diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/services/mod.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/services/mod.rs
index ac69174..1977cd5 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/services/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/services/mod.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ pub mod plugin_signatures;
 mod servo_profile_data;
 pub mod servo_sidecar;
 mod servo_sidecar_command;
+mod servo_sidecar_request;
+
+pub(crate) use servo_profile_data::ProfileDataMode;
 
 #[cfg(all(test, feature = "live-site-smoke"))]
 pub(crate) mod prd_live_sites;
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_profile_data.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_profile_data.rs
index beed14e..3f1c50f 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_profile_data.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_profile_data.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::{
+    env,
+    path::{Path, PathBuf},
+    time::{SystemTime, SystemTimeError, UNIX_EPOCH},
+};
 
 use directories::ProjectDirs;
 use ely_domain::ProfileId;
@@ -15,3 +19,20 @@ pub(super) fn default_profile_data_root() -> Option<PathBuf> {
 pub(super) fn profile_data_dir(profile_data_root: &Path, profile_id: &ProfileId) -> PathBuf {
     profile_data_root.join(profile_id.as_str()).join("servo")
 }
+
+pub(super) fn transient_profile_data_dir(
+    profile_id: &ProfileId,
+) -> Result<PathBuf, SystemTimeError> {
+    let timestamp = SystemTime::now().duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)?.as_nanos();
+    Ok(env::temp_dir().join("ely-browser-servo-profiles").join(format!(
+        "{}-{}-{timestamp}",
+        std::process::id(),
+        profile_id.as_str()
+    )))
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub(crate) enum ProfileDataMode {
+    Persistent,
+    Transient,
+}
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar.rs
index 5604b0d..a68a385 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar.rs
@@ -6,12 +6,16 @@ use std::{
     time::{Duration, Instant, SystemTime, SystemTimeError, UNIX_EPOCH},
 };
 
-use ely_domain::{ProfileId, UrlText};
+use ely_domain::ProfileId;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use thiserror::Error;
 
+pub use super::servo_sidecar_request::SidecarSnapshotRequest;
+
 use super::{
-    servo_profile_data::{default_profile_data_root, profile_data_dir},
+    servo_profile_data::{
+        ProfileDataMode, default_profile_data_root, profile_data_dir, transient_profile_data_dir,
+    },
     servo_sidecar_command::{SidecarCommandTarget, default_sidecar_command},
 };
 
@@ -63,29 +67,30 @@ impl ServoSidecarClient {
         request: &SidecarSnapshotRequest,
     ) -> Result<SidecarSnapshot, ServoSidecarError> {
         let rgba_path = temporary_rgba_path()?;
-        let profile_data_dir = profile_data_dir(&self.profile_data_root, &request.profile_id);
+        let profile_data_dir = request.profile_data_dir(&self.profile_data_root)?;
         let output = match self.run_snapshot_command(request, &rgba_path, &profile_data_dir) {
             Ok(output) => output,
             Err(error) => {
-                remove_temporary_file(&rgba_path)?;
-                return Err(error);
+                return cleanup_failed_snapshot(request, &rgba_path, &profile_data_dir, error);
             }
         };
 
         if !output.status.success() {
-            remove_temporary_file(&rgba_path)?;
-            return Err(ServoSidecarError::SidecarFailed {
+            let error = ServoSidecarError::SidecarFailed {
                 status: output.status.to_string(),
                 stderr: String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).trim().to_string(),
-            });
+            };
+            return cleanup_failed_snapshot(request, &rgba_path, &profile_data_dir, error);
         }
 
         let snapshot = read_sidecar_snapshot(&output.stdout, &rgba_path, &request.profile_id);
         let cleanup = remove_temporary_file(&rgba_path);
-        match (snapshot, cleanup) {
-            (Ok(snapshot), Ok(())) => Ok(snapshot),
-            (Err(error), Ok(())) => Err(error),
-            (Ok(_), Err(error)) | (Err(_), Err(error)) => Err(error),
+        let profile_cleanup = request.cleanup_profile_data_dir(&profile_data_dir);
+        match (snapshot, cleanup, profile_cleanup) {
+            (Ok(snapshot), Ok(()), Ok(())) => Ok(snapshot),
+            (Err(error), Ok(()), Ok(())) => Err(error),
+            (Ok(_), Err(error), _) | (Err(_), Err(error), _) => Err(error),
+            (Ok(_), Ok(()), Err(error)) | (Err(_), Ok(()), Err(error)) => Err(error),
         }
     }
 
