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You can add Edge’s Sidebar Search panel from Settings and more (⋯) > Settings > Sidebar. Turn on Always show sidebar, then select the magnifying-glass Search icon. The panel searches the entire web or the site open in your active tab while keeping that page visible.
To hide it, return to Settings > Sidebar and turn Always show sidebar off. You can also open the sidebar on demand with Ctrl+Shift+E. If Search or the Sidebar setting is absent, the cause may be a phased Edge rollout, regional or account differences, or an administrator policy on a managed computer.
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The Sidebar Search panel is a desktop Edge feature that places a search box beside the webpage you are reading. Search results stay in the side pane, so the active page does not have to be replaced. You can inspect a result in the pane or open it in a normal, full-width tab.
The panel is different from the sidebar’s app list. Microsoft Support says the app list is being retired gradually, beginning with Microsoft account users; new apps can no longer be added and existing pinned apps will be removed in a future update. That retirement does not remove the Search feature where Search remains available, and it does not affect Copilot or the side pane. Microsoft has not announced a confirmed completion date for the app-list retirement.
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How do I add Search to the Edge sidebar?
On a Windows or macOS desktop installation with the feature available, enable the sidebar and then launch its Search tool. The setting controls visibility of the whole sidebar; Search is opened from the sidebar itself.
Turn on the persistent sidebar
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select the three-dot Settings and more menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- In the Settings navigation, select Sidebar.
- Turn on Always show sidebar.
With that switch enabled, the sidebar remains visible as you move between pages. If you only need it occasionally, leave the persistent switch off and use Ctrl+Shift+E to open the sidebar when required.
Open the Search tool
- Look at the icons along the sidebar.
- Select the magnifying-glass icon labeled Search.
- Enter a query in the search box.
Search can be scoped to the entire web or to the website currently open in the main tab. The available scope choices appear in the Search panel, so confirm the selected scope before interpreting the results.
Choose how to open a result
Selecting a result can display it inside the sidebar, allowing you to keep the source page visible. If the narrow pane is not suitable for reading, open the result in a new tab with the result’s Open link in new tab command. This preserves the original page in its tab and gives the result the normal browser width.
How can I search highlighted text from a webpage?
Edge can use selected text as the starting point for a sidebar search, which is useful for a term, name, or phrase you are already reading.
- Highlight text on the webpage.
- Use Edge’s text-selection search action to open the search pop-up.
- If you need to change the behavior, open the pop-up’s … menu.
- Use that menu to disable the search menu for the current page or for all webpages during the current browsing session.
Disabling the menu for the current page is narrower than disabling it for the session. The latter affects subsequent pages until the browsing session ends; it does not change the main sidebar visibility switch.
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To remove the panel from view without closing your tab, turn off the setting that keeps the sidebar visible. This hides the sidebar rather than uninstalling Edge or changing your open webpages.
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- Select Settings and more (⋯).
- Select Settings, then Sidebar.
- Turn Always show sidebar off.
When the sidebar is hidden, your current tab and its page remain open. You can bring the sidebar back when needed with Ctrl+Shift+E, provided the feature has not been blocked by an organization policy.
Hide the whole sidebar or only stop using Search?
Edge’s consumer setting hides the sidebar as a whole. It does not provide a separate consumer switch that removes only the Search icon while leaving every other sidebar control visible. On a managed computer, an administrator can apply a Search-specific policy, described below.
What is the difference between opening Search temporarily and keeping the sidebar visible?
A temporary opening is an on-demand action; the persistent option is a profile setting that keeps the sidebar displayed as you browse.
| Method | What it changes | Persistence | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+Shift+E | Opens the sidebar when you invoke the shortcut. | On-demand; it does not turn on the persistent setting. | Occasional searches while keeping the browser uncluttered. |
| Always show sidebar | Keeps the complete sidebar visible in the Edge window. | Remains enabled until you turn it off. | Frequent use of Search or other available sidebar features. |
| Search icon | Opens the Search pane inside an already visible sidebar. | Applies to the current sidebar use. | Searching without leaving the active webpage. |
| Managed Search policy | Allows or blocks Search in Sidebar for governed profiles. | Controlled by the organization; a restart generally applies policy changes. | Company, school, or other managed Edge deployments. |
Why is Search in Sidebar missing in Edge?
