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Quick Answer

Click the Split Screen icon (a split square) in the address bar to view two websites side-by-side in one tab. Right-click any tab and select Turn on vertical tabs to move your tabs to a clean list on the left side of the screen.

How to Use Microsoft Edge Productivity Features ​

Applies to: Microsoft Edge (Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-05-17

Summary ​

This article covers the productivity features built into Microsoft Edge that most users overlook — including Collections for research, Vertical Tabs for managing many open tabs, the Edge Sidebar for quick access to apps, Split Screen for side-by-side browsing, and workspaces for organizing projects.

Prerequisites ​

  • Microsoft Edge (version 90 or later; most features require a recent version).
  • A Microsoft work or personal account for syncing Collections across devices.

Instructions ​

1. Use Collections to Organize Research and Links ​

Collections let you save web pages, images, text snippets, and notes in organized groups — like a clipboard that persists across sessions.

  1. Click the Collections icon in the Edge toolbar (it looks like stacked squares with a plus sign). If hidden, click the three-dot menu (⋯) > Collections.
  2. Click Start new collection.
  3. Name the collection (e.g., Q3 Budget Research, Vendor Comparison).
  4. To add the current page, click Add current page at the top of the Collections pane.
  5. To add a text snippet or image, highlight content on any web page, right-click, and select Add to Collections > choose the target collection.
  6. To add notes, click the Add note icon within the collection and type your thoughts.

Export a Collection ​

  1. Open the collection you want to export.
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) at the top of the collection.
  3. Select Send to Excel (creates a spreadsheet of all links) or Send to Word (creates a formatted document).
  4. The file opens in the corresponding Office app or downloads to your computer.

Verification: Open the Collections pane and confirm all saved items appear with titles and thumbnails.

2. Enable Vertical Tabs for Better Tab Management ​

Vertical Tabs move your tab bar from the top of the window to the left side, making it easier to see tab titles when you have many tabs open.

  1. Click the Vertical Tabs icon in the top-left corner of the Edge window (it looks like a sidebar with horizontal lines). Alternatively, right-click any tab and select Turn on vertical tabs.
  2. Your tabs move to a vertical panel on the left side of the window.
  3. Each tab shows its full title (instead of being truncated in a horizontal bar).
  4. Click the pin icon at the top of the vertical tab panel to keep it expanded, or unpin to collapse it into icons only.

Collapse and Expand ​

  • When unpinned, the vertical tab bar collapses to show only favicons. Hover over it to expand temporarily.
  • To return to horizontal tabs, click the Vertical Tabs icon again or right-click a tab and select Turn off vertical tabs.

Tip: Vertical Tabs are especially useful on wide monitors where horizontal space is abundant but vertical tab titles get clipped.

3. Use the Edge Sidebar for Quick Access to Apps ​

The Edge Sidebar provides one-click access to tools and Microsoft 365 apps without leaving your current page.

  1. Click the Sidebar icon in the top-right corner of Edge (or press Ctrl + Shift + /).
  2. The sidebar opens with built-in tools:
    • Copilot — AI assistant for summarizing pages, answering questions, and generating content.
    • Search — search the web without navigating away from your current page.
    • Calculator — a quick calculator widget.
    • Outlook — check email and calendar without opening a new tab.
    • Microsoft To Do — manage tasks from the sidebar.
  3. Click any app icon to open it in a side panel alongside your main page.
  4. To add or remove sidebar apps, click the + icon at the bottom of the sidebar and toggle apps on or off.

Verification: Clicking a sidebar app opens a panel on the right side of the browser without disrupting your current tab.

4. Use Split Screen for Side-by-Side Browsing ​

View two web pages simultaneously within a single Edge window — ideal for comparing documents, referencing a source while writing, or following instructions.

  1. Open a web page you want to view on one side.
  2. Click the Split Screen icon in the toolbar (two overlapping squares). If not visible, right-click the toolbar and enable it, or press Ctrl + Shift + 2.
  3. The current page moves to the left half of the window. A new tab picker appears on the right.
  4. Select an open tab or type a new URL to load in the right half.
  5. Drag the divider between the two panes to resize them.
  6. To exit split view, click the Split Screen icon again or close one of the panes.

Tip: You can open a link in the other split pane by right-clicking a link and selecting Open link in split window.

5. Group Tabs by Topic ​

Tab groups help you organize related tabs visually with colour-coded labels.

  1. Right-click any tab and select Add tab to a new group.
  2. Enter a group name (e.g., Project Alpha, HR Policies) and choose a colour.
  3. The tab group appears as a coloured label in the tab bar.
  4. To add more tabs to an existing group, drag them into the group or right-click a tab and select Add tab to group > choose the group name.
  5. Click the group label to collapse all tabs in the group (hiding them to save space). Click again to expand.

Note: See How to Use Browser Tab Groups for a detailed guide on managing tab groups across browsers.

6. Use Workspaces for Project-Based Browsing ​

Workspaces let you save and switch between entire sets of tabs — like separate desktops for different projects.

  1. Click the Workspaces icon in the top-left corner of Edge (next to the Vertical Tabs icon). If not visible, go to Settings > Appearance and enable Show workspaces button.
  2. Click New workspace.
  3. Name the workspace (e.g., Budget Planning, Onboarding) and choose a colour.
  4. Open all the tabs you need for that project within the workspace.
  5. To switch workspaces, click the Workspaces icon and select a different workspace. Each workspace remembers its own set of tabs.
  6. Tabs from other workspaces are hidden, keeping your focus clear.

Verification: Switching between workspaces changes the visible tab set without closing any tabs.

7. Sync Your Settings and Data Across Devices ​

Ensure your Collections, favourites, passwords, and settings follow you to every device.

  1. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) > Settings > Profiles.
  2. Click Sync and sign in with your Microsoft account.
  3. Toggle on the data types you want to sync: Favourites, Passwords, Collections, Settings, Open tabs, and History.
  4. Repeat on your other devices. Data syncs automatically.

Verification: Open Edge on a second device, sign in, and confirm your Collections and favourites appear.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

If a feature described in this article is not visible in your Edge toolbar, it may need to be enabled. Go to Settings > Appearance > Customize toolbar and toggle on the relevant buttons (Collections, Vertical Tabs, Split Screen, Sidebar).

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Collections icon is missing from the toolbarButton is hiddenClick the three-dot menu (⋯) > Collections, or enable it under Settings > Appearance.
Split Screen option is not availableEdge version is outdatedUpdate Edge: Settings > About Microsoft Edge. The feature requires version 114 or later.
Sidebar does not appearSidebar is disabledPress Ctrl + Shift + / or enable it under Settings > Sidebar.
Collections do not sync between devicesSync is disabled or account mismatchVerify you are signed into the same Microsoft account on both devices. Enable Collections under sync settings.
Vertical Tabs panel covers page contentPanel is pinned openClick the pin icon at the top of the vertical tab panel to unpin it. The panel will auto-collapse when not in use.