Edge sidebar settings to turn off when pages feel crowded
Finding the Edge Sidebar Toggle Without Digging Through Menus
If the sidebar is getting in the way while you’re browsing, the easiest thing to do is hide it using the built-in sidebar button. You can usually find this button near the top-right corner of Microsoft Edge, alongside the other browser controls. It looks like a small panel icon, and a single click is enough to hide the sidebar so the webpage has more room to display.
Don’t worry if you can’t find the button straight away. Edge sometimes hides certain icons when the browser window is too small or when there are lots of extensions pinned to the toolbar. Before looking any further, try maximizing the window or making it a little wider. The button may appear once there’s enough space. If it still isn’t there, chances are the sidebar is already turned off and something else is making the page feel cramped.
Hiding the Sidebar with a Keyboard Shortcut
If you like using keyboard shortcuts, there’s an even quicker way to open or close the sidebar. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + /. On a Mac, press Command + Shift + /. The shortcut works like a switch, so pressing it once hides the sidebar, while pressing it again brings it back.
If the shortcut doesn’t do anything, it’s worth checking a few simple things before assuming there’s a problem with Edge. Another program running on your computer could be using the same shortcut, or a browser extension might be overriding it. Closing a few background apps or temporarily disabling extensions is often enough to find the cause. If that doesn’t help, restarting the browser is a good next step, as it can clear up small glitches that sometimes affect shortcut keys.
Checking the Sidebar Settings When the Icon and Shortcut Do Not Respond
When the sidebar won’t close no matter what you try, it’s time to check the browser settings. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, choose Settings, and then open Sidebar from the menu on the left.
You’ll find an option called Always show sidebar or Show sidebar, depending on the version of Edge you’re using. Turning this option off hides the sidebar completely, so it won’t keep popping back up while you’re browsing.
After making the change, refresh the webpage and see if there’s more space available. If the page still doesn’t fill the browser window, the sidebar probably isn’t the issue. A high zoom level, a toolbar full of extensions, the bookmarks bar, or features like Collections can also take up space. Checking each of these only takes a minute and usually helps you figure out what’s causing the problem.
| What to Check | Visible Label or Setting | Next Action |
|---|---|---|
| Sidebar icon in toolbar | Two-panel icon near profile picture | Click it once to hide the sidebar |
| Keyboard shortcut response | Ctrl+Shift+/ or Command+Shift+/ | Press again if sidebar stays open; test with no other apps running |
| Sidebar toggle in Settings | “Always show sidebar” or “Show sidebar” | Turn the toggle off to keep sidebar closed |
Distinguishing the Sidebar from Other Edge Features That Crowd the Page
Edge has several side panels that can make a page feel crowded, and the sidebar is only one of them. The Collections panel, the Drop panel, and the vertical tab strip each add extra width to the browser window. When closing the sidebar does not improve the layout, check whether the vertical tab strip is enabled by looking for tabs stacked on the left side instead of across the top. To turn off vertical tabs, right-click any tab and uncheck “Turn on vertical tabs.”
Another thing to check is whether vertical tabs are enabled. Instead of appearing across the top, your tabs may be stacked along the left side of the browser. While this layout can help organize many tabs, it also makes webpages narrower. Right-click any tab and uncheck “Turn on vertical tabs” to switch back to the traditional layout if you prefer.
The toolbar near the address bar can also become crowded over time. Every extension you install may add an icon, and some extensions display additional buttons or toolbars. Open the Extensions menu from the three-dot menu and review which extensions are active. Disabling extensions that you rarely use can free up space and make the browser feel less cluttered without removing them completely.
If the page still feels cramped after checking these features, look at the browser’s zoom level. A zoom setting above 100% makes websites appear larger and leaves less room for content. Reducing the zoom to around 90% or returning it to 100% can create a more comfortable viewing experience without changing the browser’s overall layout.