Microsoft Edge has acquired a new sidebar option that provides quick access to web versions of Microsoft Office tools. However, the feature is not enabled by default and is hidden behind a toggle at this time. In this article, we have explained how you can enable or disable Office sidebar in Microsoft Edge browser.



Office Sidebar in Microsoft Edge

The Edge for Office sidebar is available in the latest version of the Edge browser. We accessed the feature in Edge 99.0.1150.36 on a laptop running Windows 11. If you don't see the feature, make sure the Edge browser is updated to the latest version.

What is the Office Sidebar in Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft is rolling out a sidebar in Edge dedicated to web-based versions of its Office productivity suite. The feature only exists on the new tab page and does not take up space on other websites. Interestingly, Microsoft added a shortcut for Skype instead of Teams (which exists on the Windows 11 taskbar, but you can disable the Teams chat icon) in the sidebar.

Also, at the moment it is not possible to set custom shortcuts or change the predefined list of allowed websites in the sidebar. Check out the exact range of Office products available in the sidebar below:

  • Office Home
  • Word
  • Excel
  • power point
  • Outlook
  • OneDrive
  • a note
  • To do
  • Calendar
  • Skype

Enable Office Sidebar in Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge and click the Settings gear icon in the upper right corner of the New Tab Page .

open edge settings

2. In the layout settings, click "Custom" to enable or disable the Office sidebar.

custom layout

3. Under Custom Settings, enable the "Office Sidebar" toggle , and you're good to go. You will now see a sidebar on the left side of Edge, giving you instant access to the online version of Microsoft Office.

enable Edge Office sidebar

4. This is what the sidebar looks like when you activate it. By clicking on one of the buttons, you will be redirected to the corresponding website. You can click the app launcher icon on the top left to expand the Edge sidebar.

edge desktop sidebar

5. Check out the extended sidebar version below. As you can see, the extended sidebar contains name tags to help users quickly identify the website shortcut. Clicking anywhere outside the sidebar collapses the sidebar to its original position.

extended desktop sidebar

Disable Office Sidebar in Microsoft Edge

1. To disable the Office sidebar in Edge, you need to click on the Settings gear icon in the top right corner and go to Layout settings.

open edge settings

2. Next, click "Custom" from the layout settings.

custom layout

3. Now turn off the "Office Sidebar" toggle , and that's it. You have now restored the previous Edge new tab page without the sidebar.

disable edge office sidebar

4. Another way to disable the sidebar is by clicking on the vertical three-dot menu at the bottom and choosing "Hide Sidebar" .

hide sidebar edge

Get to Microsoft Office Online faster with the Edge sidebar

Enabling the Office Sidebar makes it easier to access Microsoft's Office suite online from the browser. If you are someone who uses Microsoft Office tools a lot, you may consider enabling the sidebar for quick access. As mentioned above, the sidebar is limited to the new tab page, and hence, you don't waste space while browsing some of the cool and interesting websites available on the internet. For more such tips, be sure to check out our list of the best Edge tips and tricks.


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