
+		state, err := sm.GetActiveProfileState()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		_, err = sm.ActiveProfilePath(state)
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile)
+
+		// Selecting a profile records the directory that tells them apart, and
+		// the start after that finishes the job.
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: username}))
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+		assert.DirExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir))
+
+		state, err = sm.GetActiveProfileState()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		active, err := sm.ActiveProfilePath(state)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, ID("work"), state.ID, "the namesakes are separated")
+		assert.Equal(t, dir, filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(active)),
+			"and the active one still sits in the account that was running it")
+	})
+}
+
+// countID reports how many of the loaded profiles hold id.
+func countID(profiles []Profile, id ID) int {
+	n := 0
+	for _, p := range profiles {
+		if p.ID == id {
+			n++
+		}
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_LeavesAProfileThatAlreadyNamesAnOwnerAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	username, principal := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	// A SID is never what a Unix host stamps, so it says "someone else holds
+	// this" without depending on the uid the test happens to run as.
+	const otherOwner = "sid:S-1-5-21-0-0-0-1001"
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		dir := sanitizeProfileName(username)
+		claimed := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "claimed", map[string]any{
+			"Owners": []string{otherOwner},
+		})
+		unclaimed := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "unclaimed", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "unclaimed", Username: username}))
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{otherOwner}, readOwners(t, claimed),
+			"the directory a profile sits in does not re-attribute one that already names an owner")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{principal}, readOwners(t, unclaimed),
+			"only the profiles with no owner of their own are attributed")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestMigrate_SkipsAProfileItCannotStamp(t *testing.T) {
+	username, principal := currentUserPrincipal(t)
+
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		dir := sanitizeProfileName(username)
+		good := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, dir, "work", nil)
+		broken := filepath.Join(configDir, dir, "broken.json")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(broken, []byte("null"), 0600))
+		require.NoError(t, sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: username}))
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.MigrateLegacyProfiles())
+
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{principal}, readOwners(t, good),
+			"one profile that cannot be stamped does not hold up the rest")
+		assert.DirExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir),
+			"and the marker still lands, since the claim path retries the one left behind")
+
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(broken)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "null", string(data), "the profile it could not stamp is untouched")
+	})
+}
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs.go
index 5613b0be3..2a6c59693 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs.go
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
 )
 
-const prefsFileSuffix = ".prefs.json"
+const (
+	prefsFileSuffix = ".prefs.json"
+	stateFileSuffix = ".state.json"
+)
 
 var prefsMu sync.Mutex
 
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) ProfilePrefs(id ID, username string) (*Prefs, error) {
 	if id == defaultProfileName {
 		return &Prefs{path: filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(DefaultConfigPath), id.String()+prefsFileSuffix)}, nil
 	}
-	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
+	configDir, err := s.getConfigDirLegacy(username)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get config directory for user %s: %w", username, err)
 	}
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs_test.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs_test.go
index 8cca6e513..6d1b6022c 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/prefs_test.go
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@ package profilemanager
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"os"
+	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 )
 
 type testPrefsSection struct {
@@ -15,9 +18,20 @@ type testPrefsSection struct {
 	Dest string `json:"dest"`
 }
 
+// currentUsername returns the account the prefs store keys its legacy config
+// directory by. Profile ownership itself is carried by an ipcauth.Identity, but
+// the on-disk layout is still per-username.
+func currentUsername(t *testing.T) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	u, err := user.Current()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return u.Username
+}
+
 func TestProfilePrefs_RoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		prefs, err := sm.ProfilePrefs(created.ID, username)
@@ -41,8 +55,9 @@ func TestProfilePrefs_RoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestProfilePrefs_GetMissingNamespace(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		prefs, err := sm.ProfilePrefs(created.ID, username)
@@ -56,8 +71,9 @@ func TestProfilePrefs_GetMissingNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestProfilePrefs_RemoveNamespace(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		prefs, err := sm.ProfilePrefs(created.ID, username)
@@ -82,15 +98,17 @@ func TestProfilePrefs_RemoveNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestProfilePrefs_RejectsInvalidID(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
 		_, err := sm.ProfilePrefs("../escape", username)
 		assert.Error(t, err)
 	})
 }
 
 func TestProfilePrefs_RejectsEmptyNamespace(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		prefs, err := sm.ProfilePrefs(created.ID, username)
@@ -104,7 +122,8 @@ func TestProfilePrefs_RejectsEmptyNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestProfilePrefs_DefaultProfile(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
 		prefs, err := sm.ProfilePrefs(defaultProfileName, username)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -117,21 +136,22 @@ func TestProfilePrefs_DefaultProfile(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRemoveProfile_DeletesPrefsFile(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		username := currentUsername(t)
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		prefs, err := sm.ProfilePrefs(created.ID, username)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.NoError(t, prefs.Put("filedrop", testPrefsSection{Mode: 2}))
 
-		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDirLegacy(username)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		prefsPath := filepath.Join(configDir, created.ID.String()+prefsFileSuffix)
 		_, err = os.Stat(prefsPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		require.NoError(t, sm.RemoveProfile(created.ID, username))
+		require.NoError(t, sm.RemoveProfile(created.ID, userID))
 		_, err = os.Stat(prefsPath)
 		assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist), "prefs file should be removed")
 	})
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager.go
index 44f578ae0..0ee037a3c 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager.go
@@ -32,6 +32,28 @@ type Profile struct {
 	Path     string
 	IsActive bool
 	Owners   []ipcauth.Principal
+	// LegacyUserDir is the sanitized username of the per-username directory the
+	// profile was found in, empty for the profiles.v1 directory and for the
+	// default profile. It is the only legacy evidence of profile ownership.
+	LegacyUserDir string
+}
+
+// AccessibleBy reports whether a kernel-attested caller may address this
+// profile.
+func (p *Profile) AccessibleBy(id ipcauth.Identity) bool {
+	if !id.Known() {
+		return false
+	}
+	if ipcauth.IsPrivilegedCaller(id) {
+		return true
+	}
+	if len(p.Owners) == 0 {
+		// A profile in a per-username directory belonged to a use, unowned fails
+		// closed. The account named by the directory reclaims it on their next
+		// lookup or until claimed by a privileged caller.
+		return p.LegacyUserDir == "" && p.ID == DefaultProfileName
+	}
+	return p.Owners[0].Matches(id)
 }
 
 func (p *Profile) FilePath() (string, error) {
@@ -60,7 +82,7 @@ func (p *Profile) FilePath() (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get current user: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	configDir, err := getConfigDirForUser(username.Username)
+	configDir, err := getConfigDirForUserLegacy(username.Username)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory for user %s: %w", username.Username, err)
 	}
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager_test.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager_test.go
index 882a71d0a..811a00a6f 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ func withPatchedGlobals(t *testing.T, configDir string, testFunc func()) {
 	DefaultConfigPath = filepath.Join(configDir, "default.json")
 	ActiveProfileStatePath = filepath.Join(configDir, "active_profile.json")
 	oldDefaultConfigPath = filepath.Join(configDir, "old_config.json")
-	ConfigDirOverride = configDir
+	// A subdirectory, mirroring production: loadAllProfiles only descends into
+	// directories under DefaultConfigPathDir, so profiles written straight into
+	// the config root would be invisible to it.
+	ConfigDirOverride = filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir)
 	// Clean up any files in the config dir to ensure isolation
 	os.RemoveAll(configDir)
 	os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0755) //nolint: errcheck
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/service.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/service.go
index 68d1c23a1..dc365c325 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/service.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/service.go
@@ -10,11 +10,14 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/getent"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
 )
@@ -27,6 +30,8 @@ var (
 	DefaultConfigPath      = ""
 	ActiveProfileStatePath = ""
 
+	DefaultProfilePathDir = "profiles.v1"
+
 	ErrorOldDefaultConfigNotFound = errors.New("old default config not found")
 )
 
@@ -54,11 +59,16 @@ type profileMeta struct {
 	Name string
 }
 
-// nolint:unused
 type ownerMeta struct {
 	Owners []string
 }
 
+// Config JSON keys on disk.
+const (
+	ownersFieldName = "Owners"
+	nameFieldName   = "Name"
+)
+
 func (e *ErrAmbiguousHandle) Error() string {
 	switch e.Kind {
 	case AmbiguityKindIDPrefix:
@@ -98,10 +108,21 @@ type ActiveProfileState struct {
 	// before the ID-based config files. Legacy values were profile names, which
 	// were also the legacy filename stems, so they still resolve to the correct
 	// file on disk.
-	ID       ID     `json:"name"`
+	ID ID `json:"name"`
+
+	// Username records which per-username directory a pre-migration profile's
+	// file lives in. It is a hint for reconstructing that path, not a statement
+	// about who owns the profile: ownership lives in the profile's own JSON, as
+	// typed principals. Profiles in the shared directory leave it empty, and
+	// the field goes away once no per-username directory is left.
 	Username string `json:"username"`
 }
 
+// FilePath rebuilds the profile's path from the per-username layout.
+//
+// Prefer ServiceManager.ActiveProfilePath: this reconstruction only holds for a
+// profile that predates the ID-keyed layout, since a profile created after it
+// lives in the shared directory instead, under no username at all.
 func (a *ActiveProfileState) FilePath() (string, error) {
 	if a.ID == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("active profile ID is empty")
@@ -115,7 +136,7 @@ func (a *ActiveProfileState) FilePath() (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", a.ID)
 	}
 
-	configDir, err := getConfigDirForUser(a.Username)
+	configDir, err := getConfigDirForUserLegacy(a.Username)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory for user %s: %w", a.Username, err)
 	}
@@ -127,6 +148,74 @@ type ServiceManager struct {
 	profilesDir string // If set, overrides ConfigDirOverride for profile operations
 }
 
