How to Hide Microsoft Edge Sidebar in the Latest Update

The latest update to Microsoft Edge brought a new feature: the sidebar. This addition provides quick access to tools and enhances overall browsing functionality.

However, while some users find the sidebar helpful, others might view it as a distraction. If you’re part of the latter group, you’ll appreciate knowing how to hide the sidebar for a more streamlined browsing experience. Here in this article, we will explore the different ways on How to Hide Microsoft Edge Sidebar.

Understanding the Microsoft Edge Sidebar Update

The Microsoft Edge sidebar, introduced in version 122, is an important update that aims to improve your browsing experience. It’s designed to make things easier for you by putting all the important tools and features right where you need them.

What’s New in Edge Version 122

This release brings an updated sidebar that gives you quick access to a bunch of handy tools. You’ll find it on the left side of your browser, with a simple and easy-to-use layout.

Exciting Features and Improvements

Here are some of the new things you can do with the updated sidebar:

1. Access Your Stuff Faster: You now have instant access to your bookmarks, browsing history, downloads, and settings. No more digging through menus to find what you’re looking for!
2. Web Capture: This cool feature lets you take screenshots or save interesting stuff from websites with just a click. It’s perfect for grabbing recipes, articles, or anything else you want to keep handy.
3. Smoother Browsing: With these improvements, Microsoft Edge promises to be faster and more efficient than ever before.

How You Benefit from the Updated Sidebar

The new sidebar is like a control center for all your favorite tools. It helps you stay organized and get things done without getting distracted. Here’s why you’ll love it:

• No More Menu Madness: Instead of hunting around in different menus, everything you need is right there in the sidebar.
• Less Clutter, More Focus: By keeping things neat and tidy, the sidebar helps you concentrate on what’s important.
• Work Your Way: Whether you’re a power user or just like to keep things simple, the customizable sidebar lets you choose what tools are shown.

“The new sidebar in Microsoft Edge is a game-changer! I love how I can quickly access my bookmarks and take screenshots without interrupting my flow.” – A Happy Edge User

Is the Sidebar Not Your Style?

We get it. Some people prefer a cleaner, less busy look when they’re browsing. If that’s you, don’t worry – Microsoft Edge has got you covered. You can easily hide the sidebar or make it appear only when you need it.

In the next sections, we’ll walk you through the steps to customize this feature according to your liking.

How to Hide Microsoft Edge Sidebar

When it comes to internet browsing, customization is key. If you want a clutter-free experience with Microsoft Edge, it’s important to know how to hide the sidebar. In this section, we’ll show you different methods to do just that.

Method 1: Using the “Hide sidebar” option in the browser

The easiest way to hide the Microsoft Edge sidebar is by using the “Hide sidebar” button directly in the browser. Here’s how:

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
2. Find the sidebar button in the top right corner, next to the address bar.
3. Click that button to open the sidebar.
4. At the bottom of the sidebar, you’ll see an icon with a left arrow.
5. Click that icon to hide the sidebar.

And just like that, the distracting panel disappears and you have a clean browsing interface.

Note: You can also use a keyboard shortcut as an alternative method to quickly hide the Microsoft Edge sidebar without interrupting your work:

Ctrl + Shift + /

Press these three keys together and the sidebar will be hidden instantly.

Method 2: Toggling the switch in the browser’s settings

If you prefer a more permanent solution to keep that pesky sidebar hidden, this method is for you. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of your browser.
2. From the menu, select “Settings.”
3. Choose the “Appearance” tab on the left side.
4. Scroll down until you find an option called “Show sidebar button.”
5. Toggle off this option to hide the Microsoft Edge sidebar button.

By adjusting your browser settings, you can have a consistent user interface that suits your preferences every time you use Microsoft Edge.

Method 3: Hiding the Office sidebar in Microsoft Edge

If you’re using Microsoft Office tools within Edge, you might see another sidebar on your screen. Here’s how to hide it:

1. Look for a gear icon in the Office sidebar.
2. Click that icon to reveal a slider.
3. Move the slider to the “Off” position.

