How to Completely Disable ‘Sidebar’ via Group Policy in Microsoft Edge

The Microsoft Edge Sidebar is a vertical panel that docks to the right side of the browser window. It provides quick access to a variety of tools, including Bing Search, Microsoft 365 apps, Outlook, and specialized web widgets (like unit converters and calculators). While highly convenient for personal productivity, it introduces a massive attack surface in a tightly controlled corporate environment. The Sidebar essentially acts as a secondary, miniature browser that can load arbitrary web content alongside the primary viewport, potentially bypassing traditional URL filters or DLP (Data Loss Prevention) mechanisms if the widgets route their traffic through Microsoft’s proprietary cloud APIs rather than standard web ports.

This guide explains how to completely disable the Sidebar feature system-wide in Microsoft Edge using Group Policy, ensuring a single, controllable browsing viewport.

Disable the Sidebar via Group Policy

To enforce a strict block that prevents users from opening the Sidebar or loading any of its associated widgets, we must deploy an administrative template. Note that this requires Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.

1. Log into Windows 11 with an Administrator account.
2. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
3. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
4. In the left-hand navigation pane, navigate precisely to this path:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge

5. In the right-hand pane, locate the policy named Show Hubs Sidebar.
6. Double-click the policy to open its configuration window.
7. Select the radio button next to Disabled.
8. Click Apply, then click OK.

Verify the Feature Removal

Group Policy changes require the browser to read the registry upon its next launch. Close all active instances of Microsoft Edge.

To verify the restriction is active, reopen Microsoft Edge. Look at the right edge of the browser window. The entire Sidebar interface will be completely missing. Furthermore, if you open the Edge settings (edge://settings/sidebar), you will see that the options to customize or enable the Sidebar are either completely removed from the menu or greyed out with a message stating “Managed by your organization.” The browser is now restricted to a single, easily monitorable primary tab interface.