+// ActiveProfilePath returns the config file of the profile the active-profile
+// state points at.
+//
+// The path is looked up through the loader rather than rebuilt from the
+// recorded username, because a profile's directory is no longer a function of
+// who owns it: profiles created since the ID-keyed layout share one directory,
+// and only pre-migration ones sit under a per-username one. The username
+// survives as a tiebreaker for the single case that still needs one, a legacy
+// ID being a display name that two users can each hold.
+//
+// A state that points at a profile with no file yet still yields the path that
+// file would have, so a caller reads "not created yet" from a stat rather than
+// from an error.
+func (s *ServiceManager) ActiveProfilePath(a *ActiveProfileState) (string, error) {
+	if a == nil || a.ID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("active profile ID is empty")
+	}
+	if a.ID == defaultProfileName {
+		return DefaultConfigPath, nil
+	}
+	if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(a.ID) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", a.ID)
+	}
+
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load profiles: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var matches []Profile
+	for _, p := range profiles {
+		if p.ID == a.ID {
+			matches = append(matches, p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(matches) == 0 {
+		// Nothing on disk under that ID, so the legacy layout is the only
+		// guess left for where the file would go.
+		return a.FilePath()
+	}
+
+	if len(matches) == 1 {
+		return matches[0].Path, nil
+	}
+
+	// Migration gives every profile an ID no other profile holds, so getting
+	// here means it has not run yet or did not finish. Until it does, the
+	// recorded account name is the only thing telling namesakes apart, and
+	// picking the wrong one would point the daemon at another user's config.
+	// State written before the field held a directory recorded the raw account
+	// name, which the old layout sanitized on its way to becoming one.
+	for _, want := range []string{a.Username, sanitizeProfileName(a.Username)} {
+		if want == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, p := range matches {
+			if filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(p.Path)) == want {
+				return p.Path, nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Nothing left to tell them apart, so this fails rather than guesses.
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: %d profiles hold the ID %q and the active profile state does not say which account's directory it is in",
+		ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile, len(matches), a.ID)
+}
+
 func NewServiceManager(defaultConfigPath string) *ServiceManager {
 	if defaultConfigPath != "" {
 		DefaultConfigPath = defaultConfigPath
@@ -268,10 +357,6 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) SetActiveProfileState(a *ActiveProfileState) error {
 		return errors.New("invalid active profile state")
 	}
 
-	if a.ID != defaultProfileName && a.Username == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("username must be set for non-default profiles, got: %s", a.ID)
-	}
-
 	if a.ID != defaultProfileName && !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(a.ID) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", a.ID)
 	}
@@ -302,8 +387,8 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) DefaultProfilePath() string {
 // The returned Profile carries the freshly-generated ID so callers can
 // show it to the user (and so the gRPC AddProfileResponse can include
 // it).
-func (s *ServiceManager) AddProfile(displayName string, username string, callerId *ipcauth.Identity) (*Profile, error) {
-	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
+func (s *ServiceManager) AddProfile(displayName string, callerId *ipcauth.Identity) (*Profile, error) {
+	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -325,7 +410,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) AddProfile(displayName string, username string, callerI
 	}
 	cfg.Name = displayName
 
-	if err := util.WriteJson(context.Background(), profPath, cfg); err != nil {
+	if err := util.WriteJsonWithRestrictedPermission(context.Background(), profPath, cfg); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to write profile config: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -336,7 +421,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) AddProfile(displayName string, username string, callerI
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (s *ServiceManager) RenameProfile(id ID, username string, newName string) error {
+func (s *ServiceManager) RenameProfile(id ID, userID ipcauth.Identity, newName string) error {
 	displayName, err := sanitizeDisplayName(newName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile name: %w", err)
@@ -346,7 +431,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) RenameProfile(id ID, username string, newName string) e
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
 	}
 
-	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles(username)
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfilesForIdentity(userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("load profiles: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -362,26 +447,13 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) RenameProfile(id ID, username string, newName string) e
 		return ErrProfileNotFound
 	}
 
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(target.Path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	var cfg Config
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &cfg); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	cfg.Name = displayName
-
-	if err := util.WriteJson(context.Background(), target.Path, cfg); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write profile name: %w", err)
-	}
-	return nil
+	return writeProfileName(target.Path, displayName)
 }
 
 // RemoveProfile deletes the profile identified by id. Callers must have
 // already resolved any user-supplied handle to a concrete ID via
 // ResolveProfile.
-func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(id ID, username string) error {
+func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(id ID, userID ipcauth.Identity) error {
 	if id == defaultProfileName {
 		defaultName := readProfileName(DefaultConfigPath)
 		if defaultName == "" {
@@ -393,7 +465,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(id ID, username string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
 	}
 
-	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles(username)
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfilesForIdentity(userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("load profiles: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -436,8 +508,8 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(id ID, username string) error {
 
 // ListProfiles returns every profile for the given user, including the
 // default profile, with IsActive flags set.
-func (s *ServiceManager) ListProfiles(username string) ([]Profile, error) {
-	return s.loadAllProfiles(username)
+func (s *ServiceManager) ListProfiles(userID ipcauth.Identity) ([]Profile, error) {
+	return s.loadAllProfilesForIdentity(userID)
 }
 
 // GetStatePath returns the path to the state file based on the operating system
@@ -468,22 +540,47 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) GetStatePath() string {
 		return defaultStatePath
 	}
 
-	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(activeProf.Username)
+	configPath, err := s.ActiveProfilePath(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("failed to get config directory for user %s: %v", activeProf.Username, err)
+		log.Warnf("failed to resolve the active profile's path: %v", err)
 		return defaultStatePath
 	}
 
-	return filepath.Join(configDir, activeProf.ID.String()+".state.json")
+	return filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(configPath), activeProf.ID.String()+".state.json")
 }
 
-// getConfigDir returns the profiles directory, using profilesDir if set, otherwise getConfigDirForUser
-func (s *ServiceManager) getConfigDir(username string) (string, error) {
+// getConfigDirLegacy returns the profiles directory, using profilesDir if set, otherwise getConfigDirForUser
+func (s *ServiceManager) getConfigDirLegacy(username string) (string, error) {
 	if s.profilesDir != "" {
 		return s.profilesDir, nil
 	}
 
-	return getConfigDirForUser(username)
+	return getConfigDirForUserLegacy(username)
+}
+
+func (s *ServiceManager) getConfigDir() (string, error) {
+	configDir := s.profilesDirPath()
+	if _, err := os.Stat(configDir); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0700); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return configDir, nil
+}
+
+// profilesDirPath returns the directory new profiles are written to without
+// creating it, so a read path can name it without leaving a directory behind.
+func (s *ServiceManager) profilesDirPath() string {
+	if s.profilesDir != "" {
+		return s.profilesDir
+	}
+
+	if ConfigDirOverride != "" {
+		return ConfigDirOverride
+	}
+
+	return filepath.Join(DefaultConfigPathDir, DefaultProfilePathDir)
 }
 
 // loadAllProfiles returns every profile visible to the daemon for the
@@ -493,31 +590,219 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) getConfigDir(username string) (string, error) {
 // Each Profile is fully populated: ID is the filename stem, Name comes
 // from the JSON's "name" field (falling back to the filename stem when absent)
 // and Path is built from a basename read off disk.
-func (s *ServiceManager) loadAllProfiles(username string) ([]Profile, error) {
-	activeID, activeIsDefault := s.activeProfileID()
+func (s *ServiceManager) loadAllProfilesForIdentity(userID ipcauth.Identity) ([]Profile, error) {
+	allProfiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	s.claimLegacyProfiles(allProfiles, userID)
+
+	accessible := make([]Profile, 0, len(allProfiles))
+	for _, p := range allProfiles {
+		if p.AccessibleBy(userID) {
+			accessible = append(accessible, p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return accessible, nil
+}
+
+var (
+	legacyDirMu    sync.Mutex
+	legacyDirCache = map[string]string{}
+)
+
+// claimLegacyProfiles stamps the caller on every unowned profile in the
+// directory their own user name produced before the ownership model.
+//
+// Ownership lives in the file now, so the directory name is only a leftover.
+// Flattening is a separate step we are doing in the future. Moving it would
+// pull the state file out from under an engine that captured its path at
+// connect time.
+func (s *ServiceManager) claimLegacyProfiles(profiles []Profile, id ipcauth.Identity) {
+	// A privileged caller reaches every profile already and an internal load
+	// has no caller, so neither should leave an owner behind.
+	if ipcauth.IsPrivilegedCaller(id) {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !hasUnownedLegacyProfile(profiles) {
+		return
+	}
+
+	dir, ok := legacyDirForIdentity(id)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	principal := ipcauth.OwnerPrincipalForIdentity(id)
+	parsed, ok := ipcauth.ParsePrincipal(principal)
+	if !ok {
+		log.Warnf("not claiming legacy profiles, %q is not a usable owner", principal)
+		return
+	}
+
+	for i := range profiles {
+		p := &profiles[i]
+		if len(p.Owners) > 0 || p.LegacyUserDir == "" || p.LegacyUserDir != dir {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if err := StampOwner(p.Path, id); err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("could not claim legacy profile %s for %s: %v", p.Path, principal, err)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		p.Owners = []ipcauth.Principal{parsed}
+		log.Infof("claimed legacy profile %s for %s, its directory is named after that account", p.Path, principal)
+	}
+}
+
+func hasUnownedLegacyProfile(profiles []Profile) bool {
+	for i := range profiles {
+		if profiles[i].LegacyUserDir != "" && len(profiles[i].Owners) == 0 {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// legacyDirForIdentity is a variable so a test can supply an account name
+// without depending on the host's user database.
+var legacyDirForIdentity = resolveLegacyDir
+
+// resolveLegacyDir returns the per-username directory the old layout would have
+// created for a caller, and whether there is one.
+//
+// Successes are cached for the process, failures are not, so a directory
+// service that is briefly unreachable does not lock its users out until the
+// daemon restarts.
+func resolveLegacyDir(id ipcauth.Identity) (string, bool) {
+	key := ipcauth.OwnerPrincipalForIdentity(id)
+
+	legacyDirMu.Lock()
+	cached, hit := legacyDirCache[key]
+	legacyDirMu.Unlock()
+	if hit {
+		return cached, cached != ""
+	}
+
+	lookup := strconv.FormatUint(uint64(id.UID), 10)
+	if id.IsWindows() {
+		lookup = id.SID
+	}
+
+	u, err := getent.LookupUserID(lookup)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("cannot resolve %s to an account name, its legacy profiles stay unowned: %v", key, err)
+		return "", false
+	}
+
+	dir := sanitizeProfileName(u.Username)
+
+	legacyDirMu.Lock()
+	legacyDirCache[key] = dir
+	legacyDirMu.Unlock()
+
+	return dir, dir != ""
+}
+
+func (s *ServiceManager) loadAllProfiles() ([]Profile, error) {
+	_, activeIsDefault := s.activeProfileID()
 	defaultName := readProfileName(DefaultConfigPath)
 	if defaultName == "" {
 		defaultName = defaultProfileName
 	}
 
