How to Hide the Sidebar and Turn Off Sidebar Apps in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge includes a permanent vertical sidebar docked along the right-hand edge of the browser window. While the sidebar offers quick access to Copilot AI, tools, games, Microsoft 365, and custom web apps, it consumes valuable horizontal screen space. On laptops, smaller monitors, or when snapping browser windows side by side, having the sidebar visible by default can make web pages feel cramped and cluttered.

Fortunately, Microsoft Edge allows users to easily collapse the sidebar, toggle it with quick keyboard shortcuts, disable notification badges, or turn off individual sidebar apps entirely.

How to Quickly Hide the Sidebar in Microsoft Edge

The fastest way to toggle the sidebar on or off is using built-in interface controls or keyboard shortcuts.

• Using the keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl + Shift + / (forward slash) on Windows (or Command + Shift + / on Mac). This shortcut instantly collapses or reveals the sidebar without requiring you to open settings.
• Using the bottom toolbar icon: At the very bottom of the sidebar itself, look for the small Hide sidebar icon (an arrow pointing to the right next to a vertical line). Clicking this button immediately collapses the sidebar into a compact button.
• Using the Copilot / Sidebar button: Click the Copilot or Sidebar icon in the upper-right corner of the Edge toolbar to close any currently expanded panels.

Permanently Disabling the Sidebar in Edge Settings

If you prefer that the sidebar never appears automatically during your browsing sessions:

1. Open Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot Settings and more icon (...) in the top-right corner.
2. Select Settings from the menu.
3. In the left-hand navigation pane, select Sidebar.
4. Under the App and notification settings section, locate the Always show sidebar toggle switch.
5. Turn the toggle switch to the Off position.

The sidebar will immediately disappear from your active window and will remain hidden across all newly opened browser tabs and future browser restarts.

Customising and Removing Individual Sidebar Apps

If you like having the sidebar available for specific productivity tools but want to eliminate clutter, you can remove unwanted default buttons and notification badges:

1. In Settings > Sidebar, look at the list of Manage sidebar apps.
2. Toggle off any apps you do not use, such as Shopping, Games, Drop, or E-tree.
3. To suppress distracting unread indicators, scroll down and turn off the Show notification badges toggle.
4. Alternatively, simply right-click any icon directly on the visible sidebar and select Hide from sidebar.

For more tab management and workspace optimisation techniques in Edge, read our comprehensive guide on how to use vertical tabs and split screen in Microsoft Edge.

Troubleshooting Persistent Sidebar Popups

If the sidebar reappears automatically despite disabling it, check the following system settings:

• Edge Bar auto-launch: Microsoft Edge includes a feature called Edge Bar that docks to the Windows desktop. In Settings > Sidebar, ensure Automatically open Edge bar when the computer starts is toggled off.
• Extension overlays: Certain third-party browser extensions introduce their own floating sidebars that mimic native Edge controls. Check edge://extensions/ to review and disable third-party sidebar add-ons.
• Enterprise group policies: In managed corporate or school environments, administrators may enforce sidebar availability through the HubsSidebarEnabled policy. If settings are greyed out, system management policies are enforcing the feature.

By tailoring your sidebar visibility and app preferences in Microsoft Edge, you can enjoy an expansive, distraction-free browsing experience while retaining quick keyboard access whenever supplementary tools are required.