@@ -160,60 +165,24 @@ fn append_snapshot_args(
         .arg(request.scroll_y.to_string());
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
-pub struct SidecarSnapshotRequest {
-    url: UrlText,
-    profile_id: ProfileId,
-    width: u32,
-    height: u32,
-    scroll_x: i32,
-    scroll_y: i32,
-    click_point: Option<SidecarClickPoint>,
-    typed_text: Option<String>,
-}
-
 impl SidecarSnapshotRequest {
-    #[must_use]
-    pub fn new(url: UrlText, profile_id: ProfileId, width: u32, height: u32) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            url,
-            profile_id,
-            width,
-            height,
-            scroll_x: 0,
-            scroll_y: 0,
-            click_point: None,
-            typed_text: None,
+    fn profile_data_dir(&self, profile_data_root: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf, ServoSidecarError> {
+        match self.profile_data_mode {
+            ProfileDataMode::Persistent => {
+                Ok(profile_data_dir(profile_data_root, &self.profile_id))
+            }
+            ProfileDataMode::Transient => {
+                transient_profile_data_dir(&self.profile_id).map_err(ServoSidecarError::SystemClock)
+            }
         }
     }
 
-    #[must_use]
-    pub fn with_scroll_offset(mut self, scroll_x: i32, scroll_y: i32) -> Self {
-        self.scroll_x = scroll_x;
-        self.scroll_y = scroll_y;
-        self
-    }
+    fn cleanup_profile_data_dir(&self, profile_data_dir: &Path) -> Result<(), ServoSidecarError> {
+        if self.profile_data_mode == ProfileDataMode::Persistent {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
 
-    #[must_use]
-    pub fn with_click_point(mut self, x: u32, y: u32) -> Self {
-        self.click_point = Some(SidecarClickPoint { x, y });
-        self
-    }
-
-    #[must_use]
-    pub fn with_typed_text(mut self, typed_text: String) -> Self {
-        self.typed_text = Some(typed_text);
-        self
-    }
-
-    #[cfg(test)]
-    pub(crate) fn typed_text_for_test(&self) -> Option<&str> {
-        self.typed_text.as_deref()
-    }
-
-    #[cfg(test)]
-    pub(crate) fn profile_id_for_test(&self) -> &ProfileId {
-        &self.profile_id
+        remove_temporary_directory(profile_data_dir)
     }
 
     fn max_attempts(&self) -> usize {
@@ -225,12 +194,6 @@ impl SidecarSnapshotRequest {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
-struct SidecarClickPoint {
-    x: u32,
-    y: u32,
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct SidecarSnapshot {
     loaded_url: Option<String>,
@@ -360,6 +323,9 @@ pub enum ServoSidecarError {
     #[error("failed to remove servo frame file: {0}")]
     FrameCleanup(#[source] io::Error),
 
+    #[error("failed to remove transient servo profile data at {path}: {source}")]
+    ProfileDataCleanup { path: PathBuf, source: io::Error },
+
     #[error("servo sidecar returned incomplete render state: {state}")]
     IncompleteRender { state: String },
 
@@ -416,6 +382,31 @@ fn remove_temporary_file(path: &Path) -> Result<(), ServoSidecarError> {
     }
 }
 