-	profiles := []Profile{{
-		ID:       defaultProfileName,
-		Name:     defaultName,
-		Path:     DefaultConfigPath,
-		IsActive: activeIsDefault,
-		// TODO: determine how to seed default owners
-		Owners: []ipcauth.Principal{},
-	}}
-
-	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get config directory: %w", err)
+	// The default profile is not seeded with an owner: it starts unowned, and
+	// the first claim stamps it like any other profile. A file that is not
+	// there yet is unowned rather than unreadable, since the daemon writes it
+	// on first run and every listing before that would otherwise fail.
+	var profiles []Profile
+	defaultOwners, err := readProfileOwners(DefaultConfigPath)
+	switch {
+	case err == nil, errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist):
+		profiles = append(profiles, Profile{
+			ID:       defaultProfileName,
+			Name:     defaultName,
+			Path:     DefaultConfigPath,
+			IsActive: activeIsDefault,
+			Owners:   defaultOwners,
+		})
+	default:
+		// Same rule as a discovered profile whose owners cannot be read: leave
+		// it out rather than treat it as unowned, and leave it out rather than
+		// fail, so one unreadable file does not take every other profile with
+		// it.
+		log.Warnf("leaving the default profile out of the listing, its owners could not be read: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	// The directory new profiles go to, plus every per-username directory left
+	// from before the ID-keyed layout. The first is not necessarily under
+	// DefaultConfigPathDir: a ServiceManager can be pointed at a directory of
+	// its own, which is what the mobile bindings do.
+	dirs := []profileDir{{path: s.profilesDirPath()}}
+
+	configPathDir, err := os.ReadDir(DefaultConfigPathDir)
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read profile directory: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, entry := range configPathDir {
+		if !entry.IsDir() || entry.Name() == DefaultProfilePathDir {
+			continue
+		}
+		// Every other subdirectory is named after the account that created the
+		// profiles in it. The dot in profiles.v1 is what keeps them apart,
+		// since sanitizeProfileName drops dots.
+		dirs = append(dirs, profileDir{
+			path:       filepath.Join(DefaultConfigPathDir, entry.Name()),
+			legacyUser: entry.Name(),
+		})
+	}
+
+	var fileProfiles []Profile
+	scanned := make(map[string]bool, len(dirs))
+	for _, dir := range dirs {
+		// The profiles directory is usually one of the subdirectories above,
+		// so without this a profile would be listed twice.
+		if scanned[dir.path] {
+			continue
+		}
+		scanned[dir.path] = true
+
+		dirProfiles, err := s.getProfilesFromDirectory(dir)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		fileProfiles = append(fileProfiles, dirProfiles...)
+	}
+
+	sort.Slice(fileProfiles, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if fileProfiles[i].Name != fileProfiles[j].Name {
+			return fileProfiles[i].Name < fileProfiles[j].Name
+		}
+		// Sort tie-break on ID so duplicate names always render in the same order.
+		return fileProfiles[i].ID < fileProfiles[j].ID
+	})
+	profiles = append(profiles, fileProfiles...)
+	return profiles, nil
+}
+
+// profileDir is one directory the loader scans. legacyUser is the sanitized
+// username it is named after, empty for the directory profiles go to now.
+type profileDir struct {
+	path       string
+	legacyUser string
+}
+
+func (s *ServiceManager) getProfilesFromDirectory(dir profileDir) ([]Profile, error) {
+	configDir := dir.path
+	activeID, _ := s.activeProfileID()
 	entries, err := os.ReadDir(configDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-			return profiles, nil
+			return []Profile{}, nil
 		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read profile directory: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -550,26 +835,19 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) loadAllProfiles(username string) ([]Profile, error) {
 
 		owners, err := readProfileOwners(path)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			log.Warnf("reading profile owner failed for %s: %v", path, err)
+			continue
 		}
 		fileProfiles = append(fileProfiles, Profile{
-			ID:       stem,
-			Name:     name,
-			Path:     path,
-			IsActive: stem == ID(activeID),
-			Owners:   owners,
+			ID:            stem,
+			Name:          name,
+			Path:          path,
+			IsActive:      stem == ID(activeID),
+			Owners:        owners,
+			LegacyUserDir: dir.legacyUser,
 		})
 	}
-
-	sort.Slice(fileProfiles, func(i, j int) bool {
-		if fileProfiles[i].Name != fileProfiles[j].Name {
-			return fileProfiles[i].Name < fileProfiles[j].Name
-		}
-		// Sort tie-break on ID so duplicate names always render in the same order.
-		return fileProfiles[i].ID < fileProfiles[j].ID
-	})
-	profiles = append(profiles, fileProfiles...)
-	return profiles, nil
+	return fileProfiles, nil
 }
 
 // readProfileName parses just the "name" field from the profile Json.
@@ -606,27 +884,67 @@ func readProfileOwners(path string) ([]ipcauth.Principal, error) {
 
 	principal, ok := ipcauth.ParsePrincipal(meta.Owners[0])
 	if !ok {
-		// A malformed entry is ignored rather than trusted.
-		log.Warnf("ignoring unparseable owner %q in %s", meta.Owners[0], path)
-		return nil, nil
+		// An entry that cannot be parsed is not trusted, and it is not an
+		// absence of ownership either: the profile records an owner that cannot
+		// be matched against anyone.
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unparseable owner %q in %s", meta.Owners[0], path)
 	}
 	return []ipcauth.Principal{principal}, nil
 }
 
-// nolint: unused,unusedfunc
+// StampOwner records a caller as a profile's owner, replacing whoever is
+// recorded now.
 func StampOwner(path string, owner ipcauth.Identity) error {
+	if !owner.Known() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot stamp owner that is not verified by the kernel")
+	}
+	return stampPrincipal(path, ipcauth.OwnerPrincipalForIdentity(owner))
+}
+
+// stampPrincipal records an owner principal directly. Migration needs this: it
+// resolves an account name rather than a caller, and a name the kernel never
+// vouched for must not become an Identity on the way.
+func stampPrincipal(path, principal string) error {
+	return setProfileField(path, ownersFieldName, []string{principal})
+}
+
+// writeProfileName sets a profile's display name. Renaming does it on request,
+// migration does it to move a name out of a filename that is about to change.
+func writeProfileName(path, name string) error {
+	return setProfileField(path, nameFieldName, name)
+}
+
+// setProfileField replaces one top-level key of a profile's JSON and leaves the
+// rest of the document as it found it.
+func setProfileField(path, field string, value any) error {
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	var cfg Config
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &cfg); err != nil {
+
+	doc := map[string]json.RawMessage{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &doc); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	cfg.Owners = []string{ipcauth.OwnerPrincipalForIdentity(owner)}
+	if doc == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("profile %s holds no object to set %s on", path, field)
+	}
 
-	if err := util.WriteJson(context.Background(), path, cfg); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write profile owner: %w", err)
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("encode %s of %s: %w", field, path, err)
+	}
+
+	// Decoding matches keys case-insensitively
+	for k := range doc {
+		if k != field && strings.EqualFold(k, field) {
+			delete(doc, k)
+		}
+	}
+	doc[field] = raw
+
+	if err := util.WriteJsonWithRestrictedPermission(context.Background(), path, doc); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write profile %s: %w", path, err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -648,12 +966,12 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) activeProfileID() (ID, bool) {
 // precedence is: exact ID match, then unique exact name, then unique ID
 // prefix. Ambiguous matches return *ErrAmbiguousHandle so callers can
 // surface the candidates.
-func (s *ServiceManager) ResolveProfile(handle, username string) (*Profile, error) {
+func (s *ServiceManager) ResolveProfile(handle string, userID ipcauth.Identity) (*Profile, error) {
 	if handle == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("profile handle is empty")
 	}
 
-	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles(username)
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfilesForIdentity(userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/client/internal/profilemanager/service_test.go b/client/internal/profilemanager/service_test.go
index 09251119a..de71190c5 100644
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/service_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/service_test.go
@@ -2,22 +2,26 @@ package profilemanager
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
 )
 
 // withTestSM wires up patched globals + a clean config dir and returns a
 // fully initialized ServiceManager plus the username we are scoped to.
-func withTestSM(t *testing.T, fn func(sm *ServiceManager, username string)) {
+func withTestSM(t *testing.T, fn func(sm *ServiceManager, id ipcauth.Identity)) {
 	t.Helper()
 	withTempConfigDir(t, func(configDir string) {
 		withPatchedGlobals(t, configDir, func() {
@@ -25,17 +29,21 @@ func withTestSM(t *testing.T, fn func(sm *ServiceManager, username string)) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			sm := &ServiceManager{}
 			require.NoError(t, sm.CreateDefaultProfile())
-			fn(sm, u.Username)
+			uid, err := strconv.ParseUint(u.Uid, 10, 32)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			userID := ipcauth.Identity{UID: uint32(uid)}
+			userID = ipcauth.KnownForTest(userID)
+			fn(sm, userID)
 		})
 	})
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_ExactID(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(created.ID.String(), username)
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(created.ID.String(), userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, created.ID, got.ID)
 		assert.Equal(t, "work", got.Name)
@@ -43,29 +51,31 @@ func TestServiceProfile_ExactID(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_IDPrefix(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		prefix := created.ID[:4]
-		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(prefix.String(), username)
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(prefix.String(), userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, created.ID, got.ID)
 	})
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_AmbiguousPrefix(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
 		// Plant two profiles whose IDs share a known prefix by writing
 		// the files directly, since generated IDs are random.
-		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+		user, err := user.Current()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDirLegacy(user.Username)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		for _, id := range []string{"abcd1111aaaa", "abcd2222bbbb"} {
 			path := filepath.Join(configDir, id+".json")
 			require.NoError(t, util.WriteJson(context.Background(), path, &Config{Name: id}))
 		}
 
-		_, err = sm.ResolveProfile("abcd", username)
+		_, err = sm.ResolveProfile("abcd", userID)
 		var amb *ErrAmbiguousHandle
 		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &amb)
 		assert.Equal(t, AmbiguityKindIDPrefix, amb.Kind)
@@ -74,24 +84,24 @@ func TestServiceProfile_AmbiguousPrefix(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_ExactNameUnique(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		_, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		_, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("work", username)
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("work", userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, "work", got.Name)
 	})
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_AmbiguousName(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		_, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		_, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
-		_, err = sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+		_, err = sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		_, err = sm.ResolveProfile("work", username)
+		_, err = sm.ResolveProfile("work", userID)
 		var amb *ErrAmbiguousHandle
 		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &amb)
 		assert.Equal(t, AmbiguityKindName, amb.Kind)
@@ -100,15 +110,15 @@ func TestServiceProfile_AmbiguousName(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_NotFound(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		_, err := sm.ResolveProfile("nope", username)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		_, err := sm.ResolveProfile("nope", userID)
 		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrProfileNotFound)
 	})
 }
 
 func TestServiceProfile_DefaultByExactID(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(defaultProfileName, username)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(defaultProfileName, userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, defaultProfileName, got.ID.String())
 	})
@@ -117,13 +127,15 @@ func TestServiceProfile_DefaultByExactID(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServiceProfile_LegacyFilenameCoexists(t *testing.T) {
 	// Legacy profiles stored as <name>.json with no "name" JSON field
 	// should still be discoverable by name and removable by name.
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		user, err := user.Current()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDirLegacy(user.Username)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		path := filepath.Join(configDir, "legacy.json")
 		require.NoError(t, util.WriteJson(context.Background(), path, &Config{}))
 
