What simply occurred? Microsoft Edge is arguably among the finest browsers on Home windows, however the firm’s insistence on shoving pointless “options” into the app annoys many customers. One such annoyance is a brand new Sidebar icon that popped up on the top-right nook of the toolbar following the most recent replace.
Based on reviews from Edge customers, the icon appeared after updating Edge to model 121.0.2277.128, and will be seen within the top-right nook of the display, slightly below the Shut (x) field. It’s only seen when all Sidebar settings, together with Copilot, are turned off. Nonetheless, not everyone seems to be thrilled with the brand new button, and a few are searching for methods to take away it for good.
The unhealthy information for Edge customers is that there isn’t any GUI choice to eliminate the icon, however it may be performed with a straightforward registry tweak. As defined by Eleven Boards person TairikuOkami, the button will be completely disabled utilizing Edge Insurance policies. To try this, merely open up the Terminal app as Administrator and duplicate/paste the next three strains of code one after the other after which hit Enter:
reg add "HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftEdge" /v "HubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f reg add "HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftEdge" /v "SearchInSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "2" /f reg add "HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftEdge" /v "StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
After every line of code is executed, you will get the message “Operation accomplished efficiently.” Now merely restart Edge, and the pesky new sidebar button could have disappeared. Whereas this isn’t probably the most elegant method to eliminate the characteristic, it’s at present the best approach. Hopefully, Microsoft will supply a easy GUI choice to disable the icon in future variations of the browser.
Microsoft has a behavior of introducing unpopular components in Home windows to push its much less in style apps and options that no person cares about. Final 12 months, Home windows 11 began mechanically including the Edge icon to the desktop even after customers eliminated it manually. The corporate additionally launched adverts in Home windows 11 and different annoyances regardless of receiving extreme pushback from customers.