The Search icon and related controls are not identical for every Edge installation. Microsoft notes that Edge features can change and that availability may vary by release, region, and account. A missing control therefore does not necessarily indicate a damaged installation.
Check the normal consumer causes
- Confirm that you are using the desktop Edge browser rather than a mobile build.
- Open Settings > Sidebar and check whether Always show sidebar is present.
- Look for the magnifying-glass Search icon after the sidebar is open.
- Consider whether the feature is still rolling out to your Edge release, region, or signed-in account.
If the Sidebar page itself is present but Search is not, the account or release may not yet have the feature. If both the page and the icon are unavailable on a work or school computer, an administrator policy is another likely explanation.
Understand the effect of managed-device policies
Microsoft documents the SearchInSidebarEnabled policy for Microsoft Edge 110 and later on Windows and macOS. Administrators can use it to enable Search in Sidebar, disable it, or disable it only in Kids Mode. Microsoft lists Android and iOS as unsupported targets for this policy.
Policy settings can override the controls you see in Edge. If a policy blocks Search, changing a local consumer toggle will not restore the icon; the organization’s administrator must change the policy. After an administrator changes Edge policies, the browser generally needs to be restarted before the new state appears.
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What can an organization control in the Edge sidebar?
Enterprise administrators have broader controls than an individual profile. These policies govern availability and customization rather than merely opening the pane for one search.
| Policy | Administrative effect | Supported details or limits |
|---|---|---|
| SearchInSidebarEnabled | Enables Search in Sidebar, disables it, or disables it only in Kids Mode. | Supported for Edge 110 or later on Windows and macOS; Android and iOS are listed as unsupported. |
| HubsSidebarEnabled | Allows or blocks the sidebar itself. | A sidebar-wide control; blocking the sidebar prevents ordinary access to its tools. |
| EdgeSidebarCustomizeEnabled | Allows or prevents users from adding or deleting sidebar apps. | Concerns app customization, not the basic Search query workflow. |
| Extension and URL policies for individual sidebar apps | Controls particular sidebar apps or their destinations. | Useful when an organization needs granular restrictions rather than a single global switch. |
These controls should be interpreted by scope: HubsSidebarEnabled governs the container, SearchInSidebarEnabled governs Search, and EdgeSidebarCustomizeEnabled governs user changes to the app collection. A policy can therefore make the whole sidebar unavailable, leave the sidebar visible but remove Search, or preserve the sidebar while restricting customization.
Is the sidebar app-list retirement the same as removing Search?
No. The app-list retirement concerns the collection of sidebar apps and its customization model; Search is a separate pane that can continue to work where Microsoft has enabled it.
What changes for consumer accounts?
Microsoft Support states: “The sidebar app list will be retired in the near future, starting with Microsoft account (MSA) users.” The same support guidance says that new apps can no longer be added and that existing pinned apps will be removed in a future update. Because the rollout is gradual and has no published completion date, users may see different app-list behavior during the transition.
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Copilot and the side pane are not affected by that app-list retirement. Search in Sidebar is also conceptually separate: if the Search icon is available in your Edge release and profile, you can still use it even while the app list is being phased out.
Why this distinction matters for troubleshooting
If an app you previously pinned disappears, that can be part of Microsoft’s retirement process rather than evidence that Search is broken. Conversely, a missing Search icon should be investigated through Edge availability, account or region rollout, and administrator policies rather than by trying to restore the old app list.
How should I troubleshoot a sidebar that will not show or hide?
Use the symptom that matches your installation instead of changing unrelated Edge settings.
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The Sidebar setting is visible, but the sidebar does not appear
- Verify the state of Always show sidebar after selecting Settings > Sidebar.
- Try Ctrl+Shift+E to request an on-demand opening.
- Close and reopen Edge if a recent policy or browser update may not yet have been applied.