-		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("legacy", username)
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("legacy", userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, "legacy", got.ID.String())
 		// Name falls back to the filename stem when JSON omits it.
@@ -132,11 +144,11 @@ func TestServiceProfile_LegacyFilenameCoexists(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestAddProfile_AllowsDuplicateWithFlag(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		first, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		first, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		second, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+		second, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NotEqual(t, first.ID, second.ID)
 		assert.Equal(t, "work", second.Name)
@@ -144,22 +156,22 @@ func TestAddProfile_AllowsDuplicateWithFlag(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestAddProfile_RejectsInvalidNames(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
 		cases := []string{
 			"",                                       // empty
 			"\x00\x01",                               // only control chars (becomes empty)
 			strings.Repeat("a", maxProfileNameLen+1), // too long
 		}
 		for _, name := range cases {
-			_, err := sm.AddProfile(name, username, nil)
+			_, err := sm.AddProfile(name, &userID)
 			assert.Error(t, err, "expected error for %q", name)
 		}
 	})
 }
 
 func TestRemoveProfile_RejectsInvalidID(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		err := sm.RemoveProfile("../escape", username)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		err := sm.RemoveProfile("../escape", userID)
 		assert.Error(t, err)
 	})
 }
@@ -214,17 +226,537 @@ func TestIsValidProfileFilenameStem(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRemoveProfile_DeletesStateFile(t *testing.T) {
-	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
-		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username, nil)
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+		user, err := user.Current()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDirLegacy(user.Username)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		statePath := filepath.Join(configDir, created.ID.String()+".state.json")
 		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(statePath, []byte(`{"email":"a@b"}`), 0600))
 
-		require.NoError(t, sm.RemoveProfile(created.ID, username))
+		require.NoError(t, sm.RemoveProfile(created.ID, userID))
 		_, err = os.Stat(statePath)
 		assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist), "state file should be removed")
 	})
 }
+
+// profileIDs is the set of profile IDs in a listing, for membership assertions
+// that do not care about the default profile always being present.
+func profileIDs(profiles []Profile) []string {
+	ids := make([]string, 0, len(profiles))
+	for _, p := range profiles {
+		ids = append(ids, p.ID.String())
+	}
+	return ids
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_ScopedToOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, _ ipcauth.Identity) {
+		// Two synthetic users rather than the current one: this process is its
+		// own daemon, and IsPrivilegedCaller delegates to a caller sharing an
+		// unprivileged daemon's identity, so the current user resolves
+		// unfiltered here.
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		bob := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4243})
+		hers, err := sm.AddProfile("hers", &alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		his, err := sm.AddProfile("his", &bob)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), hers.ID.String())
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), his.ID.String(),
+			"another user's profile must not be listed")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_PrivilegedResolvesUnfiltered(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		other := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		mine, err := sm.AddProfile("mine", &userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		theirs, err := sm.AddProfile("theirs", &other)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		root := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 0})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(root)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), mine.ID.String())
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), theirs.ID.String())
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), defaultProfileName)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_OnlyTheDefaultFailsOpenWhenUnowned(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, _ ipcauth.Identity) {
+		unowned, err := sm.AddProfile("unowned", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), defaultProfileName,
+			"a fresh install has to be usable before anything is claimed")
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), unowned.ID.String(),
+			"every other profile needs an owner before anyone can address it")
+
+		root := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 0})
+		got, err = sm.ListProfiles(root)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), unowned.ID.String(),
+			"root still reaches it, which is how it gets assigned")
+
+		nobody, err := sm.ListProfiles(ipcauth.Identity{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Empty(t, profileIDs(nobody), "an unattested caller reaches nothing")
+	})
+}
+
+// withLegacyLayout wires up the globals the way withTestSM does, without the
+// identity, since these tests supply their own.
+func withLegacyLayout(t *testing.T, fn func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string)) {
+	t.Helper()
+	withTempConfigDir(t, func(configDir string) {
+		withPatchedGlobals(t, configDir, func() {
+			sm := &ServiceManager{}
+			require.NoError(t, sm.CreateDefaultProfile())
+			fn(sm, configDir)
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+// writeLegacyProfile drops a profile into a per-username directory, the layout
+// every profile used before the ID-keyed one. It writes no name, since a legacy
+// profile took its display name from the filename.
+func writeLegacyProfile(t *testing.T, configDir, dirName, id string, fields map[string]any) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	dir := filepath.Join(configDir, dirName)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0700))
+
+	doc := map[string]any{}
+	for k, v := range fields {
+		doc[k] = v
+	}
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, id+".json")
+	require.NoError(t, util.WriteJson(context.Background(), path, doc))
+	return path
+}
+
+// stubLegacyDir replaces the account lookup, so the claim path can be exercised
+// without an account existing on the machine running the test.
+func stubLegacyDir(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	orig := legacyDirForIdentity
+	legacyDirForIdentity = func(ipcauth.Identity) (string, bool) { return dir, dir != "" }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { legacyDirForIdentity = orig })
+}
+
+func readOwners(t *testing.T, path string) []string {
+	t.Helper()
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	var meta ownerMeta
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &meta))
+	return meta.Owners
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_UnownedLegacyProfileIsPrivilegedOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", nil)
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "bob")
+
+		bob := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(bob)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), "work",
+			"a profile sitting in someone else's directory is not free to take")
+		assert.Empty(t, readOwners(t, path), "and it is not claimed on the way past")
+
+		root := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 0})
+		got, err = sm.ListProfiles(root)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), "work",
+			"root still reaches it, which is how it gets reassigned")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_ClaimsLegacyProfileForItsOwnAccount(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", nil)
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), "work",
+			"the claim lands before the listing is filtered, so the gap closes in one call")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, path))
+
+		// The claim is on disk now, so it is the owner check and not the
+		// directory name that keeps the next caller out.
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+		other := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 5252})
+		got, err = sm.ListProfiles(other)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), "work")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, path),
+			"a second caller does not overwrite a stamped owner")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestClaimLegacyProfile_LeavesTheProfileWhereItIs(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", nil)
+		for _, suffix := range []string{".state.json", prefsFileSuffix} {
+			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configDir, "alice", "work"+suffix), []byte("{}"), 0600))
+		}
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		claimed := ownedProfile(t, got, "uid:4242")
+		assert.Equal(t, ID("work"), claimed.ID, "claiming does not re-key the profile")
+		assert.Equal(t, path, claimed.Path)
+		assert.Equal(t, "alice", claimed.LegacyUserDir,
+			"the directory is a leftover now, not something the claim rewrites")
+
+		// The engine captures its state file path at connect time and writes
+		// back to whatever it captured, so nothing here may move that file.
+		assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, "alice", "work.state.json"))
+		assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, "alice", "work"+prefsFileSuffix))
+		assert.NoFileExists(t, filepath.Join(configDir, DefaultProfilePathDir, "work.json"))
+	})
+}
+
+func TestClaimLegacyProfile_NamesakeInAnotherDirectoryIsUntouched(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", nil)
+		bobs := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "bob", "work", nil)
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		claimed := ownedProfile(t, got, "uid:4242")
+		assert.Equal(t, filepath.Join(configDir, "alice", "work.json"), claimed.Path,
+			"a legacy ID is a display name two accounts can hold, so the path is what tells them apart")
+		assert.Empty(t, readOwners(t, bobs), "bob's namesake is not claimed")
+	})
+}
+
+func ownedProfile(t *testing.T, profiles []Profile, principal string) Profile {
+	t.Helper()
+	var found []Profile
+	for _, p := range profiles {
+		if len(p.Owners) == 1 && p.Owners[0].String() == principal {
+			found = append(found, p)
+		}
+	}
+	require.Len(t, found, 1, "exactly one profile is owned by %s", principal)
+	return found[0]
+}
+
+func TestClaimLegacyProfile_SkipsOneAlreadyOwnedInTheSameDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		// One unowned profile keeps the claim running over the directory, so
+		// the owned one beside it is reached and has to be left alone.
+		taken := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "taken", map[string]any{
+			"Owners": []string{"uid:9999"},
+		})
+		free := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "free", nil)
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		_, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:9999"}, readOwners(t, taken),
+			"a profile that already has an owner is not restamped")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, free))
+	})
+}
+
+func TestRenameProfile(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.RenameProfile(created.ID, userID, "weekend"))
+
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(created.ID.String(), userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "weekend", got.Name, "the new name is on disk")
+		assert.Equal(t, created.ID, got.ID, "renaming does not re-key the profile")
+		assert.Equal(t, created.Path, got.Path)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestRenameProfile_NotTheCallersProfile(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", &userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		stranger := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		require.Error(t, sm.RenameProfile(created.ID, stranger, "weekend"),
+			"a profile the caller cannot address is not theirs to rename")
+
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(created.ID.String(), userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "work", got.Name)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestResolveProfile_ClaimsOnTheWayThrough(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", nil)
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		// Resolution is what switching a profile goes through, so the claim has
+		// to land here and not only when something lists profiles.
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("work", alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, path, got.Path)
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, path))
+	})
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_PrivilegedCallerDoesNotClaim(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "root", "work", nil)
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "root")
+
+		root := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 0})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(root)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, profileIDs(got), "work")
+		assert.Empty(t, readOwners(t, path),
+			"root reaches every profile anyway, so a listing must not stamp one")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestStampOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(_ *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", map[string]any{
+			"DisableAutoConnect": true,
+		})
+
+		require.NoError(t, StampOwner(path, ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})))
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, path))
+
+		var fields map[string]any
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &fields))
+		assert.Equal(t, true, fields["DisableAutoConnect"],
+			"the rest of the config survives the stamp")
+
+		require.NoError(t, StampOwner(path, ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 5252})))
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:5252"}, readOwners(t, path),
+			"stamping replaces whoever is recorded, the caller decides whether to")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestClaimLegacyProfile_LeavesAnOwnerItCannotParse(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		// A principal kind this build does not know, which is what a client
+		// newer than this one leaves behind after a downgrade. The loader
+		// drops such a profile rather than reporting it as unowned, which is
+		// what keeps the claim from treating it as free to take.
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", map[string]any{
+			"Owners": []string{"group:devs"},
+		})
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), "work")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"group:devs"}, readOwners(t, path),
+			"the profile is not taken over, it waits for an explicit claim")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestResolveLegacyDir_SanitizesTheSameStringTheOldLayoutDid(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("the windows path resolves a SID rather than a numeric uid")
+	}
+
+	u, err := user.Current()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	uid, err := strconv.ParseUint(u.Uid, 10, 32)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, ok := resolveLegacyDir(ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: uint32(uid)}))
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	assert.Equal(t, sanitizeProfileName(u.Username), got,
+		"the directory has to come from the account name, sanitized the way the old layout did")
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_UnreadableOwnersAreSkipped(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, _ ipcauth.Identity) {
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0700))
+		// An owner entry that parses as JSON but names no principal: the
+		// profile records an owner, so it is not unowned, but nothing can match
+		// it.
+		const tampered = "abcd1111aaaa"
+		path := filepath.Join(configDir, tampered+".json")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(`{"Name":"tampered","Owners":["garbage"]}`), 0600))
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), tampered,
+			"a profile whose owners cannot be read must not fall back to unowned")
+
+		// Not even a privileged caller: the loader drops the profile before
+		// ownership is ever consulted, so corrupting the owner list hides the
+		// profile rather than unlocking it.
+		root := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 0})
+		got, err = sm.ListProfiles(root)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotContains(t, profileIDs(got), tampered)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_UnidentifiedCallerGetsNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, userID ipcauth.Identity) {
+		_, err := sm.AddProfile("mine", &userID)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		_, err = sm.AddProfile("unowned", nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// The zero Identity carries uid 0, so an unidentified caller must be
+		// refused before privilege is ever considered.
+		got, err := sm.ListProfiles(ipcauth.Identity{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Empty(t, got)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestActiveProfilePath_RefusesToGuessBetweenNamesakes(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", nil)
+		writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "bob", "work", nil)
+
+		_, err := sm.ActiveProfilePath(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work"})
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile,
+			"running one account's config under another account's name is worse than not running")
+
+		path, err := sm.ActiveProfilePath(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "work", Username: "bob"})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, filepath.Join(configDir, "bob", "work.json"), path,
+			"the recorded directory is what tells the namesakes apart")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestListProfiles_ClaimKeepsFieldsThisVersionDoesNotModel(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		// What a client newer than this one leaves behind: a key Config has no
+		// field for, next to one it does.
+		newer := map[string]any{"Enabled": true, "Hosts": []any{"a", "b"}}
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", map[string]any{
+			"MTU":            1280,
+			"SomethingNewer": newer,
+		})
+		stubLegacyDir(t, "alice")
+
+		alice := ipcauth.KnownForTest(ipcauth.Identity{UID: 4242})
+		_, err := sm.ListProfiles(alice)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, path), "the claim still lands")
+
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		var doc map[string]any
+		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &doc))
+
+		assert.Equal(t, newer, doc["SomethingNewer"],
+			"a listing must not drop the settings of a client that models more than this one")
+		assert.Equal(t, float64(1280), doc["MTU"], "and leaves the ones it does model alone")
+		assert.NotContains(t, doc, "PrivateKey",
+			"nor write out the rest of Config just because it has fields for it")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSetProfileField_ReplacesAKeySpelledInAnotherCase(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", map[string]any{
+			"owners": []any{"uid:1"},
+		})
+
+		require.NoError(t, stampPrincipal(path, "uid:4242"))
+
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		var doc map[string]any
+		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &doc))
+
+		assert.NotContains(t, doc, "owners",
+			"two spellings of one field would leave the reader to pick")
+		assert.Equal(t, []any{"uid:4242"}, doc["Owners"])
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"uid:4242"}, readOwners(t, path))
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSetProfileField_RefusesADocumentThatIsNotAnObject(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		path := filepath.Join(configDir, "alice", "work.json")
+		require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0700))
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte("null"), 0600))
+
+		require.Error(t, stampPrincipal(path, "uid:4242"),
+			"a profile that is not an object is not one an owner can be set on")
+
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "null", string(data), "and it is left as it was found")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSetProfileField_KeepsKeysItWasNotAskedToWrite(t *testing.T) {
+	withLegacyLayout(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, configDir string) {
+		// Keys Config has no field for, in every shape a newer client could
+		// leave one behind.
+		unknown := map[string]any{
+			"String": "keep me",
+			"Number": float64(7),
+			"Bool":   true,
+			"Null":   nil,
+			"List":   []any{"a", float64(2), false},
+			"Object": map[string]any{"Nested": map[string]any{"Deep": []any{float64(1)}}},
+		}
+		fields := map[string]any{"MTU": 1280}
+		for k, v := range unknown {
+			fields[k] = v
+		}
+		path := writeLegacyProfile(t, configDir, "alice", "work", fields)
+
+		require.NoError(t, setProfileField(path, ownersFieldName, []string{"uid:4242"}))
+		require.NoError(t, setProfileField(path, nameFieldName, "Work"))
+
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		var doc map[string]any
+		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &doc))
+
+		for k, want := range unknown {
+			assert.Equal(t, want, doc[k],
+				"%s is not a key this version models, so it is not this version's to drop", k)
+		}
+		assert.Equal(t, float64(1280), doc["MTU"], "a key it does model is left where it was too")
+		assert.Equal(t, []any{"uid:4242"}, doc["Owners"], "and the fields it was asked for are written")
+		assert.Equal(t, "Work", doc["Name"])
+		assert.Len(t, doc, len(unknown)+3, "with nothing else added")
+	})
+}
diff --git a/client/mobile/profile_manager.go b/client/mobile/profile_manager.go
index 66a8ba2dc..8cb721c8d 100644
--- a/client/mobile/profile_manager.go
+++ b/client/mobile/profile_manager.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 )
@@ -57,8 +58,12 @@ type Profile struct {
 // All profile identity is ID-based; the human-readable name lives inside the
 // profile config's Name field.
 type ProfileManager struct {
-	configDir  string
-	username   string
+	configDir string
+	username  string
+	// identity scopes profile ownership. There is no IPC hop on mobile: the
+	// manager runs inside the app, so the owner of a profile is the app process
+	// itself, and the device has a single user anyway.
+	identity   ipcauth.Identity
 	serviceMgr *profilemanager.ServiceManager
 	mdmLoader  *mdm.Loader
 }
@@ -82,9 +87,18 @@ func NewProfileManager(configDir, username string) *ProfileManager {
 	profilesDir := filepath.Join(configDir, profilesSubdir)
 	serviceMgr := profilemanager.NewServiceManagerWithProfilesDir(defaultConfigPath, profilesDir)
 
