Microsoft introduced the sidebar feature in the Edge browser in 2022, designed to allow users to search the Internet from web applications without navigating to another page, and the feature has evolved significantly since then. A large number of updated features and improvements enhance the user experience.
Earlier this year, Microsoft added Personalize My Top Sites to the Set Custom Sidebar option to help users curate a personalized experience, in addition to creating a dedicated keyboard shortcut (Note: CTRL + SHIFT + /), which can be used to auto-hide or always show the sidebar in Edge for enhanced accessibility.
Now, Microsoft is working on a new feature that will let users detach the sidebar from Edge and move it to a desktop like Windows 11. According to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the feature is expected to begin rolling out to users sometime next month.
This enables a side-by-side experience for any Windows application, including the Edge browser itself, and users can enjoy simplified access to artificial intelligence tools and web-based services, including Bing Chat, without launching a browser window. Administrators can control its availability with StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled.
Once the feature is generally available, users will be able to attach the sidebar from Edge to their Windows desktop by clicking the pop-out icon at the bottom, but users will need to manually opt-in to it.
It’s also worth noting that even with the Edge browser closed, users can use the sidebar directly on their Windows desktop and also access everything pinned to the tool.
