Solved Remove Sidebar Icon On Edge Toolbar.

Mitch · Feb 17, 2024

Hello, I updated Edge to Version 121.0.2277.128 today on 2 machines. The Sidebar Icon has appeared at the top right corner of the toolbar, just under the Close (X) box.
This hasn't shown before, so I'm assuming it's part of this update. Can someone advise how to get rid of this please? The position is not great as it is very close to the Close box and we have mistakenly clicked on that several times when trying to close Edge.
All the sidebar settings in Edge including Copilot are Off. Would be grateful for any advice. Thanks.

glasskuter · Feb 17, 2024

Edge settings>sidebar>Copilot> toggle all 4 items off

Mitch · Feb 17, 2024

Hi glasskuter and thanks for replying.
All 4 items were off previously and still are. The Sidebar icon only appeared after this latest update on both PC's and wasn't showing previously. Wasn't sure if this was intentional and part of this latest update?
Thanks.

cool59 · Feb 17, 2024

Mitch said:
Hi glasskuter and thanks for replying.
All 4 items were off previously and still are. The Sidebar icon only appeared after this latest update on both PC's and wasn't showing previously. Wasn't sure if this was intentional and part of this latest update?
Thanks.

Hello.
Same problem here I tried everything without success.
I dont think its possible to get ride of the sidebar button.

OAT · Feb 17, 2024

cool59 said:
I dont think its possible to get rid of the sidebar button.

No and there is no edge://flags/# for it either.

Mitch · Feb 17, 2024

I checked for a flag for it too, and as you said Oat, nothing there. We could ignore it but it's not a good place to put it next to the X.

glasskuter · Feb 17, 2024

I'm on release. It works for me.

OAT · Feb 17, 2024

glasskuter said:
I'm on release. It works for me.

It works for all of us and that is the problem.
We want it removed.

Mitch · Feb 17, 2024

Tried turning all the sidebar settings off and on and there doesn't seem to be any new setting toggles since the update. I'm afraid it might be here to stay!

glasskuter · Feb 17, 2024

OAT said:
It works for all of us and that is the problem.
We want it removed.

Guess I'm misunderstanding. You do not want the large copilot toolbar icon which is easily selected unintentionally below the close button n Edge. I don't have it
if I have those options toggled off in Edge settings. Instead it changes into the smaller arrow icon that activates the copilot sidebar but it's smaller and not as easily hit by mistake. If one wants to completely do away with copilot in Edge, that's not happening. Copilot is part of Edge now, like it or not.

TairikuOkami · Feb 17, 2024

cool59 said:
I dont think its possible to get ride of the sidebar button.

If you use the policy, Edge has to obey!

Code:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "HubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "SearchInSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "2" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

OAT · Feb 17, 2024

TairikuOkami said:

If you use the policy, Edge has to obey!

Code:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "HubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "SearchInSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "2" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

We want the sidebar, we just don't like the new 'button'.
Besides the browser GUI allows you to the same thing without the pesky message 'Managed by your organization' that the policies bring.

Mitch · Feb 17, 2024

Hi glasskuter, Yep. It's the small arrow icon that's the problem. If you have a smaller screen it's still easy to accidentally click on that instead of the X. Guess we'll need to concentrate more. TBH, we have tended to use Chrome or Firefox more than Edge so that's just another push in that direction.
Appreciate your help.

glasskuter · Feb 17, 2024

TairikuOkami said:
If you use the policy, Edge has to obey!

I did not know about the policy. Thank you.

neo1981 · Feb 17, 2024

TairikuOkami said:
If you use the policy, Edge has to obey!

This worked for me -- thanks so much!! (required a PC restart, btw).

Ideas on how to do this on a Macbook M2?

Mitch · Feb 17, 2024

I haven't used Policies before. Can this be enabled without editing the reg? We have Windows 11 Home. Thanks

neo1981 · Feb 17, 2024

Mitch said:
I haven't used Policies before. Can this be enabled without editing the reg? We have Windows 11 Home. Thanks

Fairly simple. Just open up Terminal (run as Administrator) and copy/ paste the lines above. You can alternatively go to registry editor and do it there, but this is simpler. It's pretty safe to do. I've done it 10s of times for a whole of bunch of Windows settings. I want to love Windows, but Microsoft always makes it hard to do so.

randyr · Feb 17, 2024

TairikuOkami said:

If you use the policy, Edge has to obey!

Code:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "HubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "SearchInSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "2" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

worked for me, closed and reopened the browser and it was gone