+	// A failed read leaves the zero Identity, which is not Known and therefore
+	// owns nothing: profile access fails closed rather than falling back to
+	// something permissive.
+	identity, err := ipcauth.CurrentProcessIdentity()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to read this process's identity, profiles will be inaccessible: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	return &ProfileManager{
 		configDir:  configDir,
 		username:   username,
+		identity:   identity,
 		serviceMgr: serviceMgr,
 	}
 }
@@ -92,7 +106,7 @@ func NewProfileManager(configDir, username string) *ProfileManager {
 // ListProfiles returns all available profiles, including the default profile,
 // with their active status set.
 func (pm *ProfileManager) ListProfiles() ([]Profile, error) {
-	internalProfiles, err := pm.serviceMgr.ListProfiles(pm.username)
+	internalProfiles, err := pm.serviceMgr.ListProfiles(pm.identity)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list profiles: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -118,7 +132,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) GetActiveProfile() (*Profile, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get active profile: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	prof, err := pm.serviceMgr.ResolveProfile(activeState.ID.String(), pm.username)
+	prof, err := pm.serviceMgr.ResolveProfile(activeState.ID.String(), pm.identity)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resolve active profile %q: %w", activeState.ID, err)
 	}
@@ -153,7 +167,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) AddProfile(displayName string) (*Profile, error) {
 	if err := pm.checkProfilesAllowed(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	profile, err := pm.serviceMgr.AddProfile(displayName, pm.username, nil)
+	profile, err := pm.serviceMgr.AddProfile(displayName, &pm.identity)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("add profile: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -168,7 +182,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) RenameProfile(id string, newName string) error {
 	if err := pm.checkProfilesAllowed(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RenameProfile(profilemanager.ID(id), pm.username, newName); err != nil {
+	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RenameProfile(profilemanager.ID(id), pm.identity, newName); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("rename profile: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -222,7 +236,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) RemoveProfile(id string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RemoveProfile(profilemanager.ID(id), pm.username); err != nil {
+	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RemoveProfile(profilemanager.ID(id), pm.identity); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("remove profile: %w", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/client/server/login_gate_test.go b/client/server/login_gate_test.go
index de62a8180..cff894ac7 100644
--- a/client/server/login_gate_test.go
+++ b/client/server/login_gate_test.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ func TestLogin_RefusedChangeLeavesTheProfileAlone(t *testing.T) {
 		ConfigPath:       filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, target+".json"),
 		ManagementURL:    "https://api.netbird.io:443",
 		ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(true),
+		Owner:            testProfileOwner(),
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ func TestLogin_ChangeThatBecomesPrivilegedMidRequestHasNoSideEffects(t *testing.
 		ConfigPath:       targetPath,
 		ManagementURL:    "https://api.netbird.io:443",
 		ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(false),
+		Owner:            testProfileOwner(),
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -110,6 +112,7 @@ func TestLogin_RefusedChangeLeavesAnInProgressLoginAlone(t *testing.T) {
 		ConfigPath:       filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, target+".json"),
 		ManagementURL:    "https://api.netbird.io:443",
 		ServerSSHAllowed: boolPtr(true),
+		Owner:            testProfileOwner(),
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/client/server/login_overrides_test.go b/client/server/login_overrides_test.go
index 5a2298764..59a15f5e4 100644
--- a/client/server/login_overrides_test.go
+++ b/client/server/login_overrides_test.go
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ func TestPersistLoginOverrides(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err, "seed config")
 
 			activeProf := &profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{ID: "default"}
-			err = persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, tt.newMgmtURL, tt.newPSK)
+			srv := &Server{profileManager: profilemanager.NewServiceManager("")}
+			err = srv.persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, tt.newMgmtURL, tt.newPSK)
 			require.NoError(t, err, "persistLoginOverrides")
 
 			cfg, err := profilemanager.ReadConfig(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath)
diff --git a/client/server/logout_gate_test.go b/client/server/logout_gate_test.go
index 2d84d1b6a..4c9da943e 100644
--- a/client/server/logout_gate_test.go
+++ b/client/server/logout_gate_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package server
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ func TestLogout_OtherProfileStaysGatedWhenProfilesDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, other+".json"),
 		ManagementURL: unreachableManagementURL,
+		Owner:         testProfileOwner(),
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -86,28 +88,18 @@ func TestLogout_OtherProfileStaysGatedWhenProfilesDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 
 // A legacy profile ID is a display name, so two users can hold the same ID in
 // their own profile directories. Matching on the ID alone would let one user's
-// logout pass the gate against the other user's active profile, so the username
-// is part of the comparison.
+// logout pass the gate against the other user's active profile, so the config
+// file, not the ID, decides which profile is the active one.
 func TestLogout_ForeignUserProfileStaysGatedWhenProfilesDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 	s, _, _, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
 	s.rootCtx = internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
 