+fn remove_temporary_directory(path: &Path) -> Result<(), ServoSidecarError> {
+    match fs::remove_dir_all(path) {
+        Ok(()) => Ok(()),
+        Err(error) if error.kind() == io::ErrorKind::NotFound => Ok(()),
+        Err(error) => {
+            Err(ServoSidecarError::ProfileDataCleanup { path: path.to_path_buf(), source: error })
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn cleanup_failed_snapshot(
+    request: &SidecarSnapshotRequest,
+    rgba_path: &Path,
+    profile_data_dir: &Path,
+    snapshot_error: ServoSidecarError,
+) -> Result<SidecarSnapshot, ServoSidecarError> {
+    let frame_cleanup = remove_temporary_file(rgba_path);
+    let profile_cleanup = request.cleanup_profile_data_dir(profile_data_dir);
+    match (frame_cleanup, profile_cleanup) {
+        (Ok(()), Ok(())) => Err(snapshot_error),
+        (Err(error), _) => Err(error),
+        (Ok(()), Err(error)) => Err(error),
+    }
+}
+
 fn terminate_child(mut child: std::process::Child) -> Result<(), ServoSidecarError> {
     match child.kill() {
         Ok(()) => {
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_request.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_request.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7a2e6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_request.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+use ely_domain::{ProfileId, UrlText};
+
+use super::ProfileDataMode;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct SidecarSnapshotRequest {
+    pub(in crate::services) url: UrlText,
+    pub(in crate::services) profile_id: ProfileId,
+    pub(in crate::services) profile_data_mode: ProfileDataMode,
+    pub(in crate::services) width: u32,
+    pub(in crate::services) height: u32,
+    pub(in crate::services) scroll_x: i32,
+    pub(in crate::services) scroll_y: i32,
+    pub(in crate::services) click_point: Option<SidecarClickPoint>,
+    pub(in crate::services) typed_text: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl SidecarSnapshotRequest {
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new(url: UrlText, profile_id: ProfileId, width: u32, height: u32) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            url,
+            profile_id,
+            profile_data_mode: ProfileDataMode::Persistent,
+            width,
+            height,
+            scroll_x: 0,
+            scroll_y: 0,
+            click_point: None,
+            typed_text: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn with_profile_data_mode(mut self, profile_data_mode: ProfileDataMode) -> Self {
+        self.profile_data_mode = profile_data_mode;
+        self
+    }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn with_scroll_offset(mut self, scroll_x: i32, scroll_y: i32) -> Self {
+        self.scroll_x = scroll_x;
+        self.scroll_y = scroll_y;
+        self
+    }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn with_click_point(mut self, x: u32, y: u32) -> Self {
+        self.click_point = Some(SidecarClickPoint { x, y });
+        self
+    }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn with_typed_text(mut self, typed_text: String) -> Self {
+        self.typed_text = Some(typed_text);
+        self
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn typed_text_for_test(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.typed_text.as_deref()
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn profile_id_for_test(&self) -> &ProfileId {
+        &self.profile_id
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn profile_data_mode_for_test(&self) -> ProfileDataMode {
+        self.profile_data_mode
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+pub(in crate::services) struct SidecarClickPoint {
+    pub(in crate::services) x: u32,
+    pub(in crate::services) y: u32,
+}
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_tests.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_tests.rs
index 64ac083..2c68691 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/services/servo_sidecar_tests.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use std::error::Error;
 
