The Microsoft Edge web browser is based on Chromium and was released on January 15, 2020. It is compatible with all supported versions of Windows, and macOS. With speed, performance, best in class compatibility for websites and extensions, and built-in privacy and security features.
The sidebar in Microsoft Edge lets you access tools and features side-by-side within your browser, even as you navigate between tabs. From being able to search specifically within the page you’re viewing, to using tools to do quick math without opening another tab, Microsoft found a way to help you be more productive without losing your place as you browse.
The sidebar appears on the right side of Microsoft Edge, and includes apps like Discover (Bing), Search, Tools, Games, and Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Drop by default you can add and remove.
You can also add and remove sites like your current page and/or top sites on the sidebar.
Starting with Microsoft Edge 111, you now have a Bing (Discover) toolbar icon that can toggle showing or hiding the sidebar when the sidebar is set to auto-hide.
Reference:
The new sidebar in Microsoft Edge helps you multitask smarter
blogs.windows.com
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the sidebar and Discover (Bing) toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for your account or all users.
- Option One: Hide or Show Sidebar in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Discover (Bing) Toolbar Icon
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Auto-hide Sidebar in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Sidebar
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Always Show Sidebar in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Settings
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Sidebar and Bing Discover Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
- Option Five: Remove Only Bing Discover Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for Current User using Shortcut
- Option Six: Turn On or Off Only Bing Discover Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Settings
EXAMPLE: Microsoft Edge Sidebar and Bing Discover toolbar icon
Hide or Show Sidebar in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Discover (Bing) Toolbar Icon
This option is only available when Auto-hide sidebar is clicked on in Option Two, or Always show sidebar is turned off in Option Three.
Otherwise, clicking/taping on the Discover (Bing) toolbar icon will just open or close the Discover (Bing) panel since the sidebar is already showing.
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Hover on or click/tap on the Discover (Bing) toolbar icon. (see screenshots below)
Auto-hide sidebar will only hide the sidebar until you hover on or click/tap on the Discover (Bing) toolbar icon to temporarily show the sidebar.
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshots below)
- Click/tap on the Auto-hide sidebar button toward the bottom of the sidebar.
- Click/tap on the Bing toolbar icon, and click/tap on the Always show sidebar button toward the bottom of the sidebar.
Turning off Always show sidebar will only hide the sidebar until you hover on or click/tap on the Discover (Bing) toolbar icon to temporarily show the sidebar.
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 dots button, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Sidebar in the left pane, and turn on (add - default) or off (remove) Always show sidebar for what you want under Customize sidebar on the right side. (see screenshot below)
Enable or Disable Sidebar and Bing Discover Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option uses the HubsSidebarEnabled policy for Microsoft Edge.
1 Do step 2 (always show), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you want.
This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, and Option Six.
This will add a Your browser is managed by your organization message at the top of Microsoft Edge Settings letting you know you have used a policy.
This will also disable the Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites setting in Microsoft Edge.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=dword:00000001This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, and Option Six.
This will add a Your browser is managed by your organization message at the top of Microsoft Edge Settings letting you know you have used a policy.
This will also disable the Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites setting in Microsoft Edge.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=dword:00000000This is the default setting to allow using Option One, Option Two, Option Three, and Option Six.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=-5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
Remove Only Bing Discover Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for Current User using Shortcut
This option will allow you to only remove the Bing Discover toolbar icon while using this shortcut without affecting the sidebar.
You can still use Option Two and Option Three to hide or show the sidebar with this Microsoft Edge shortcut.
1 Right click on your Desktop, click/tap on New, and click/tap on Shortcut.
2 Copy and paste the command below for the installed Microsoft Edge you want to use into the location box, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --disable-features=msUndersideButton"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Beta\Application\msedge.exe" --disable-features=msUndersideButton"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Dev\Application\msedge.exe" --disable-features=msUndersideButton"%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge SxS\Application\msedge.exe" --disable-features=msUndersideButton3 Type a name (ex: "Microsoft Edge") you want for this shortcut, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
4 You can Pin to Taskbar, Pin to Start, add to Start menu All apps, add to Win+X menu, assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this Microsoft Edge shortcut to where you like for easy usage.
Turn On or Off Only Bing Discover Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Settings
This option is currently only available in Microsoft Edge Canary build 113.0.1742.0 and higher.
This option will allow you to only remove the Bing Discover toolbar icon without affecting the sidebar.
You can still use Option Two and Option Three to hide or show the sidebar.
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 dots button, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Sidebar in the left pane, and click/tap on Discover under "App specific settings" under "App and notification settings". (see screenshot below)
4 Turn on (default - add) or off (remove) Show Discover for what you want. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn Brink
