How to turn off sidebar on Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has one too many annoying sidebar, but you can disable it with these easy steps.

Microsoft Edge disable sidebar
Microsoft Edge disable sidebar

On Microsoft Edge, the sidebar on the right side gives you quick access to your Microsoft 365 and files as well as other products, such as Outlook, search, games, and tools, including Designer, Drop, Image Creator, and more.

Although the sidebar may work for some people, it’s not for everyone since they add unnecessary distractions, take up a lot of space, and only seem to be tactics to promote more of the company’s services.

If you are a Microsoft Edge user and don’t find this feature useful, you can easily disable it, including the Bing Chat button, which appears to be part of the sidebar, but it’s not.

This guide will teach you the steps to disable the sidebars on Microsoft Edge.

Disable sidebar on Microsoft Edge

To disable the Edge sidebar, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Click the Settings and more (three-dotted) button.

  3. Click on Settings.

  4. Click on Sidebar.

  5. Turn off the “Always show sidebar” toggle switch.

    Microsoft Edge disable sidebar

  6. (Optional) Under the “App and notification settings” section, click the Bing Chat setting.

  7. Turn off the Show Discover toggle switch to disable the Bing Chat button in the top-right corner.

    Microsoft Edge disable Bing Chat

Alternatively, you can also click the “Auto-hide sidebar” button at the bottom of the bar. You can also use the “Ctrl + Shift + /” keyboard shortcut to quickly enable or disable the feature. Or you can disable the sidebar by turning off the toggle switch from the “Appearance” settings page.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of (est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.

Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.

Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.

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