+use ely_domain::UrlText;
+
 use super::*;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "live-site-smoke")]
@@ -82,6 +84,46 @@ fn keeps_page_interactions_single_attempt() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn persistent_profile_data_uses_profile_root() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let profile_id = ProfileId::new();
+    let request = SidecarSnapshotRequest::new(
+        UrlText::parse("https://example.com")?,
+        profile_id.clone(),
+        2,
+        1,
+    );
+    let root = std::env::temp_dir().join("ely-browser-profile-root-test");
+
+    assert_eq!(request.profile_data_mode_for_test(), ProfileDataMode::Persistent);
+    assert_eq!(request.profile_data_dir(&root)?, root.join(profile_id.as_str()).join("servo"));
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn transient_profile_data_uses_temporary_directory_and_cleans_up() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let profile_id = ProfileId::new();
+    let request = SidecarSnapshotRequest::new(
+        UrlText::parse("https://example.com")?,
+        profile_id.clone(),
+        2,
+        1,
+    )
+    .with_profile_data_mode(ProfileDataMode::Transient);
+    let root = std::env::temp_dir().join("ely-browser-profile-root-test");
+    let profile_data_dir = request.profile_data_dir(&root)?;
+
+    assert!(profile_data_dir.starts_with(std::env::temp_dir().join("ely-browser-servo-profiles")));
+    assert!(profile_data_dir.to_string_lossy().contains(profile_id.as_str()));
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&profile_data_dir)?;
+    std::fs::write(profile_data_dir.join("probe"), b"private")?;
+
+    request.cleanup_profile_data_dir(&profile_data_dir)?;
+
+    assert!(!profile_data_dir.exists());
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[cfg(feature = "live-site-smoke")]
 #[test]
 fn desktop_sidecar_opens_prd_top_sites() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages.rs
index fb37e0a..5789d1b 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages.rs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ impl ElyShell {
             "ely://settings/updates" => self.render_updates_page(snapshot),
             "ely://sync/status" => self.render_sync_page(snapshot, cx),
             url if super::web_surface::is_external_web_url(url) => {
-                self.render_external_web_canvas(tab, cx)
+                self.render_external_web_canvas(tab, snapshot, cx)
             }
             _ => render_default_page(tab),
         }
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface.rs
index 3398768..7d730d5 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use ely_domain::{BrowserTab, TabId};
 use gpui::{Bounds, Pixels, Point};
 
-use crate::services::servo_sidecar::SidecarSnapshotRequest;
+use crate::services::{ProfileDataMode, servo_sidecar::SidecarSnapshotRequest};
 
 use super::{
     web_surface_frame::WebSurfaceFrame,
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ impl WebSurfaceStore {
         self.states.get(tab_id)
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn prepare_request(&mut self, tab: &BrowserTab) -> Option<WebSurfaceRequest> {
+    pub(super) fn prepare_request(
+        &mut self,
+        tab: &BrowserTab,
+        profile_data_mode: ProfileDataMode,
+    ) -> Option<WebSurfaceRequest> {
         if !is_external_web_url(tab.url().as_str()) {
             return None;
         }
@@ -108,6 +112,7 @@ impl WebSurfaceStore {
             size.width,
             size.height,
         )
+        .with_profile_data_mode(profile_data_mode)
         .with_scroll_offset(scroll_offset.x(), scroll_offset.y());
         if let Some(click_point) = click_point {
             snapshot_request = snapshot_request.with_click_point(click_point.x(), click_point.y());
@@ -410,7 +415,7 @@ mod tests {
     use ely_domain::{BrowserTab, ProfileId, SpaceId, TabId, UrlText};
     use gpui::{Bounds, point, px, size};
 
-    use super::WebSurfaceStore;
+    use super::{ProfileDataMode, WebSurfaceStore};
 
     #[test]
     fn typed_text_enters_snapshot_request_after_clicked_viewport() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
@@ -427,7 +432,9 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(store.record_typed_text(tab.id(), tab.url().as_str(), "e"));
         assert!(store.record_typed_text(tab.id(), tab.url().as_str(), "l"));
 
-        let request = store.prepare_request(&tab).ok_or("missing web surface request")?;
+        let request = store
+            .prepare_request(&tab, ProfileDataMode::Persistent)
+            .ok_or("missing web surface request")?;
 
