To turn off vertical tabs in Chrome, right-click an empty spot in the tab sidebar on the left and choose Show tabs horizontally. Your tabs jump straight back to the top of the window. Nothing closes, and your tab groups stay as they were. To turn vertical tabs on, right-click the tab strip at the top and choose Show tabs vertically.
Before you start
- Applies to: Google Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks. Not version-specific.
- Not on phones: Chrome for Android and iPhone don’t have vertical tabs.
- Time: A few seconds. No flags, no extensions.
Why are my tabs on the side of my screen?
Chrome has a built-in vertical tabs layout, and someone switched it on. The option sits in the menu you get when you right-click the tab strip, so it’s easy to pick by accident. Your tabs aren’t broken and nothing is missing. They’ve just moved into a sidebar on the left.
How do I turn off vertical tabs and go back to horizontal?
- Find the tab sidebar on the left side of the Chrome window.
- Right-click an empty spot in that sidebar. Don’t right-click the web page, because that opens a different menu.
- Choose Show tabs horizontally.
Your tabs move back to the top of the window right away. This trips people up because the menu you used to turn vertical tabs on moved into the sidebar along with the tabs. Look for it there, not at the top of the window.
Can I switch back to horizontal tabs from Settings?
Yes. Use this if the right-click menu isn’t working for you.
- Click the three-dot menu at the top right of Chrome.
- Click Settings.
- Click Appearance in the left sidebar.
- Find the Tab position setting and change it from Side to Top.
To jump straight there, type chrome://settings/appearance in the address bar and press Enter.
How do I turn on vertical tabs in Chrome?
- Right-click an empty spot on the tab strip at the top of the Chrome window.
- Choose Show tabs vertically.
- Your tabs move into a sidebar on the left.
You can also go to Settings, then Appearance, and set Tab position to Side. Both routes do the same thing.
Why don’t I see “Show tabs vertically” or “Show tabs horizontally”?
Check these in order, from most to least likely.
- You’re right-clicking the wrong spot. The option only shows up when you right-click the tab strip or the tab sidebar. Right-clicking a web page or the address bar gives you a different menu.
- Chrome needs an update. Click the three-dot menu, then Help, then About Google Chrome. Let it update, then click Relaunch.
- You’re on a phone. Vertical tabs are a computer-only feature.
- A school or work admin manages your browser. Type chrome://management in the address bar. If it says your browser is managed, some layout options may be locked. Ask your IT team.
Should I keep vertical tabs?
If you keep more than about a dozen tabs open, vertical tabs are worth a try. Horizontal tabs shrink to tiny icons when you open lots of them, but the sidebar keeps every title readable. On a small laptop screen with only a few tabs, the sidebar mostly takes away page width. Click the arrow at the top of the sidebar to shrink it to icons if you want the space back.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off vertical tabs close my tabs?
No. Switching between vertical and horizontal only changes where the tabs sit. Every open tab and tab group stays exactly as it was.
How do I get my tabs back on top of the screen in Chrome?
Right-click an empty spot in the tab sidebar on the left and choose Show tabs horizontally. Or go to Settings, then Appearance, and set Tab position to Top.
Do vertical tabs work on Chrome for Android or iPhone?
No. Vertical tabs are only in Chrome on computers and Chromebooks.
The short version
Tabs stuck on the left? Right-click the tab sidebar and choose Show tabs horizontally. Want them on the side? Right-click the tab strip and choose Show tabs vertically. Either way takes two clicks and loses nothing.
Related guides
- How to Enable and Use Tab Groups in Chrome
- How to Use Split View for Tabs in Google Chrome
- How to Save All Open Tabs in Google Chrome at Once
Last verified: November 9, 2026
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