Microsoft Edge is getting rid of sidebar apps as Windows 11 decluttering continues


Microsoft Edge is about to lose one of its more quirky features as Microsoft continues to clean up its software experience. The company has confirmed that the sidebar app list in Edge is being “retired” in the near future, starting with Microsoft account users. Microsoft revealed in an announcement that this is a part of an effort to simplify Edge, but there’s still no word on the exact retirement date yet.

What are sidebar apps, and why is it being removed?

Edge’s sidebar basically lets users pin web apps and sites into a side panel, making it possible to quickly open things like Outlook, shopping tools, search, or other web apps without leaving the current tab. Microsoft’s own support page had described the feature as a way to streamline access to favorite sites and apps.

But now, the feature is simply being removed. Microsoft claims that new apps can no longer be added to the sidebar, and apps already pinned in the app tower will be removed in a future update. The change will roll out gradually and will be included in future Edge updates. The browser will share this via notifications to users who use this feature before it fully disappears.

Copilot is staying, of course

If they really do it, I will stop using Edge and shift to @brave. It was my primary browser. I’ve been using @MicrosoftEdge as my primary browser since 2021 because of split screen, sidebar app, and sidebar search, with Microsoft Copilot and many more. pic.twitter.com/KTtZ1Y8tyW

— Mustaque Nadim (@0xmustaquenadim) May 2, 2026

Microsoft’s support page makes it clear that Copilot is not affected by the sidebar app list retirement. The company says it will continue improving and enhancing Copilot inside Edge, which means the browser’s AI assistant survives while third-party or user-pinned sidebar apps are being phased out.

This has irritated some Edge users, especially those who actively use this feature. The sidebar app list was easily one of the features that helped Edge feel distinct from other Chromium-based browsers, as it gave users a quick mini-app setup inside the browser. And for people who actually built workflows around it, Split Screen is not an exact replacement.



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Recent Reviews


What streaming platform do you think of when you hear the term “comfort shows?” There are plenty of great comfort shows over on Netflix, or maybe available with an HBO Max subscription. But for me, I always think of Peacock.

With a Peacock subscription, there are so many options for classic comfort shows that will no doubt make your day—and provide you with that comfy need that we all so desperately crave. Here are seven that you must check out.

The Office

A classic comedy

Dwight in The Office. Credit: NBC

I mean, you knew it was going to be on here, don’t lie.​​​​​​​

The Office was a nine-season sitcom that took the world by storm. Starring Steve Carell as Michael Scott, this iconic workplace comedy follows the professional and personal lives of workers at a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

I think The Office is a show that defines the word “comfort.” Anytime I ask people what they usually put on in the background, The Office is always the first choice because it’s easy to follow, has characters you want to root for, and is so freaking funny (even if some of those jokes have not aged well all these years later). It’s certainly worth a shot

Parks And Recreation

Amy Poehler is the best

Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation speaking to a camera Credit: NBC

Another great comfort show that also happens to come from the same developer of the U.S. version of The Office (the wonderful Greg Daniels), Parks and Recreation is a sitcom mainly about Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat who is trying to improve her home in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, in the Parks and Recreation department.

The series is extremely well-received and has some huge stars attached, including Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and more. With seven seasons and one hundred and twenty-six episodes, you’re in for a long binge.​​​​​​​

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The laughs go on and on

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Andy dressed asAndy Samberg as Jake Peralta with his arm around Eva Longoria as Sophia Perez in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those shows that I think everyone has seen at least one episode of, just because it’s so funny. The main premise of the series follows the lives of police officers, detectives, and others in a fictional police precinct in New York, specifically in Brooklyn.

This series was a hit for NBC, and while it did move to another streaming platform towards the end of its run, it is a beloved comedy perfect for a weekend of comfy watching. Not only that, but the stars—Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, and more—have some of the best chemistry out there and will, no doubt, make you laugh out loud.

Everybody Loves Raymond

Who doesn’t love an Italian Long Island-er?

Ray Romano in Everybody Loves Raymond Credit: CBS

You better believe I put Everybody Loves Raymond on here—because everyone loves it!

This late 1990s-early 2000s sitcom stars Ray Romano as Ray Barone, an Italian-American who lives on Long Island and has made it as a successful sports writer. It tells the story of his family and how he deals with the drama, juggling his wife, his neighbors, and more.​​​​​​​


The Simpsons on Disney+ on a 4K TV in a green living room.


The 5 Most Popular Comfort Shows and Where to Stream Them

Switch on these shows when you want to switch off.

I genuinely cannot think of another television show I have seen more often over the last couple of decades than this, and the number of reruns is astronomical. With nine seasons, Everybody Loves Raymond is the type of binge you don’t want to miss.​​​​​​​

Modern Family

A series anyone can relate to

Claire and Phil Dunphy in Modern Family Credit: ABC

Now this is my kind of comfort show. Modern Family—and all eleven of its seasons—is available to stream on Peacock.

This groundbreaking sitcom tells the stories of three diverse families in the suburbs of Los Angeles and how their lives intersect. But it’s so much more than that. The comedy is hysterical, and yet each episode finds a new way to tug at your heartstrings.

Not only that, but it’s also just a genuinely relatable show for modern-day parents, and I’m not just saying that because of the name. It touches on both funny topics and social issues, making it a really well-done series. There’s a reason why there were so many Emmys thrown at this series.

That ‘70s Show

So much smoke—and friends!

Topher Grace on That '70s Show. Credit: Fox

For some reason, That ‘70s Show was the series I was obsessed with as a kid. And honestly, it’s a vibe, even now. The series mainly follows six teenagers in Wisconsin between 1976 and 1979 as they come of age, experience growing pains, and learn to come into their own while also smoking the devil’s lettuce, if you know what I mean.

On a real note, That ‘70s Show is a hilarious series with great performances from Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama, and so many more. This series has been with me on my good days and bad, and while its little successor, That ‘90s Show, on Netflix is a fun one, nothing compares to the original. You’re missing out if haven’t had the chance to sit down and watch the whole show.

Saturday Night Live

Laughs and more

Bill Hader and Ben Affleck in Saturday Night Live Credit: NBC

OK, so hear me out.

I know, when it comes to comfort shows, we honestly do think sitcoms are cute, but I think Saturday Night Live falls into that category. Why? Because it’s one of those shows that you can put on in the background and just chill.

It’s not something that’s heavily serialized or has any real plot to follow. It’s just funny sketches and enjoyable music performances. That’s it. And with the number of seasons that are available to watch on Peacock, you can’t really get better than this.


Peacock is such a great subscription service, and honestly, it just makes me want to rewatch each of these awesome shows. What are you looking forward to watching on a comfy weekend?

peacock thumbnail

Subscription with ads

Yes, $8/month

Simultaneous streams

3




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