When you are reading an article on the web and encounter an unfamiliar term, the traditional workflow involves opening a new tab, typing a search query, reading the results, and then tabbing back and forth to connect the new information to the original article.
Google Chrome eliminates this friction with the Search Side Panel. This feature allows you to open a fully functional Google Search engine directly alongside your current webpage. You can browse search results and click on links without ever leaving the original tab.
How to Open the Search Side Panel
There are two primary ways to access the Side Panel search feature, depending on how you prefer to browse.
Method 1: Highlighting Text (The Fastest Way)
If you are reading an article and want to know more about a specific word or phrase on the screen:
- Use your mouse to highlight the text you want to search for.
- Right-click the highlighted text.
- Select Search Google for “[your text]” from the context menu.
Instead of aggressively hijacking your browser and forcing you into a new tab, Chrome will gracefully slide open a panel on the right side of the screen containing your Google Search results. Your original article remains perfectly visible on the left.
Method 2: Using the Toolbar Icon
If you want to perform a manual search that is unrelated to the text currently on your screen:
- Look at the top-right corner of the Chrome toolbar, next to your profile picture.
- Click the Side panel icon (it looks like a square with the right third shaded in).
- The panel will slide open. Click the dropdown menu at the top of the panel (it might say “Reading list” or “Bookmarks” by default).
- Select Search from the dropdown menu.
- A Google Search box will appear inside the panel. Type your query and press Enter.
How to Use the Side Panel
The Side Panel is not a limited version of Google; it is the full search engine experience reformatted to fit a narrow column.
- Viewing Results: Scroll through the results exactly as you normally would. You will see featured snippets, “People also ask” boxes, and image carousels.
- Opening Links: If you click a link inside the Side Panel, that link will open in your main browser window on the left, replacing the article you were originally reading.
- Opening in a New Tab: If you want to keep your original article on the left, but read a search result in full-screen, right-click the link in the Side Panel and choose Open link in new tab.
How to Resize or Close the Panel
If the Side Panel is taking up too much screen space, or if your original article is being squished:
- To resize: Hover your mouse cursor over the dividing line between the main webpage and the Side Panel. The cursor will turn into a double-sided arrow. Click and drag left or right to adjust the width.
- To close: Click the small X icon in the top-right corner of the Side Panel to collapse it, returning your main webpage to full screen.