-	// A legacy-style profile whose ID is its filename stem, and an active state
-	// claiming that same ID for a different user.
 	shared := "shared-legacy-name"
-	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, shared+".json"),
-		ManagementURL: unreachableManagementURL,
-	})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		ID:       profilemanager.ID(shared),
-		Username: "someone-else",
-	}))
+	plantNamesakeProfiles(t, s, shared)
 
 	s.profilesDisabled = true
 
-	_, err = s.Logout(userCtx(), &proto.LogoutRequest{
+	_, err := s.Logout(userCtx(), &proto.LogoutRequest{
 		ProfileName: &shared,
 		Username:    &username,
 	})
@@ -117,6 +109,35 @@ func TestLogout_ForeignUserProfileStaysGatedWhenProfilesDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 		"another user's profile must not pass the gate on an ID match alone: %v", err)
 }
 
+// plantNamesakeProfiles creates two profiles that share one legacy ID: the
+// caller's own, and another user's in that user's legacy profile directory,
+// which is the one made active. Only the caller's copy carries an owner, so
+// that is the one a handle resolves to, while the active profile stays the
+// other file.
+func plantNamesakeProfiles(t *testing.T, s *Server, id string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	foreignDir := filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, "someone-else")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(foreignDir, 0700))
+	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(foreignDir, id+".json"),
+		ManagementURL: unreachableManagementURL,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, id+".json"),
+		ManagementURL: unreachableManagementURL,
+		Owner:         testProfileOwner(),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
+		ID:       profilemanager.ID(id),
+		Username: "someone-else",
+	}))
+}
+
 // Deregistering a namesake profile must not go out with the running config.
 // logoutFromProfile reuses the connected client's config when the target is the
 // active profile, and on an ID-only match a shared legacy ID made it reuse it
@@ -135,15 +156,7 @@ func TestLogout_ForeignUserProfileDoesNotUseTheRunningConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	s.connectClient = newDummyConnectClient(context.Background())
 
 	shared := "shared-legacy-name"
-	_, err = profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, shared+".json"),
-		ManagementURL: unreachableManagementURL,
-	})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		ID:       profilemanager.ID(shared),
-		Username: "someone-else",
-	}))
+	plantNamesakeProfiles(t, s, shared)
 
 	// Bounded so the deregistration the fixed path attempts fails on the dial
 	// rather than sitting in gRPC backoff for the whole test timeout.
@@ -165,18 +178,21 @@ func TestLogout_ForeignUserProfileDoesNotUseTheRunningConfig(t *testing.T) {
 // guardedConfigMu, which the logout path does not hold, so a login that landed
 // meanwhile must keep its connection.
 func TestCleanupAfterProfileLogout_FollowsTheCurrentActiveProfile(t *testing.T) {
-	s, _, activeProfile, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+	s, _, activeProfile, _, cfgPath := setupServerWithProfile(t)
 	s.rootCtx = internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
 
 	state := internal.CtxGetState(s.rootCtx)
 
-	s.cleanupAfterProfileLogout("some-other-profile", username)
+	s.cleanupAfterProfileLogout(&profilemanager.Profile{ID: "some-other-profile"})
 	status, err := state.Status()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.NotEqual(t, internal.StatusNeedsLogin, status,
 		"logging out of a profile that is not active must not ask for a new login")
 
-	s.cleanupAfterProfileLogout(profilemanager.ID(activeProfile), username)
+	s.cleanupAfterProfileLogout(&profilemanager.Profile{
+		ID:   profilemanager.ID(activeProfile),
+		Path: cfgPath,
+	})
 	status, err = state.Status()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, internal.StatusNeedsLogin, status,
diff --git a/client/server/server.go b/client/server/server.go
index cc6547a61..1099ab4cf 100644
--- a/client/server/server.go
+++ b/client/server/server.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
@@ -287,12 +288,30 @@ func (s *Server) Start() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	// A half-migrated machine still runs, it just keeps resolving profiles the
+	// old way, so a failure here is logged and retried on the next start rather
+	// than kept from starting at all.
+	if err := s.profileManager.MigrateLegacyProfiles(); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("profile migration did not finish, retrying on next start: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	config, existingConfig, err := s.getConfig(activeProf)
+	if errors.Is(err, profilemanager.ErrAmbiguousActiveProfile) {
+		// Running one of the namesakes anyway could connect the machine as
+		// another users profile, so the daemon comes up on the default
+		// profile instead of refusing to start.
+		log.Errorf("starting on the default profile, the active one could not be resolved: %v", err)
+		if err := s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileStateToDefault(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("set active profile to default: %w", err)
+		}
+		activeProf = &profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{ID: profilemanager.DefaultProfileName}
+		config, existingConfig, err = s.getConfig(activeProf)
+	}
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %v", err)
 
@@ -513,7 +532,12 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	stored, err := s.storedProfileConfig(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(callerCtx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	stored, err := s.storedProfileConfig(msg.ProfileName, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -521,7 +545,7 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	config, err := s.setConfigInputFromRequest(msg)
+	config, err := s.setConfigInputFromRequest(msg, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -533,7 +557,7 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 	}
 
 	if activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState(); err == nil {
-		if activePath, err := activeProf.FilePath(); err == nil && activePath == config.ConfigPath {
+		if activePath, err := s.profileManager.ActiveProfilePath(activeProf); err == nil && activePath == config.ConfigPath {
 			s.localMetrics.Reconcile(updatedConf.LocalMetricsEnabled, updatedConf.LocalMetricsAddress)
 		}
 	}
@@ -551,10 +575,10 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 // field is its own optional case. Returns the resolved ConfigInput
 // and a non-nil error only when the active profile file path cannot
 // be determined.
-func (s *Server) setConfigInputFromRequest(msg *proto.SetConfigRequest) (profilemanager.ConfigInput, error) {
+func (s *Server) setConfigInputFromRequest(msg *proto.SetConfigRequest, callerID ipcauth.Identity) (profilemanager.ConfigInput, error) {
 	var config profilemanager.ConfigInput
 
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.ProfileName, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to resolve profile %q: %v", msg.ProfileName, err)
 		return config, err
@@ -657,6 +681,11 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		}
 	}
 
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(callerCtx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
@@ -668,7 +697,7 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 	// refused login neither switches the profile nor cancels a login already in
 	// progress, and it reads the profile the request targets, which is the one the
 	// switch below would activate.
-	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg)
+	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -701,7 +730,7 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.ID, activeProf.Username)
+	log.Infof("active profile: %s", activeProf.ID)
 
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 
@@ -1062,6 +1091,12 @@ func (s *Server) Up(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.UpRequest) (*proto.UpR
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config is not defined, please call login command first")
 	}
 
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(callerCtx)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.mutex.Unlock()
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
 	if err != nil {
 		s.mutex.Unlock()
@@ -1070,7 +1105,7 @@ func (s *Server) Up(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.UpRequest) (*proto.UpR
 	}
 
 	if msg != nil && msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, callerID, activeProf); err != nil {
 			s.mutex.Unlock()
 			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
 			return nil, err
@@ -1084,7 +1119,7 @@ func (s *Server) Up(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.UpRequest) (*proto.UpR
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.ID, activeProf.Username)
+	log.Infof("active profile: %s", activeProf.ID)
 
 	config, _, err := s.getConfig(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1136,8 +1171,8 @@ func (s *Server) waitForUp(callerCtx context.Context) (*proto.UpResponse, error)
 // targets, so a privileged-change decision can be made against the values the
 // profile currently holds. A profile that has no config file yet yields nil,
 // which every caller must read as "nothing enabled yet".
-func (s *Server) storedProfileConfig(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, username)
+func (s *Server) storedProfileConfig(handle string, callerID ipcauth.Identity) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1153,23 +1188,18 @@ func (s *Server) storedProfileConfig(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.C
 // storedLoginConfig loads the on-disk config of the profile a login request
 // targets: the one it names, or the active one when it names none. Used to decide
 // a privileged change before the request is allowed to switch profiles.
-func (s *Server) storedLoginConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
+func (s *Server) storedLoginConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, msg *proto.LoginRequest, callerID ipcauth.Identity) (*profilemanager.Config, error) {
 	if msg.ProfileName == nil {
-		cfgPath, err := activeProf.FilePath()
+		cfgPath, err := s.profileManager.ActiveProfilePath(activeProf)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("active profile file path: %w", err)
 		}
 		return s.storedConfigAtPath(cfgPath)
 	}
 
-	// Mirrors switchProfileIfNeeded: the default profile resolves without a
-	// username, so this reads the same profile the switch would activate.
-	handle := *msg.ProfileName
-	username := ""
-	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
-		username = msg.GetUsername()
-	}
-	return s.storedProfileConfig(handle, username)
+	// Mirrors switchProfileIfNeeded, so this reads the very profile the switch
+	// would activate.
+	return s.storedProfileConfig(*msg.ProfileName, callerID)
 }
 
 // storedConfigAtPath reads a profile config file, yielding nil when it does not
@@ -1189,11 +1219,26 @@ func (s *Server) storedConfigAtPath(path string) (*profilemanager.Config, error)
 	return cfg, nil
 }
 
