[Tip] Move Side Panel to Left in Google Chrome

In newer versions of Google Chrome browser (105 and later), you can move the Side Panel from Right to Left side. There is a hidden option available in Chrome Settings page to change the position of Side Panel. This hidden option can be revealed by modifying a secret preference present on Chrome://flags page.

Following screenshot shows the Side Panel moved to Left-side in Chrome and the hidden secret option to change Side Panel position available in Chrome Settings page:

By default, the Side Panel is displayed on the right-side of Chrome and users can’t move it to other places. The Side panel is pinned or locked as a sidebar on the right-side of Chrome window.

Many Chrome users wanted to move the Side Panel to the left side of Chrome window and finally Chrome team has provided an option to move the Side Panel in Chrome. At the moment, the option is hidden and interested users can enable the option by turning on a preference available on the advanced Flags page.

Once you turn on the preference on Flags page, the built-in option to move Side Panel to left will be added to Chrome Settings page.

If you also want to move Side Panel to Left side in Google Chrome browser, following steps will help you:

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

2. Now type unified in the “Search flags” box.

Look for following option in the results:

3. To add and enable the new option to change Side Panel position in Chrome Settings, select Enabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

PS: The “Unified Side Panel” preference will add new UI and features to the Side Panel in upcoming versions of Chrome.

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

5. Once Chrome is restarted, click on 3-dots menu (Main Menu) and select Settings option. Alternatively, you can directly open the Settings page by typing chrome://settings/ in Chrome address bar.

In left-side pane of Settings page, click on “Appearance” section. In right-side pane, you’ll see a new option “Side Panel” added.

By default, the Side Panel option is set to Show on right. To move the Side Panel to left-side, select “Show on left” option.

That’s it. It’ll immediately move the Side Panel to left in your Chrome browser.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore the Side Panel to default position i.e. Right-side in Chrome, select “Show on right” option in Chrome Settings page or set the “Unified Side Panel” preference to “Default” on chrome://flags page and restart your browser.

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