How to Show / Hide Side Panel Button on Google Chrome Toolbar (New Working Method)

In newer versions of Google Chrome web browser, the Side Panel button or icon on the toolbar has been removed for some users. If you want to restore and bring back the Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar, this article will help you.

Similarly, if the Side Panel button is still available on the toolbar in your Chrome web browser and you want to forcefully disable or remove it, this article will also help you.

Following image shows the Side Panel button enabled and disabled on Google Chrome web browser’s toolbar:

The Side Panel feature was introduced in Chrome 91 version. At that time, the Side Panel could be enabled or disabled by modifying a hidden secret preference/flag. We posted about the method to show/hide Side Panel feature in this article.

In later versions, Google team removed the preference to customize the Side Panel and the button was stuck permanently on the toolbar. Users were unable to get rid of the Side Panel button from Chrome toolbar. In recently released versions, Google added many new components and tools to the Side Panel such as search, reading mode, power bookmarks, etc.

Now in Chrome 121 and later versions, Google has added a new preference/flag which can be modified to add or remove Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar. Actually Google has added a new pinning feature to the Side Panel which can be used to pin any particular side panel tool to Chrome toolbar for direct access. As a part of this new feature update, the main Side Panel icon has been removed from Chrome toolbar.

Google is rolling out the new Side Panel pinning feature in phases, that’s why some Chrome users have received the new change and some are waiting for it.

Now there might be two types of Chrome users:

• One who don’t have Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar and want to restore the button.
• Second who still have Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar and want to disable or remove it.

We can take help of the above mentioned hidden secret preferences/flag to restore or remove the Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar.

If you also want to add or remove Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar, following steps will help you:

STEP 1: Open Google Chrome web browser and type chrome://flags/ in address bar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration page.

STEP 2: Now type pinning in the “Search flags” box.

Look for following option in the results:

STEP 3: To disable or remove the Side Panel button from Chrome toolbar, select Enabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

To enable or restore the Side Panel button on Chrome toolbar, select Disabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

STEP 4: Google Chrome will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Relaunch now” button to restart Google Chrome.

That’s it. You have successfully enabled/disabled Side Panel toolbar button in Chrome.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default setting in Chrome, select “Default” option from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option and restart the browser.

Also Check:

[Tip] How to Disable Side Panel Search in Google Chrome

How to Enable or Disable Reading Mode in Google Chrome Side Panel

How to Enable / Disable Power Bookmarks UI in Chrome Side Panel

[Tip] Disable or Remove Journeys from Side Panel in Chrome

Enable Customize New Tab Page Options in Chrome Side Panel