Google is working on vertical tabs for Chrome

Even though horizontal tabs (running along the top of the browser) are the traditional and default view across most modern browsers, most of them also offer the ability to enable vertical tabs, with one major exception.

That major exception is Google Chrome.

Even though the browser commands over 70 percent of the worldwide browser market share (as of October 2025), it has long-avoided the interface shift, sticking with horizontal tabs as the only native tab arrangement option. That, however, is now changing.

As highlighted by credible browser analyst @Leopeva64 on X, development on a Chrome vertical tab bar has been ongoing since July at the very least. With the latest round of developments, the vertical panel is starting to take shape.

Albeit limited to Chrome Canary, Google’s experimental Chrome version, the feature’s limited presence gives us a clear look at what might soon be a stable option available to all Google Chrome users.

You can try out the new vertical tab panel now

Pointed out by the folks over at Windows Report, the latest Canary build can already let you go hands-on with the feature. If you’re running Chrome Canary, right-click the tab bar — you should see a new ‘Show tabs on side’ option appear.

Tapping the button moves the tab strip to the left in a dedicated panel/sidebar, presumably leaving only the address bar at the top. I say “presumably” because, despite being on the latest Chrome Canary build, the ‘Show tabs on side’ button did not show up for me, and I haven’t been able to test the feature out for myself.

According to early testing, the side-aligned bar highlights a tab search button right at the top, while icons for tab groups and new tabs sit right at the bottom. The sidebar is also collapsible, for times when you want to maximize screen space.

Right-clicking anywhere in the vertical layout highlights a “Show tabs at the top” button, which essentially reverts Chrome to the original horizontal tab layout.

Considering how polished the feature looks, it’s a question of when the vertical tab layout will expand to stable, and not if. Are you able to acces the vertical layout in Chrome Canary? Let us know i the comments below!