Vertical tabs can completely change how you browse, especially if you often work with multiple tabs at once. Instead of stacking tabs horizontally at the top, vertical tabs move them to the side, making them easier to manage and read.
While Google Chrome doesn’t officially enable vertical tabs by default yet, you can still turn on this feature using experimental flags. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to enable and use vertical tabs in Chrome step by step.
How to Enable and Use Vertical Tabs in Chrome
Before we begin, keep in mind that vertical tabs in Chrome are currently available through experimental features (flags), soon it will be availabe in the stable release.
This means the feature may not be fully stable, but it works well for most users and gives you an early look at upcoming functionality.
1. Enable Vertical Tabs Using Chrome Flags
To start using vertical tabs, you first need to enable the feature through Chrome’s experimental settings.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
3. In the search bar at the top, type Vertical Tabs.
4. Click on the dropdown menu next to it and select Enabled.
5. Click on Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the changes.
2. Access and Turn On Vertical Tabs
After enabling the flag, you can access the vertical tabs layout from the browser interface.
1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Right-click on the tabs bar and select Show tabs vertically.
Your tabs will move from the top to the side of the screen, allowing you to view all your tabs in a vertical list.
How to Enable Vertical Tabs Using Chrome Settings
If you don’t want to use experimental flags, Chrome is gradually adding vertical tabs as part of its newer interface updates. In supported versions, you can enable and use vertical tabs directly from the settings or toolbar.
Before following the steps, make sure your browser is updated to the latest version, as this feature may not be available on older builds.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
3. Navigate to the Appearance section. Look for the Tab Position option and select Vertical
Final Thoughts
Vertical tabs in Chrome offer a fresh and more organized way to manage your browsing, especially if you regularly handle many open tabs. Although the feature is still experimental, it provides a useful alternative to the traditional layout.
Once enabled, you can customize and manage your tabs more efficiently, making your overall browsing experience cleaner and more productive.
