Google is finally experimenting with a feature many users have been asking for over the years – Vertical Tabs in Chrome. If you tend to keep dozens of tabs open, this new layout can make browsing far more organized and easier to manage on your Chromebook.
The only catch? It’s still an experimental feature. That means it’s hidden behind a flag and isn’t enabled by default just yet. However, if you’re curious, you can try it right now in just a few minutes.
What Are Vertical Tabs in Chrome?
Instead of displaying tabs across the top of the browser window, vertical tabs move them into a sidebar on the left side. This layout gives you more space for tab titles, making it easier to identify and switch between tabs, especially when you have a lot open.
It’s similar to what we’ve already seen in browsers like Microsoft Edge, but now Google is finally testing it in Chrome on ChromeOS.
How to Try Vertical Tabs on a Chromebook
Yes, you can try it even before it officially rolls out on the stable version of ChromeOS. You just need to make sure your Chromebook is updated to the latest ChromeOS build (ChromeOS 146.0.7680.169 or newer), and then enable a Chrome flag.
- Start by opening a new tab and typing chrome://flags/#vertical-tabs into the address bar.
- Once the flags page opens, locate the highlighted Vertical Tabs flag and change the drop-down menu from Default to Enabled.
- After that, click the restart button that appears at the bottom of the screen to relaunch Chrome.
Once your browser restarts, setting it up is simple. Right-click anywhere on the empty space in the top Chrome bar, then select the new Move tabs to the side option from the context menu.
Your tabs will instantly shift into a sleek vertical panel on the left side of the screen.
Once enabled, the sidebar gives you much more flexibility. You can resize it based on your preference, collapse it to save space, and quickly access tabs using just the website favicons. You can also pin tabs, group them, and manage everything more efficiently than before.
Wrapping Up
This is a pretty sweet upgrade that instantly makes Chrome feel cleaner and more modern. If you don’t want to wait for the stable rollout, enabling the flag is an easy way to try it early.
Since the feature is still in testing, you can expect changes and improvements over time. But if you enjoy trying out new Chrome features before everyone else, this is definitely worth checking out.