And just like that, you can enjoy a distraction-free browsing experience even when using office tools.

Hiding the Microsoft Edge sidebar can help you get rid of distractions, make your browsing smoother, and increase your productivity. With these methods, you now have everything you need to customize Microsoft Edge based on your personal preferences.

Now that we’ve covered hiding the sidebar, let’s move on to the next section where we’ll talk about customizing it for better use when needed: Customizing the Microsoft Edge Sidebar.

Method 2: Toggling the switch in the browser’s settings

If the “Hide sidebar” option or the keyboard shortcut doesn’t suit your preference, you have the choice to hide Microsoft Edge sidebar directly within the browser settings. This method gives you a more permanent solution for managing your sidebar visibility preferences. Here’s how you can access this feature and toggle the visibility of the sidebar.

Accessing the Appearance Section

To begin customizing your browsing experience:

1. Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu icon at the top-right corner of the window.
2. Select ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu to open a new settings tab.
3. In the Settings tab, look to the left-hand pane and click on ‘Appearance’.

The Appearance section is where you can fine-tune how Microsoft Edge looks, including theme, fonts, and other elements that affect your visual interaction with the browser.

Toggling The Sidebar Switch

Within the Appearance settings, you will find options related to the sidebar:

1. Scroll down until you see an option labeled ‘Show sidebar’. You’ll notice a toggle switch next to it.
2. Click on this toggle switch to change its position. If it turns grey, it means that you have successfully hidden Microsoft Edge sidebar.
3. To confirm that changes have taken effect, close the settings tab and check if the sidebar has disappeared from your browser interface.
4. If you wish to bring back the sidebar at any time, simply return to this menu and click on the same toggle switch, turning it blue to show Microsoft Edge sidebar again.

It is important to note that hiding Microsoft Edge sidebar using this method will not remove any items or shortcuts you have added to it; it simply makes them invisible until you choose to show the sidebar once again.

Keyboard Shortcut Reminder: Remember, if you need quicker access to show or hide Microsoft Edge sidebar without navigating through settings each time, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + / for efficiency and convenience.

By controlling when and how elements like sidebars impact your browsing experience, you maintain focus and productivity. Whether it’s through immediate actions like keyboard shortcuts or by setting preferences within browser settings, Microsoft Edge provides multiple avenues tailored to fit individual user needs.

With these options at your disposal, managing how content displays in your browser empowers you with flexibility and control over your digital environment.

Hiding the Office Sidebar in Microsoft Edge

When you want a clean workspace on your browser, being able to hide the Microsoft Edge sidebar is a great feature. The Office sidebar is designed to give you quick access to Microsoft Office tools, but sometimes it can be more of a distraction than useful. Here’s how you can hide it:

Click the Gear Icon

1. Open your Microsoft Edge browser.
2. Look for the gear icon at the top of the sidebar pane.
3. Click on it to open the sidebar settings.

Adjusting the Slider Position

Once you’re in the sidebar settings:

• Find the slider that controls the visibility of the Office sidebar.
• Drag it or click on it to turn it off.
• This will hide the Microsoft Edge Office sidebar.

By following these steps, you’ll immediately see a change in your browser screen, making it more focused for your online tasks. If you later decide that you need those tools, just go back to the settings and turn the slider on again.

Other Methods

If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, there’s one that hides the entire Microsoft Edge sidebar: Ctrl + Shift + /. It doesn’t hide just the Office sidebar but all sidebar content.

For more customization options, you can manage Microsoft Edge sidebar buttons through browser settings. There, you can control different parts of your browsing experience like appearance and performance.

💡Tip: Even after hiding the Office sidebar, other items may still be visible unless you remove or disable them individually.

💡Tip: Browser settings have many options for personalizing your browsing experience, not just sidebars.

💡Tip: Remember that these features are meant to make things easier and increase productivity. Take time to explore them and find what suits your needs best.

This method lets you have control over your workspace while still having access to powerful tools when needed. Now, let’s see how you can customize the remaining parts of your Edge sidebar to have everything you need at your fingertips.

