What are vertical tabs in Microsoft Edge and how do I use them?

If you tend to have many webpages open at once, the new vertical tabs feature for Microsoft Edge might be right up your street.

This feature allows you to see your website tabs at the side of the browser instead of the more traditional list along the top. The advantage is that you have a better view: instead of losing your open pages in a squashed up mess, you can easily locate them on the sidebar.

If that sounds like heaven, let’s look at how to use them.

How do I use Vertical Tabs?

To show the vertical tab sidebar, click the Turn on vertical tabs button at the top left of Edge.

The tab sidebar will now appear on the left side of the browser. At this stage, it will appear as a thin strip, showing the tabs as small icons.

Move the mouse over the sidebar, and it will extend to allow you to see the title of the open webpages. You can now select which page you wish to view, close current tabs, or open new ones.

If you’re using a large monitor, you may wish to keep this extended sidebar view open all the time. To do so, click the pin pane icon at the top right of the sidebar.

This extended view will stay open even after closing Edge. If you wish to change it back to the smaller strip, click the collapse pane arrow at the sidebar’s top right.

I don’t want vertical tabs. Can I go back?

If you’ve given it a go and vertical tabs aren’t for you, you can quickly go back to horizontal tabs at any point. Click the Turn off vertical tabs button at the top left corner of the sidebar.

Can I disable vertical tabs?

If you’ve no use for vertical tabs, the Turn on vertical tabs button can be a nuisance. Thankfully, it’s easy enough to remove the button and disable the feature:

Click the three vertical dots at the top right of Edge. When the menu appears, select Settings.

On the Settings screen, click Appearance from the left-hand menu.

Under the Customize toolbar heading on the right-hand pane, click the Show vertical tabs button option to turn it off. If you ever need to re-enable it, click the same option again.

Conclusion

Vertical tabs on Microsoft Edge offers a helpful way to keep on top of your open websites. That said, if you don’t like it, you can just as easily ignore or disable the feature as needed.

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