Google has introduced vertical tabs in the latest Canary build of Chrome for desktop, enabling users to switch layouts via right-click menus. The feature, spotted by Windows Report, stacks tabs in a sidebar to provide more screen space and reduce clutter.
Chrome’s Canary version serves as an experimental release channel where Google tests upcoming features before they reach stable versions. Vertical tabs address a long-standing request from users familiar with similar functionalities in competing browsers. To activate the vertical layout, users right-click the horizontal tab bar at the top of the browser window. A context menu appears, offering the option labeled “Show tabs to the side.” Once selected, the tabs relocate to a vertical sidebar on the left side of the screen.
In this configuration, individual tabs stack vertically, one above the other, allowing quick visual scanning of open pages without horizontal scrolling. The sidebar integrates additional elements for enhanced usability. At the top, a Tab Search field permits users to locate specific tabs by typing keywords, streamlining navigation across multiple open sessions. Adjacent to this is a button that collapses or expands the entire sidebar, toggling its visibility to reclaim horizontal space when needed.
Lower sections of the sidebar accommodate organizational tools. Tab Groups, which bundle related tabs together for easier management, display here. Users can create, edit, or access these groups directly within the vertical interface. The familiar “+” button for opening new tabs positions at the bottom, maintaining consistency with Chrome’s standard workflow. This placement ensures that essential actions remain accessible without disrupting the vertical flow.
To return to the traditional horizontal tabs, users right-click anywhere on the vertical tab bar. The context menu then presents the option “Show tabs at the top,” instantly restoring the original layout. This bidirectional switching supports flexible use, accommodating preferences for different browsing scenarios.
Windows Report first identified the feature in Chrome Canary, noting its presence as an early implementation. The outlet described it as a work in progress, with rough edges compared to more refined versions in browsers such as Vivaldi, Edge, Firefox, and Brave. Vivaldi pioneered customizable tab arrangements, including vertical options, years ago. Edge incorporates vertical tabs through its sidebar enhancements, while Firefox offers extensions and built-in tweaks for similar layouts. Brave, built on Chromium like Chrome, includes vertical tab support in its core features.
Despite imperfections, the vertical tabs in Chrome Canary function completely. Users on the Canary channel, which updates frequently with experimental code, can enable and use the feature immediately. This development aligns with Google’s ongoing refinements to Chrome’s interface, responding to user feedback on tab management efficiency.
