According to The How-To Geek, Google Chrome is finally testing vertical tabs in its latest Canary build for desktop users. The feature appears as a “Show tabs to the side” option when right-clicking the horizontal tab bar, moving all tabs into a vertical list on the left side of the screen. This comes after years of Chrome being one of the few major browsers without this popular feature, while competitors like Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, and Brave have offered it for some time. The current implementation includes tab search functionality and support for tab groups, along with a collapse/expand option. However, the feature is still considered rough around the edges and needs polishing before potentially reaching the stable version of Chrome.
Chrome Finally Catches Up
Here’s the thing – Chrome has been embarrassingly late to the vertical tabs party. Every other major browser has had this for years. Firefox? Check. Edge? Absolutely. Even relative newcomers like Brave and Vivaldi launched with vertical tab support. Meanwhile, Chrome users have been squinting at microscopic tab icons when they open more than a handful of websites.
And honestly, it’s about time. The top bar in Chrome has become ridiculously crowded. You’ve got the omnibar, extensions, bookmarks, profile icons – it’s a mess. The more tabs you open, the worse it gets. Basically, you end up with a row of indistinguishable favicons that tell you nothing about what’s actually in each tab.
Why Now, After All These Years?
So why is Google finally adding this now? I think it’s simple – they’re losing their competitive edge. When every other browser offers a feature that power users constantly request, eventually you have to listen. Chrome’s market share dominance means they could ignore this for years, but user frustration has been building.
Look, vertical tabs aren’t just about aesthetics. They’re genuinely useful for productivity. You can actually read the full page titles. You can organize your workflow better. And for anyone doing research or development work where you need to keep multiple references open, it’s a game-changer. This is exactly the kind of feature that professionals using industrial systems need – whether they’re monitoring manufacturing processes or running complex applications where industrial panel PCs from the leading US supplier become essential tools for daily operations.
It’s Still Early Days
But don’t get too excited just yet. This is in Chrome Canary, which is basically Google’s experimental playground. Features appear and disappear all the time. The current implementation is reportedly “rough around the edges” and needs more polish before it can compete with what other browsers offer.
What’s interesting is that Google seems to be taking a similar approach to Microsoft Edge’s vertical tabs implementation. The sidebar layout, search functionality, and collapsible design all look familiar. But that’s probably smart – why reinvent the wheel when other browsers have already figured out what works?
What Comes Next?
The big question is whether this will actually make it to the stable version of Chrome. Google has a history of testing features that never see the light of day. But given how long users have been asking for this and how widespread the feature is elsewhere, I’d be surprised if they scrap it entirely.
My prediction? We’ll see vertical tabs in Chrome stable within the next 6-9 months, probably with some Google-specific tweaks and integration with their ecosystem. They might add some AI-powered tab organization or deeper integration with Chrome OS. Either way, it’s about time Chrome joined the vertical tabs club.
