Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsShort answer: Microsoft has not launched one product called “New Microsoft Edge Sidebar Extensions.” The current model combines ordinary Edge extensions that can provide a sidebar interface with sidebar-capable web apps or PWAs. Meanwhile, Microsoft is gradually retiring the old sidebar app list (App Tower): new apps can no longer be added, existing pinned apps will eventually disappear, and no final retirement date has been announced.
Copilot and the side pane are not covered by that retirement notice. The practical replacement for a disappearing app icon depends on whether you need access to the active page, a standalone dashboard, or simply a website kept nearby.
What Microsoft is changing
Microsoft’s support guidance describes a gradual retirement of the sidebar app list in Edge. New apps cannot be added to the App Tower, and existing pinned apps will be removed in a future update. Microsoft has not published a confirmed date for complete removal. This is narrower than saying that the entire Edge sidebar is disappearing: the notice does not affect Copilot or the side pane.
That change explains why searches for “new Edge sidebar extensions” often produce confusing answers. The former app-pinning system and the extension system are different features, and an extension is not a guaranteed replacement for every old sidebar app.
#1 Best Overall
Microsoft’s sidebar retirement guidance should be treated as the authoritative source for rollout status, which can vary by Edge release and managed-device policy.
Sidebar extensions and sidebar apps are not the same
| Feature | Sidebar extension | Sidebar app or PWA |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An Edge extension with a sidebar interface, possibly alongside a toolbar button or popup | A web app or PWA adapted to run in Edge’s sidebar |
| Distribution | Microsoft Edge Add-ons | A website or PWA installation flow |
| Active-page access | Can use extension APIs and content scripts, subject to permissions | Runs in its own web context and does not inherently have extension-level page access |
| Good fit | Page analysis, rewriting, research capture, accessibility and browser controls | Messaging, media, dashboards and other standalone companion apps |
| Sidebar behavior | Defined by the extension developer; it may need to be opened from the toolbar | Usually represented as its own web-app or sidebar entry |
Microsoft documents both approaches in its sidebar developer documentation. Do not call every site that opens in a narrow pane an extension, and do not assume every Edge Add-ons listing supports a sidebar.
How to install a sidebar-capable extension
- Open Microsoft Edge and select the Extensions puzzle-piece icon near the address bar. If it is hidden, select Settings and more (…) > Extensions.
- Select Get Extensions for Microsoft Edge.
- Search for the extension and select Get.
- Read the requested permissions, then select Add extension only if they match the tool’s purpose.
- Open the extension from its toolbar button, its own sidebar control, or the method described by the developer.
Installing an extension does not guarantee a sidebar interface. Check the listing description, screenshots and developer documentation for explicit sidebar or side-panel support. Microsoft’s installation and removal instructions and extension FAQ cover the standard controls.
Useful categories to consider
Choose by task rather than by an unverified “best extensions” ranking:
- AI research and writing: summarization, rewriting, translation and question-answering panels. Confirm whether page text is sent to a cloud service.
- Grammar and editing: tools that inspect selected text or form fields. Their Edge listing may provide inline or toolbar features instead of a true sidebar.
- Productivity: notes, tasks, calendars, timers, tab management and research capture.
- Shopping: coupon, price-tracking and rewards tools. Review affiliate disclosures and shopping-data practices.
- Developer utilities: JSON or XML formatting, color tools, page diagnostics and userscript management.
- Reading and accessibility: translation, text-to-speech, contrast, font and reading aids.
- Web-app companions: dashboards or messaging services designed to remain visible beside the active tab.
The official Edge Add-ons catalog currently displays products such as Grammarly, Sider, Tampermonkey and PayPal Honey. Their presence in the catalog does not prove that each one is a dedicated sidebar extension; inspect each listing individually.
Check privacy and compatibility before installing
- Does the listing explicitly mention sidebar or side-panel support?
- Which permissions are requested? “Read and change your data on all websites” is substantially broader than access to one named site.
- Will it read browsing history, page contents, form data, tabs or downloads?
- Is the publisher identifiable, and is the extension recently updated?
- Are reviews recent and specific rather than only high in number?
- Does it require an account, a subscription or a separate desktop program?