If the control is immediately reversed or remains unavailable on a managed device, ask the administrator whether HubsSidebarEnabled or another organization policy is enforcing the state.
The sidebar opens, but Search is absent
- Check that you are looking for the magnifying-glass Search icon, not an app-list entry.
- Allow for staged availability tied to your Edge release, region, or account.
- On a work or school device, have the administrator check SearchInSidebarEnabled.
Do not assume that reinstalling Edge will add a feature that Microsoft has not enabled for the profile or that an administrator has blocked.
A policy change appears to have no effect
Edge policy updates generally take effect after an Edge restart. If the browser has been restarted and the setting is still governed, the effective policy may be coming from a higher-priority organization configuration; the administrator must inspect the managed deployment rather than the local Sidebar page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which sidebar action should I use?
Choose the smallest control that matches your goal: open Search for a quick lookup, enable the persistent sidebar for repeated work, or disable the persistent setting when the sidebar is distracting.
| Your goal | Use | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Search once without changing your layout permanently | Ctrl+Shift+E, then select Search. | The sidebar is available for the current use without committing to a persistent visibility preference. |
| Keep Search beside every page | Settings > Sidebar > Always show sidebar on. | The sidebar stays displayed as you browse. |
| Read results at normal width | Use Open link in new tab on a result. | The result opens in a full tab while the original page remains available. |
| Remove the sidebar from the window | Settings > Sidebar > Always show sidebar off. | The sidebar is hidden without closing the active tab. |
| Prevent users from using Search | Configure SearchInSidebarEnabled. | An administrator-enforced state for supported Windows and macOS desktop deployments. |
Frequently asked questions
Does hiding the sidebar close my current webpage?
No. The visibility switch affects the Edge side pane, not the tab or navigation history. Your page remains open, and you can continue browsing normally after the pane is hidden.
Can I search only the website I am currently viewing?
Yes, when that scope is offered in your Search panel. Select the option for the current website instead of the entire web before submitting the query; the available choices can vary with the Edge release and feature rollout.
Is SearchInSidebarEnabled available for Edge on a phone?
Microsoft’s policy documentation lists Windows and macOS Edge 110 or later as supported and Android and iOS as unsupported for this policy. That limitation applies to administrative policy targeting; it should not be read as a guarantee that every consumer Edge feature behaves identically across mobile and desktop.
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Who can restore Search if a company computer blocks it?
The organization that manages the Edge profile must change the effective policy. A local user can report the missing feature, but changing Always show sidebar cannot override an administrator setting that disables Search or the entire sidebar.
Can I add new sidebar apps while Microsoft retires the app list?
Microsoft Support says new apps can no longer be added to the consumer sidebar app list and that existing pinned apps will be removed in a future update. This transition does not determine whether the separate Search pane is available, so app-list behavior and Search availability should be checked independently.
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Does hiding the sidebar close my current webpage?
No. The visibility switch affects the Edge side pane, not the tab or navigation history. Your page remains open, and you can continue browsing normally after the pane is hidden.
Can I search only the website I am currently viewing?
Yes, when that scope is offered in your Search panel. Select the option for the current website instead of the entire web before submitting the query; the available choices can vary with the Edge release and feature rollout.
Is SearchInSidebarEnabled available for Edge on a phone?
Microsoft’s policy documentation lists Windows and macOS Edge 110 or later as supported and Android and iOS as unsupported for this policy. That limitation applies to administrative policy targeting; it should not be read as a guarantee that every consumer Edge feature behaves identically across mobile and desktop.
Who can restore Search if a company computer blocks it?
The organization that manages the Edge profile must change the effective policy. A local user can report the missing feature, but changing Always show sidebar cannot override an administrator setting that disables Search or the entire sidebar.
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Can I add new sidebar apps while Microsoft retires the app list?
Microsoft Support says new apps can no longer be added to the consumer sidebar app list and that existing pinned apps will be removed in a future update. This transition does not determine whether the separate Search pane is available, so app-list behavior and Search availability should be checked independently.
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