Vertical tabs
When enabled, tabs run down the side of the window instead of crowding into a single top strip. Titles and icons stay readable, so switching, closing, and finding pages is easier when you keep many tabs open.
Available on Windows and macOS. Switch between horizontal and vertical layouts anytime — no extension required.
Vertical tabs: tabs listed along the side for easier browsing when many tabs are open
When it helps
- Lots of tabs — Horizontal tabs shrink into narrow chips or icons; vertical tabs keep more of each title visible
- Wide screens — A slim side strip trades a little horizontal space for a clearer tab list — useful for research and document work
- Coming from Edge — If you used Edge vertical tabs, you can switch Turbo to the same side layout in one click
How to turn it on
Use either method to switch horizontal / vertical layout.
Tab strip button (fastest)
Click the Tab layout toggle on the left of the tab strip:
Tab strip left → Tab layout toggle
Settings
Open Settings → Appearance → Tab position and choose horizontal or vertical.
How to use it
- Switch to vertical tabs with the tab strip button or Settings.
- The tab list appears on the side; click to switch pages, double-click to close a tab.
- To return to the top strip, click Tab layout toggle again or change Settings back to horizontal.
Everyday tab actions work the same as in horizontal layout, for example:
- Double-click to close — faster than clicking ×
- Last tab stays open — closing the last tab keeps the window and opens a new tab instead of quitting the window
- Right-click + to paste and open — reads the clipboard: URLs navigate directly; plain text searches with your default engine. Toggle under Settings → Appearance. See Built-in productivity → Paste and open
- Closed-tab restore — toolbar Restore pages: left-click restores the most recently closed tab; long-press or right-click opens the full list
Horizontal vs vertical
| Horizontal tabs | Vertical tabs | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Top strip | Side column |
| Titles with many tabs | Easily compressed | More title text stays visible |
| Best for | Laptops, fewer tabs | Wide screens, many tabs |
| Switching | Tab layout toggle / Settings | Same entry points |
Notes and limits
- Immersive mode — Entering Immersive mode temporarily switches back to horizontal tabs so top chrome can hide; switch back to vertical tabs after you turn immersive mode off.
- Split view — Vertical tabs work together with toolbar Split view.
- No dedicated shortcut — Switch via the tab strip button or Settings; other shortcuts are on Shortcuts.
See also
- Built-in productivity — split view, closed-tab restore, themes, and more
- Immersive mode — auto-hide tab strip and toolbar (and how it interacts with vertical tabs)
- Incognito tabs — isolated Incognito tabs inside a normal window
- Features — full capability list
- Practical tips — more everyday tips
- Migrate from Edge — setup notes after switching browsers