- Does it work on your operating system and Edge channel?
- Does it support PDFs, private windows, internal Edge pages and sites that restrict embedded content?
- Does it send page content to a remote service, and does its privacy policy explain retention and training?
- Does it inject advertising, affiliate links or shopping prompts?
Microsoft specifically advises reviewing permissions before installation. A broad permission can be justified by a page-analysis tool, but it deserves more scrutiny than a local timer or calculator.
Rank #3
Why a sidebar extension may not work
- The extension is a normal toolbar or popup extension, not a sidebar extension.
- Its toolbar icon is hidden; open Extensions > Manage extensions and use the visibility control.
- The developer requires the sidebar to be opened from the extension’s toolbar menu or shortcut.
- The current site blocks framing or embedded content through its security headers.
- The extension lacks permission for that website, or the page is an Edge internal, settings or otherwise protected page.
- Private browsing access is disabled for the extension.
- A work or school administrator blocks the extension or the sidebar.
- The extension is incompatible with the current Edge release, manifest version or API.
- The service requires sign-in or is temporarily unavailable.
- The old App Tower has been mistaken for the extension system.
To test a conflict, open Extensions > Manage extensions, toggle the suspected extension off, and try again. Select Remove to uninstall it. Restart Edge if the sidebar or toolbar does not immediately refresh. Microsoft’s support page covers these controls at Add, turn off or remove extensions in Microsoft Edge.
What to do about Gmail, WhatsApp and other former sidebar sites
There is no reliable way to add new entries through the retired App Tower workflow: Microsoft says new apps can no longer be added, and existing pinned apps will eventually be removed. Individual services may still be available as ordinary websites, PWAs or third-party extensions, but none of those is a guaranteed one-for-one replacement.
- Install the site as a PWA when Edge offers an install option.
- Keep it as a pinned tab, favorite or tab group.
- Use a sidebar extension designed for that service or task.
- Use Edge’s split-screen feature, vertical tabs or two snapped windows.
- Install a dedicated desktop client where one exists.
- Consider another browser with a more customizable sidebar ecosystem.
These are alternatives, not promises that Microsoft will restore the former pinned-app list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.For developers: extension or sidebar PWA?
Build a sidebar extension when
- The tool must inspect the active page or selected content.
- It needs to modify page content or react to browsing context.
- It requires extension APIs, content scripts, tab controls or permissions.
Build a sidebar PWA when
- The product is primarily a standalone dashboard, messenger, media player or companion web app.
- It does not need privileged access to the active page.
- You want a web application that can also be installed outside Edge’s extension system.
Microsoft’s Edge extension development resources and publishing workflow explain packaging and distribution. A normal popup or toolbar extension may be preferable when a persistent side interface is unnecessary.
Enterprise controls and diagnostics
Administrators can manage sidebar behavior and extension deployment with policies including HubsSidebarEnabled, EdgeOpenInSidebarEnabled, EdgeSidebarCustomizeEnabled, EdgeSidebarAppUrlHostBlockList, ExtensionInstallBlockList, ExtensionInstallAllowList and ExtensionInstallForceList. Blocking the sidebar can also block sidebar apps and related experiences.
On a managed or test device, enter edge://sidebar-internals to inspect sidebar-app information, including extension IDs used by some controls. Policy names and behavior are version-sensitive, so administrators should follow the current Microsoft Edge sidebar deployment documentation rather than relying on an older policy guide.
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Edge’s sidebar is moving away from a user-managed app tower and toward a mixture of Copilot, side-pane experiences, PWAs and individually designed extensions. Install a sidebar extension only after confirming that it really supports the side panel and that its permissions fit the job. If an old pinned app disappears, use a PWA, a regular tab, split windows or a purpose-built extension; there is no confirmed restoration path for the former App Tower.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft launching a single new Edge Sidebar Extensions product?
No. Sidebar extensions are a documented Edge extension capability, not one standalone Microsoft product or guaranteed collection.
Can every Edge extension open in the sidebar?
No. The developer must implement sidebar support, and the listing should state how the interface is opened.
When will the old Edge sidebar app list disappear completely?
Microsoft says retirement is gradual and has not announced a confirmed final date.
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