         assert_eq!(request.typed_text.as_deref(), Some("el"));
         assert_eq!(request.snapshot_request.typed_text_for_test(), Some("el"));
@@ -435,6 +442,25 @@ mod tests {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn private_profile_enters_transient_snapshot_request() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+        let mut store = WebSurfaceStore::new();
+        let tab = web_tab("https://example.com/private")?;
+
+        let bounds = Bounds::new(point(px(0.0), px(0.0)), size(px(640.0), px(480.0)));
+        assert!(store.record_viewport_size(tab.id(), bounds));
+
+        let request = store
+            .prepare_request(&tab, ProfileDataMode::Transient)
+            .ok_or("missing web surface request")?;
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            request.snapshot_request.profile_data_mode_for_test(),
+            ProfileDataMode::Transient
+        );
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn web_tab(url: &str) -> Result<BrowserTab, Box<dyn Error>> {
         Ok(BrowserTab::new(
             TabId::new(),
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_controller.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_controller.rs
index 6792e6c..30dcc0c 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_controller.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_controller.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-use ely_domain::{BrowserTab, TabId};
+use ely_browser_core::BrowserSnapshot;
+use ely_domain::{BrowserTab, ProfileKind, TabId};
 use gpui::{AnyElement, Bounds, Context, Pixels, Point};
 
-use crate::services::servo_sidecar::{ServoSidecarError, SidecarSnapshot};
+use crate::services::{
+    ProfileDataMode,
+    servo_sidecar::{ServoSidecarError, SidecarSnapshot},
+};
 
 use super::{
     ElyShell,
@@ -26,11 +30,16 @@ impl ElyShell {
     pub(super) fn render_external_web_canvas(
         &mut self,
         tab: &BrowserTab,
+        snapshot: &BrowserSnapshot,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) -> AnyElement {
-        self.ensure_external_web_frame(tab, cx);
-
         let state_entity = cx.entity().clone();
+        let Some(profile_data_mode) = profile_data_mode_for(tab, snapshot) else {
+            return render_failed_web_surface(tab, "Profile context is unavailable.", state_entity);
+        };
+
+        self.ensure_external_web_frame(tab, profile_data_mode, cx);
+
         match self.web_surfaces.state(tab.id()) {
             Some(WebSurfaceState::Ready(frame)) => {
                 render_ready_web_surface(frame, tab, state_entity)
@@ -47,8 +56,13 @@ impl ElyShell {
         }
     }
 
-    fn ensure_external_web_frame(&mut self, tab: &BrowserTab, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let Some(request) = self.web_surfaces.prepare_request(tab) else {
+    fn ensure_external_web_frame(
+        &mut self,
+        tab: &BrowserTab,
+        profile_data_mode: ProfileDataMode,
+        cx: &mut Context<Self>,
+    ) {
+        let Some(request) = self.web_surfaces.prepare_request(tab, profile_data_mode) else {
             return;
         };
 
@@ -190,3 +204,12 @@ impl ElyShell {
         false
     }
 }
+
+fn profile_data_mode_for(tab: &BrowserTab, snapshot: &BrowserSnapshot) -> Option<ProfileDataMode> {
+    snapshot.profiles.iter().find(|profile| profile.id() == tab.profile_id()).map(|profile| {
+        match profile.kind() {
+            ProfileKind::Standard => ProfileDataMode::Persistent,
+            ProfileKind::Private => ProfileDataMode::Transient,
+        }
+    })
+}
diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_live_site_tests.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_live_site_tests.rs
index dd026d9..8282bdc 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_live_site_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/web_surface_live_site_tests.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use ely_domain::{BrowserTab, ProfileId, SpaceId, TabId, UrlText};
 use gpui::{Bounds, point, px, size};
 
 use crate::{
+    services::ProfileDataMode,
     services::prd_live_sites::{
         LiveSiteCase, PRD_REFERENCE_SITE_CASES, PRD_TOP_SITE_CASES,
         assert_prd_reference_urls_are_covered,
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ fn assert_web_surfaces_render(cases: &[LiveSiteCase]) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Erro
 
         assert!(store.record_viewport_size(tab.id(), bounds), "{}", case.url);
         let request = store
-            .prepare_request(&tab)
+            .prepare_request(&tab, ProfileDataMode::Persistent)
             .ok_or_else(|| format!("missing web surface request for {}", case.url))?;
         let snapshot = request.client.snapshot(request.snapshot_request)?;
         let frame = WebSurfaceFrame::from_snapshot(