Customizing the Microsoft Edge Sidebar

When you customize Edge sidebar, you gain control over your browsing tools and features, tailoring them to your workflow. Whether you want to streamline your sidebar with specific utilities or declutter it for a minimalist touch, the process is straightforward.

Adding Items to the Sidebar

To add items to the sidebar, follow these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the three-dot menu icon at the upper right corner of the browser window.
3. Select Extensions from the drop-down menu.
4. Navigate to the extension you wish to add and click on Manage extensions.
5. Look for the option labeled Show in sidebar and toggle it on.

By adding items, you create a personalized toolkit right within your browser’s reach.

Removing Items from the Sidebar

To remove items from the sidebar, here’s what you need to do:

1. Click on the sidebar icon (looks like a caret or chevron pointing left) on the toolbar.
2. Hover over the feature or tool you wish to remove.
3. Click on the three-dot menu (More options) next to that item.
4. Select Remove from sidebar.

Removing items doesn’t hide the sidebar; it simply clears out space. Even an empty sidebar remains visible, maintaining its position as a thin strip along the edge of your browser. This way, you preserve the option of quick access without any current distractions.

By customizing your Edge sidebar, you ensure that only chosen features occupy this prime real estate on your screen, keeping your most valued tools just a click away while avoiding unnecessary clutter.

Utilizing the Web Capture Feature in Microsoft Edge Sidebar

The Microsoft Edge sidebar has a feature called Web Capture that makes browsing more convenient. It’s especially handy when you want to save and share information from websites quickly.

Benefits of Web Capture:

• Efficiency: With Web Capture, you can easily take screenshots without needing extra software.
• Annotation: You can mark up the screenshots you take, which is useful for pointing out important details.
• Sharing: Once you’ve captured something from the web, it’s simple to send it to your colleagues or friends.

How to Use Web Capture in Microsoft Edge:

To make the most of this feature, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Web Capture icon in the sidebar. If you don’t see it there, you might have to add it using customization options.
2. After clicking, two choices will show up: Capture area and Capture full page.

• Pick Capture area if you only want a screenshot of a specific part of the webpage.
• Choose Capture full page to capture the entire webpage from top to bottom.

1. Once you’ve captured something, a set of tools will appear at the top of your screen, letting you:

• Draw on your screenshot using a pen tool.
• Highlight text or areas with different colors.
• Erase any markings or start over if necessary.

1. When you’re happy with what you’ve captured, click Copy to save it on your computer or choose Share to send it directly through different platforms.

By making Web Capture a part of how you work online, you simplify the process of saving and marking up web content for various reasons like group projects or personal use.

Pro Tip: Press Ctrl + Shift + S on your keyboard to open Web Capture instantly, skipping the need to click around when you’re in a hurry.

As helpful as it is, if you ever feel like the sidebar itself is getting in your way, refer back to earlier sections for tips on how to hide it effectively and enjoy a cleaner browsing experience.

Conclusion

Navigating the digital landscape with ease often requires a personalized approach to interacting with software; Microsoft Edge is no exception. The sidebar, introduced in the latest update, provides swift access to tools and features that can enhance productivity.

However, your browsing experience should cater to your preferences, including the need for a minimalistic interface. The hide sidebar button offers just that – a quick way to reclaim screen real estate and focus without distractions.

Experimenting with the different methods to hide the Microsoft Edge sidebar is an exercise in tailoring your browsing environment:

1. Use the “Hide sidebar” option directly in the browser for immediate action.
2. Employ the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + /) for those who favor quick key commands.
3. Navigate to Settings > Appearance to toggle the sidebar display according to your long-term preference.
4. Adjust the Office sidebar settings through the gear icon for a more focused workspace.

Each method serves a unique purpose and adapts to various user needs. You are encouraged to test these options and discover which configuration aligns with your browsing habits.

Remember, personalizing Microsoft Edge through these simple adjustments can lead to a more streamlined and enjoyable online experience, and for more tutorials, visit our How To’s page.