Chrome's side panel opens a narrow window on the right side of your browser that stays visible while you browse
The side panel in Chrome is a vertical strip that appears on the right edge of your screen, separate from the main webpage. It lets you keep a tool, note, or search result visible while you work on the page itself. You can open it with a keyboard shortcut, a button in the toolbar, or through the menu — depending on which feature you want to use.
Not every Chrome feature uses the side panel yet. Google has been rolling it out gradually to different tools. The side panel works best when you want to reference something without switching tabs or shrinking your main window.
Key Takeaways
- The side panel opens from the right edge of Chrome and stays visible while you browse the main page.
- You can open it with Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac, or by clicking the side panel icon in your toolbar.
- Different Chrome features — like bookmarks, reading list, and search tools — may have their own side panel buttons.
- The side panel closes when you click the X button or press the same keyboard shortcut again.
Opening the side panel with the keyboard shortcut
The fastest way to open Chrome's side panel is with a keyboard shortcut. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+P. On Mac, press Cmd+Shift+P. This opens the side panel to whatever tool was last open in it — usually the search feature or bookmarks.
If the side panel is already open, the same shortcut closes it. This makes it straightforward to toggle the panel on and off without reaching for the mouse. The shortcut works on any webpage or in a new tab.
Opening the side panel from the toolbar
Look for the side panel icon in the top right corner of Chrome, near the address bar. It looks like a vertical line with a small rectangle next to it. Click it once to open the side panel.
If you do not see this icon, your version of Chrome may not have the side panel feature yet, or it may be hidden. You can also right-click the toolbar and select "Show side panel" to make sure the button is visible. Once the icon appears, click it to toggle the panel open and closed.
Choosing what appears in the side panel
When you open the side panel, you will see a menu of available tools at the top. The options vary depending on your Chrome version and which features Google has rolled out to your account. Common options include Bookmarks, Reading List, Search, and Saved.
Click any of these tabs to switch what the side panel shows. Your choice stays the same the next time you open the panel — Chrome remembers which tool you used last. If you have installed extensions that support the side panel, they may appear as additional tabs here.
Resizing and closing the side panel
The side panel takes up roughly one-quarter of your screen width by default. To make it wider or narrower, position your mouse on the left edge of the side panel (where it meets the main webpage) until the cursor changes to a resize arrow. Then drag left or right to adjust the width.
To close the side panel, click the X button at the top right of the panel, or press the keyboard shortcut again (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows, Cmd+Shift+P on Mac). The panel closes but your choice of tool is saved for next time.
Using the side panel with bookmarks and reading list
The Bookmarks tab in the side panel shows your saved bookmarks organized by folder. You can click any bookmark to open it in the main page without closing the side panel. This is useful when you want to jump between several bookmarked pages while keeping your bookmark list visible.
The Reading List tab holds articles you have saved to read later. Click an item in the reading list to open it in the main page. Unlike bookmarks, items in your reading list are meant to be temporary — you can remove them once you have read them.
Troubleshooting side panel problems
If the side panel icon does not appear in your toolbar, your version of Chrome may not have the feature yet. Google rolls out new features gradually, so you may need to wait a few weeks or update Chrome to the latest version. Go to the menu (three dots in the top right), click Help, then About Google Chrome to check for updates.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work, check that you are using the correct keys for your operating system (Ctrl+Shift+P for Windows, Cmd+Shift+P for Mac). Some keyboard layouts or accessibility tools may interfere with the shortcut. In that case, use the toolbar icon instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have the side panel open on multiple tabs at once?
Yes. The side panel stays open as you move between tabs. Whatever tool you have selected in the side panel (bookmarks, reading list, or search) remains visible on every tab until you close it.
Does the side panel work on mobile Chrome?
The side panel feature is designed for desktop Chrome. Mobile versions of Chrome do not have a side panel. On a phone or tablet, you will need to use tabs or the menu to access bookmarks and other tools.
What if I want to open a bookmark from the side panel in a new tab instead of the current one?
Right-click the bookmark in the side panel and select Open in new tab. This keeps your current page open and loads the bookmark in a separate tab instead.
Can extensions add their own tabs to the side panel?
Some extensions support the side panel and add their own tabs to it. If you install an extension that uses the side panel, its tab will appear alongside the built-in options like bookmarks and reading list.