+// callerIdentity returns the kernel-authenticated identity of the RPC caller.
+//
+// Every profile-addressing RPC scopes itself with this rather than with the
+// username its request carries: that field is whatever the client chose to
+// send, so scoping by it lets any local caller address another user's profile.
+// The username fields on the wire are kept for compatibility and ignored.
+func callerIdentity(ctx context.Context) (ipcauth.Identity, error) {
+	id, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return ipcauth.Identity{}, gstatus.Error(codes.Unauthenticated, "caller identity could not be verified on the daemon control channel")
+	}
+	return id, nil
+}
+
 // resolveProfileHandle resolves a wire-level profile handle (display
-// name, ID, or unique ID prefix) to a concrete profile. Returns gRPC
-// status errors so handlers can return them directly.
-func (s *Server) resolveProfileHandle(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.Profile, error) {
-	p, err := s.profileManager.ResolveProfile(handle, username)
+// name, ID, or unique ID prefix) to a concrete profile owned by, or open to,
+// the calling identity. Returns gRPC status errors so handlers can return them
+// directly.
+func (s *Server) resolveProfileHandle(handle string, callerID ipcauth.Identity) (*profilemanager.Profile, error) {
+	p, err := s.profileManager.ResolveProfile(handle, callerID)
 	if err == nil {
 		return p, nil
 	}
@@ -1210,36 +1255,28 @@ func (s *Server) resolveProfileHandle(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.
 // switchProfileIfNeeded resolves the user-supplied handle, updates the
 // active profile state if it differs from the current one, and returns
 // the resolved profile so callers can include its ID in RPC responses.
-func (s *Server) switchProfileIfNeeded(handle string, userName *string, activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*profilemanager.Profile, error) {
-	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName && (userName == nil || *userName == "") {
-		log.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", handle)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", handle)
-	}
-
-	var username string
-	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
-		username = *userName
-	}
-
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, username)
+func (s *Server) switchProfileIfNeeded(handle string, callerID ipcauth.Identity, activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*profilemanager.Profile, error) {
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if resolved.ID != activeProf.ID || username != activeProf.Username {
-		if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
-			log.Errorf("profiles are disabled, you cannot use this feature without profiles enabled")
-			return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
-		}
+	if s.isActiveProfile(activeProf, resolved) {
+		return resolved, nil
+	}
 
-		log.Infof("switching to profile %s (%s) for user %s", resolved.Name, resolved.ID, username)
-		if err := s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-			ID:       resolved.ID,
-			Username: username,
-		}); err != nil {
-			log.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %v", err)
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %w", err)
-		}
+	if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
+		log.Errorf("profiles are disabled, you cannot use this feature without profiles enabled")
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("switching to profile %s (%s) for %s", resolved.Name, resolved.ID, callerID)
+	if err := s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
+		ID:       resolved.ID,
+		Username: legacyDirHint(resolved),
+	}); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %v", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	return resolved, nil
@@ -1250,6 +1287,11 @@ func (s *Server) SwitchProfile(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SwitchProfi
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(callerCtx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
@@ -1257,7 +1299,7 @@ func (s *Server) SwitchProfile(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SwitchProfi
 	}
 
 	if msg != nil && msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, callerID, activeProf); err != nil {
 			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -1410,12 +1452,12 @@ func (s *Server) Logout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutRequest) (*proto.L
 }
 
 func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutRequest) (*proto.LogoutResponse, error) {
-	if msg.Username == nil || *msg.Username == "" {
-		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "username must be provided when profile name is specified")
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	username := *msg.Username
 
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(*msg.ProfileName, username)
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(*msg.ProfileName, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1425,11 +1467,11 @@ func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutReque
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.FailedPrecondition, "failed to get active profile state: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := s.validateProfileLogout(resolved.ID, isActiveProfile(activeProf, resolved.ID, username)); err != nil {
+	if err := s.validateProfileLogout(resolved.ID, s.isActiveProfile(activeProf, resolved)); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved, username); err != nil {
+	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to logout from profile %s: %v", resolved.ID, err)
 		// A refused deregistration is already a status error carrying the reason
 		// and the command to run; rewrapping it as Internal would flatten both
@@ -1440,7 +1482,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutReque
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Internal, "logout: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	s.cleanupAfterProfileLogout(resolved.ID, username)
+	s.cleanupAfterProfileLogout(resolved)
 
 	return &proto.LogoutResponse{}, nil
 }
@@ -1451,14 +1493,14 @@ func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutReque
 // check: Login switches profiles under guardedConfigMu, which this path does not
 // hold, so a login that landed meanwhile must not have its fresh connection
 // dropped by a logout that targeted the profile it replaced.
-func (s *Server) cleanupAfterProfileLogout(id profilemanager.ID, username string) {
+func (s *Server) cleanupAfterProfileLogout(profile *profilemanager.Profile) {
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state after logout from profile %s: %v", id, err)
+		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile state after logout from profile %s: %v", profile.ID, err)
 		return
 	}
 
-	if !isActiveProfile(activeProf, id, username) {
+	if !s.isActiveProfile(activeProf, profile) {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -1504,7 +1546,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleActiveProfileLogout(ctx context.Context) (*proto.LogoutRe
 
 // getConfig reads config file and returns Config and whether the config file already existed. Errors out if it does not exist
 func (s *Server) getConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*profilemanager.Config, bool, error) {
-	cfgPath, err := activeProf.FilePath()
+	cfgPath, err := s.profileManager.ActiveProfilePath(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile file path: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -1548,27 +1590,51 @@ func (s *Server) validateProfileLogout(id profilemanager.ID, isActive bool) erro
 	return nil
 }
 
-// isActiveProfile reports whether id is the profile the daemon runs for
-// username. The username is part of the comparison because legacy profile IDs
-// are display names, which two users can both hold; the default profile is
-// shared by every user and carries no username.
-func isActiveProfile(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, id profilemanager.ID, username string) bool {
-	if activeProf == nil || activeProf.ID != id {
+// isActiveProfile reports whether profile is the one the daemon runs.
+//
+// The comparison ends on the config file rather than on the ID, because a
+// legacy profile ID is a display name that two users can each hold: the path is
+// what tells alice's `work` from bob's. It is not the caller's username, which
+// says nothing about which profile the daemon activated.
+func (s *Server) isActiveProfile(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, profile *profilemanager.Profile) bool {
+	if activeProf == nil || profile == nil || activeProf.ID != profile.ID {
 		return false
 	}
+	if profile.ID == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+		return true
+	}
 
-	return id == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName || activeProf.Username == username
+	activePath, err := s.profileManager.ActiveProfilePath(activeProf)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("cannot resolve the active profile's path, treating %s as not active: %v", profile.ID, err)
+		return false
+	}
+	return activePath == profile.Path
+}
+
+// legacyDirHint records which per-username directory a pre-migration profile's
+// file sits in, which is all the active-profile state still reads its username
+// for. A profile in the shared directory needs no hint: its ID is unique.
+func legacyDirHint(profile *profilemanager.Profile) string {
+	if profile.Path == "" || profile.ID == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+		return ""
+	}
+	dir := filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(profile.Path))
+	if dir == profilemanager.DefaultProfilePathDir {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return dir
 }
 
 // logoutFromProfile deregisters profile, reusing the running config when
-// profile is the one the daemon is connected with. The username takes part in
-// that decision for the same reason it does in the logout gate: a legacy
-// profile ID is a display name two users can share, and sending the running
-// config for a namesake would deregister the active peer instead of the
+// profile is the one the daemon is connected with. That decision is made on the
+// profile's file rather than on its ID, for the same reason the logout gate is:
+// a legacy profile ID is a display name two users can share, and sending the
+// running config for a namesake would deregister the active peer instead of the
 // requested one.
-func (s *Server) logoutFromProfile(ctx context.Context, profile *profilemanager.Profile, username string) error {
+func (s *Server) logoutFromProfile(ctx context.Context, profile *profilemanager.Profile) error {
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if err == nil && isActiveProfile(activeProf, profile.ID, username) && s.connectClient != nil {
+	if err == nil && s.isActiveProfile(activeProf, profile) && s.connectClient != nil {
 		return s.sendLogoutRequest(ctx)
 	}
 
@@ -2203,7 +2269,12 @@ func (s *Server) GetConfig(ctx context.Context, req *proto.GetConfigRequest) (*p
 		return nil, ctx.Err()
 	}
 
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(req.ProfileName, req.Username)
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(req.ProfileName, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to resolve profile %q: %v", req.ProfileName, err)
 		return nil, err
@@ -2316,15 +2387,16 @@ func (s *Server) AddProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.AddProfileRequest) (
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
 	}
 
-	if msg.ProfileName == "" || msg.Username == "" {
-		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name and username must be provided")
+	if msg.ProfileName == "" {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name must be provided")
 	}
 
-	callerId, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(ctx)
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get identity from context")
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	created, err := s.profileManager.AddProfile(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, &callerId)
+
+	created, err := s.profileManager.AddProfile(msg.ProfileName, &callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to create profile: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create profile: %w", err)
@@ -2343,16 +2415,21 @@ func (s *Server) RenameProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.RenameProfileRequ
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
 	}
 
-	if msg.Handle == "" || msg.Username == "" || msg.NewProfileName == "" {
-		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name, username and new profile name must be provided")
+	if msg.Handle == "" || msg.NewProfileName == "" {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name and new profile name must be provided")
 	}
 
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.Handle, msg.Username)
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	err = s.profileManager.RenameProfile(resolved.ID, msg.Username, msg.NewProfileName)
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.Handle, callerID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	err = s.profileManager.RenameProfile(resolved.ID, callerID, msg.NewProfileName)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to rename profile: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to rename profile: %w", err)
@@ -2376,19 +2453,24 @@ func (s *Server) RemoveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.RemoveProfileRequ
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name must be provided")
 	}
 
-	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved, msg.Username); err != nil {
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.ProfileName, callerID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
 		// Deregistration is best-effort here: the local profile is removed
 		// either way, so an unprivileged caller leaves the peer registered on
 		// the management server rather than being blocked from removing it.
 		log.Warnf("removing profile %s locally without deregistering it: %v", resolved.ID, err)
 	}
 
-	if err := s.profileManager.RemoveProfile(resolved.ID, msg.Username); err != nil {
+	if err := s.profileManager.RemoveProfile(resolved.ID, callerID); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to remove profile: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove profile: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -2443,11 +2525,12 @@ func (s *Server) ListProfiles(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.ListProfilesReques
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if msg.Username == "" {
-		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "username must be provided")
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	profiles, err := s.profileManager.ListProfiles(msg.Username)
+	profiles, err := s.profileManager.ListProfiles(callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to list profiles: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to list profiles: %w", err)
@@ -2480,10 +2563,15 @@ func (s *Server) GetActiveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.GetActiveProfi
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	userID, ok := ipcauth.CallerIdentity(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, gstatus.Error(codes.Unauthenticated, "caller identity could not be resolved")
+	}
+
 	// Fallback to legacy name == ID
 	displayName := activeProfile.ID.String()
 	if activeProfile.ID != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
-		if profiles, lerr := s.profileManager.ListProfiles(activeProfile.Username); lerr == nil {
+		if profiles, lerr := s.profileManager.ListProfiles(userID); lerr == nil {
 			for _, p := range profiles {
 				if p.ID == activeProfile.ID {
 					displayName = p.Name
@@ -2701,10 +2789,15 @@ func (s *Server) authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.
 		afterLoginPreCheck()
 	}
 
