Chrome to allow moving Tab Search button to right side, like Side Panel

Ever since the Chrome Refresh 2023 update, some users have missed the Tab Search button’s familiar spot on the right side of the browser window. It’s now located by default on the left side. Google is giving you back control over its placement, and the change is currently being tested.

For those unfamiliar, Chrome has a built-in Tab Search feature. Clicking the dropdown arrow allows you to search through all your open and recently closed tabs. This can be a lifesaver if you have a lot of tabs open. The Tab Search interface also groups and shows specific tabs playing audio and video.

Tab Search Position changes

With the Chrome Refresh 2023 update, the Tab Search button was moved to the left side of the window. While this was likely done for design reasons, many users didn’t like the change.

The good news is, that you’ll soon be able to move the Tab Search button back to its rightful place on the right side. This functionality will be similar to how you can currently adjust the position of the Side Panel in the Appearance settings. Both the Tab Search position and Side Panel will have dedicated dropdown menus, giving you complete control over their placement.

While this might seem like a minor tweak, it’s a welcome change for users who rely on the Tab Search feature and prefer it on the right

How to Move the Tab Search Button to the Right

The exact method for changing the Tab Search button position is still under development, but based on the information available, it’s likely to be a simple process:

1. Navigate to your Chrome settings.
2. Visit the Appearance section.
3. You should see a new dropdown menu specifically for “Tab Search Position.“
4. Select “Show on right” to move the button back to its previous spot.
5. Restart Chrome for the changes to take effect.

With the option to move the Search Tabs button, Google allows you to personalize your browsing experience even more and customize Tab Search and Side Panel positions to your liking.

Related to Chrome, we have recently reported Google is looking to allow retaining Side panel width across browser restarts after resizing.