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

The Hubs Sidebar in Microsoft Edge is the vertical pane that appears on the right side of the browser window, offering quick access to tools like Search, Discover, Tools, Games, and Microsoft 365. While some users find these persistent shortcuts helpful for multitasking, they significantly clutter the user interface and reduce the available screen real estate for actual web content. In enterprise environments, the sidebar often surfaces consumer-oriented features (like shopping and gaming) that are inappropriate for managed workstations. Furthermore, an uncluttered, standardized interface is easier for helpdesk teams to support.

This guide explains how to completely disable the Hubs Sidebar system-wide in Microsoft Edge using Group Policy, ensuring a clean, distraction-free browsing experience.

Disable Hubs Sidebar via Group Policy

To enforce a strict block that completely removes the sidebar from the browser UI and prevents users from re-enabling it via the settings menu, 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, strictly follow this exact path:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge

5. In the right-hand pane, locate the policy named Show Hubs Sidebar (or HubsSidebarEnabled depending on your ADMX version).
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 Configuration Lockdown

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. The vertical sidebar on the right side of the window will be completely absent. Next, navigate to edge://settings/sidebar. You will see that the master toggle switch to “Always show sidebar” is greyed out and locked in the ‘Off’ position. A briefcase icon or a message stating “Managed by your organization” will be displayed at the top of the settings page. The browser is now permanently secured against sidebar clutter.