+	callerID, err := callerIdentity(callerCtx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
 	s.guardedConfigMu.Lock()
 	defer s.guardedConfigMu.Unlock()
 
-	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg)
+	stored, err := s.storedLoginConfig(activeProf, msg, callerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
@@ -2728,7 +2821,7 @@ func (s *Server) authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.
 	}
 
 	if msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, callerID, activeProf); err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("switch profile: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -2738,7 +2831,7 @@ func (s *Server) authorizeAndPrepareLogin(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, msg.ManagementUrl, msg.OptionalPreSharedKey); err != nil {
+	if err := s.persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, msg.ManagementUrl, msg.OptionalPreSharedKey); err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("persist login overrides: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -2769,12 +2862,85 @@ func (s *Server) SessionHolder() (ipcauth.Principal, bool) {
 	return principal, true
 }
 
+// OwnsProfile reports whether the profile the handle resolves to answers to
+// this identity.
+//
+// This triggers stamping of legacy profiles, and reloads the active profile's
+// config so the stamp is visible to SessionHolder.
 func (s *Server) OwnsProfile(id ipcauth.Identity, handle string) bool {
-	// TODO
-	return false
+	// Without the active profile there is nothing to fall back to and nothing
+	// to refresh, so the gate gets a no rather than a guess.
+	activeProfile, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("failed to get active profile: %v", err)
+		return false
+	}
+	if activeProfile == nil {
+		log.Warn("no active profile to authorize against")
+		return false
+	}
+	if handle == "" {
+		handle = activeProfile.ID.String()
+	}
+
+	resolved, resolveErr := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, id)
+
+	if afterProfileResolve != nil {
+		afterProfileResolve()
+	}
+
+	// Resolving stamps an owner on every legacy profile the caller can claim,
+	// not only the one the handle names, so the daemon's copy of the active
+	// profile's config goes stale whatever the handle was, and whether or not
+	// resolution succeeded. SessionHolder reads Owners off that copy, so
+	// refresh it before this answer reaches the gate.
+	s.reloadActiveConfig()
+
+	if resolveErr != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to resolve profile %q: %v", handle, resolveErr)
+		return false
+	}
+	return resolved.AccessibleBy(id)
 }
 
-func persistLoginOverrides(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, managementURL string, preSharedKey *string) error {
+// afterProfileResolve is a seam for tests to run a concurrent profile switch
+// between the resolution that stamps owners and the reload that publishes them.
+var afterProfileResolve func()
+
+// reloadActiveConfig refreshes the daemon's copy of the active profile's config
+// from disk, which is where SessionHolder reads the owner of a live session.
+//
+// The active profile is read here and the whole reload runs under s.mutex.
+// SwitchProfile and Up change the active profile and install its config under
+// that same lock.
+func (s *Server) reloadActiveConfig() {
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	// The handlers that start a session read their own config off disk, no need
+	// for a reload.
+	if !s.clientRunning {
+		return
+	}
+
+	activeProfile, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to reload the active profile state: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	if activeProfile == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	config, _, err := s.getConfig(activeProfile)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to reload active profile config: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	s.config = config
+}
+
+func (s *Server) persistLoginOverrides(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, managementURL string, preSharedKey *string) error {
 	if preSharedKey != nil && *preSharedKey == "" {
 		preSharedKey = nil
 	}
@@ -2782,7 +2948,7 @@ func persistLoginOverrides(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState, manage
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	cfgPath, err := activeProf.FilePath()
+	cfgPath, err := s.profileManager.ActiveProfilePath(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("active profile file path: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/client/server/server_jwt_test.go b/client/server/server_jwt_test.go
index 3fec5598a..1907ebf77 100644
--- a/client/server/server_jwt_test.go
+++ b/client/server/server_jwt_test.go
@@ -102,17 +102,20 @@ func TestSwitchProfile_ClearsJWTCache(t *testing.T) {
 	// switchProfileIfNeeded rather than the no-op path a nil request takes.
 	const target = "second"
 	username := "tester"
+	owner := unprivilegedIdentity()
 	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, target+".json"),
 		ManagementURL: "https://api.netbird.io:443",
+		Owner:         &owner,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	owner := unprivilegedIdentity()
 	s.jwtCache.store("token", owner, testTTL, s.jwtCache.currentGeneration())
 
 	name := target
-	_, err = s.SwitchProfile(ctx, &proto.SwitchProfileRequest{ProfileName: &name, Username: &username})
+	// The handler scopes the switch to the caller's identity, which a real
+	// caller gets from the daemon's transport credentials.
+	_, err = s.SwitchProfile(ctxWithIdentity(owner), &proto.SwitchProfileRequest{ProfileName: &name, Username: &username})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	active, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
diff --git a/client/server/server_ownsprofile_test.go b/client/server/server_ownsprofile_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e3f416a7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/server/server_ownsprofile_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
+)
+
+// Resolving a handle claims every legacy profile the caller can take, the
+// active one included, whatever profile the handle itself names. SessionHolder
+// answers from the daemon's in-memory config, so OwnsProfile has to refresh it
+// for any handle: a copy taken before the claim reports no owner at all, and a
+// session with no owner is one every identified caller may take over.
+func TestOwnsProfile_RefreshesActiveConfigForAnyHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	other := "second-profile"
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		handle string
+	}{
+		{name: "no handle falls back to the active profile", handle: ""},
+		{name: "the active profile by ID", handle: "test-profile-mdm"},
+		{name: "another profile entirely", handle: other},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			s, _, activeProfile, _, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+			require.Equal(t, "test-profile-mdm", activeProfile)
+
+			owner := unprivilegedIdentity()
+			_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+				ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, other+".json"),
+				ManagementURL: "https://api.netbird.io:443",
+				Owner:         &owner,
+			})
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			// The daemon's copy as it stood before the claim landed on disk.
+			s.config = &profilemanager.Config{}
+			s.clientRunning = true
+			_, running := s.SessionHolder()
+			require.False(t, running, "fixture is wrong: the stale copy already names an owner")
+
+			require.True(t, s.OwnsProfile(owner, tc.handle), "the caller owns every profile in this fixture")
+
+			holder, running := s.SessionHolder()
+			require.True(t, running, "the claimed owner never reached the daemon's config, so the live session is unowned")
+			require.True(t, holder.Matches(owner), "the session is held by %v, not by the profile's owner", holder)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// A caller whose profile the daemon cannot read is not the owner of anything.
+// The answer has to be no rather than a panic in the authorization path.
+func TestOwnsProfile_UnreadableActiveProfileStateDenies(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(profilemanager.ActiveProfileStatePath, []byte("{"), 0600))
+
+	require.False(t, s.OwnsProfile(unprivilegedIdentity(), ""))
+}
+
+// A config the daemon cannot re-read leaves the one it already has in place.
+// Dropping a nil in its stead would take down every reader of it, SessionHolder
+// among them, which is the authorization path itself.
+func TestOwnsProfile_UnreadableConfigKeepsTheOneInPlace(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
+	// An ID no path can be built for, which is what a hand-edited or
+	// downgrade-written state file can leave behind.
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(profilemanager.ActiveProfileStatePath, []byte(`{"name":"../escape"}`), 0600))
+
+	kept := &profilemanager.Config{Owners: []string{ipcauth.OwnerPrincipalForIdentity(unprivilegedIdentity())}}
+	s.config = kept
+	s.clientRunning = true
+
+	require.False(t, s.OwnsProfile(unprivilegedIdentity(), ""))
+	require.Same(t, kept, s.config, "a failed reload replaced the daemon's config")
+
+	holder, running := s.SessionHolder()
+	require.True(t, running)
+	require.True(t, holder.Matches(unprivilegedIdentity()))
+}
+
+// A profile switch can land while the gate is still resolving: the resolution
+// reads every profile off disk, and SwitchProfile only needs the daemon lock,
+// which the gate does not hold. The config the reload publishes has to be the
+// one the daemon is now on, not the one the check started out reading.
+func TestOwnsProfile_ReloadFollowsASwitchThatLandsMidCheck(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, activeProfile, _, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+	owner := unprivilegedIdentity()
+
+	switchedTo := "switched-to"
+	switchedToURL := "https://switched-to.example:443"
+	_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir, switchedTo+".json"),
+		ManagementURL: switchedToURL,
+		Owner:         &owner,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	s.config = &profilemanager.Config{}
+	s.clientRunning = true
+
+	// Stand in for a SwitchProfile that lands between the resolution and the
+	// reload, which is the whole window the profile files are being read in.
+	afterProfileResolve = func() {
+		require.NoError(t, s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
+			ID: profilemanager.ID(switchedTo),
+		}))
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { afterProfileResolve = nil })
+
+	require.True(t, s.OwnsProfile(owner, activeProfile))
+
+	require.NotNil(t, s.config.ManagementURL)
+	require.Equal(t, switchedToURL, s.config.ManagementURL.String(),
+		"the reload published the config of a profile the daemon had already left")
+}
+
+// The handlers that start a session read their config off disk themselves.
+func TestOwnsProfile_IdleDaemonKeepsItsConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, activeProfile, _, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
+	untouched := &profilemanager.Config{}
+	s.config = untouched
+	s.clientRunning = false
+
+	require.True(t, s.OwnsProfile(unprivilegedIdentity(), activeProfile))
+	require.Same(t, untouched, s.config)
+}
diff --git a/client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go b/client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go
index a392af6d3..d3689c1d0 100644
--- a/client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go
+++ b/client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
 	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"
 
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/ipcauth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ func setupServerWithProfile(t *testing.T) (s *Server, ctx context.Context, profN
 	_, err = profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(profilemanager.ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath:    cfgPath,
 		ManagementURL: "https://api.netbird.io:443",
+		Owner:         testProfileOwner(),
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -101,6 +103,13 @@ func setupServerWithProfile(t *testing.T) (s *Server, ctx context.Context, profN
 	return s, ctx, profName, currUser.Username, cfgPath
 }
 
+// testProfileOwner is the identity userCtx carries, which is who a fixture
+// profile belongs to.
+func testProfileOwner() *ipcauth.Identity {
+	id := unprivilegedIdentity()
+	return &id
+}
+
 // extractViolation pulls the MDMManagedFieldsViolation detail from a
 // FailedPrecondition error. Fails the test if absent or malformed.
 func extractViolation(t *testing.T, err error) *proto.MDMManagedFieldsViolation {