Multitasking Tips through Edge Bar in Microsoft Edge Browser
Edge Bar is an extra window in your Edge browser, which you can optionally activate or deactivate. Edge Bar saves your time and makes it easy to search a term without closing the current tab or app.
Edge Bar is just like adding a mobile phone screen inside main window of your computer.
It displays throughout your computer even alongside Chrome browser. It is very useful for quick multiple tasking.
Usage Examples of Microsoft Edge Side Bar
Suppose I am reading an article in Edge browser which mentions a word ‘Lingerie’ and suddenly, I get the idea to search the correct pronunciation for this word. Now, for me one option is to open a new tab in the main browser window. However, for saving time, instead of opening new tab, I simply click on the Bing button in the Edge Bar, search ‘Lingerie Pronunciation’ there, I listen the correct pronunciation and click anywhere in main tab and the Edge Bar automatically hides.
Another example is that you are working on an MS Word document, and you quickly want to know synonyms of a specific word without launching the main browser, so you can easily find the synonyms for that word in Edge Bar.
How easy it was. Similarly, I can easily and quickly check email, social media feed, news etc in the Edge Bar, without closing the main window of Edge Browser.
How to Access Settings and Activate Edge Bar?
You can access settings of Edge Bar through below navigation path.
Click Three Dots for ‘Settings and More’ (or press Alt+F) in top right corner of Edge browser → Settings → Edge bar.
If you like the Edge Bar and want to see it always activated, just toggle ON the ‘Automatically open Edge bar when the computer starts’ option.
You can also save the Edge Bar link in the favorites of your main Edge window. To do that, copy and paste ‘edge://settings/edgeBar’ in the address bar of your main window of Edge browser and press Enter.
Edge Bar can stay activated even if you closed the main window of Edge browser and it will stay open along with other browsers in your computer such as Chrome browser. However, you have the option to minimize the Edge bar or completely close it.
Prominent Features of Microsoft Edge Side Bar
Though auto hide feature in Edge bar is great because Edge bar will automatically hide as you will click inside main window of Edge browser after performing any task the bar. However, you can enable or disable the ‘auto hide’ function.
You can pin or unpin the Edge Bar. Best option is to keep enabled the autohide and pin the Edge bar.
You can add favorites in the Edge bar. To do that just click on the + button in Edge Bar, enter URL and name. It will make it easier for you to quickly open your favorite websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Wikipedia, BBC News.
If you want to save screen space, you can minimize the Edge Bar by clicking on the minus symbol. After minimizing, you can again, quickly open the Edge Bar, by selecting arrow in the taskbar and clicking Edge bar icon. However, before minimizing it, I will suggest you enable floating button by going into settings of Edge Bar, so that a little icon of Edge Bar always keep visible and in your quick access for opening the Edge bar again. You can drag the icon of Edge Bar and drop it at your desired location in screen.
You can also personalize the feed of posts you want to see in the Edge bar.
By clicking the settings of Edge Bar, you can select your favorite layout of Edge bar between search only or vertical layout. Personally, I prefer the vertical layout.
Explore more helpful articles about Browser features and settings or visit Home page. Email us to suggest edits and for your feedback about this Article.
