Microsoft Edge has come a long way, from being powered by EdgeHTML to becoming a Chromium-based browser. The web browser has also changed a lot since the transition, as Microsoft continued to improve it by adding new features and fixes. Removal of certain features was a strategy the Redmond-based tech firm used to improve the overall experience.

Now, Microsoft is planning to do it again, but this time around, it looks like one of the fan-favorite Edge features will have to take the hit. The Edge browser will soon lose an important feature that many users, including many of my colleagues at XDA, rely on daily: the Sidebar app list.

Microsoft is removing the Sidebar app list, but there is a twist

The Sidebar hasn't been available since the day Edge made the transition from EdgeHTML to Chromium. It came into existence a couple of years later, in 2022. Since its launch, the software giant has tried several ways to give users more reasons to use the Sidebar. One of the major efforts in that direction was adding more apps and tools to the Sidebar.

However, it looks like Microsoft hasn't seen the kind of success it wanted and is now considering removing the ability to add new apps to the Sidebar. This was first spotted by famed leaker @Leopeva64 on Edge Canary. Based on the screenshot shared by the leaker, it looks like Microsoft has started notifying users about the change through a message when they open the Sidebar.

The notification message clearly says that "new apps can no longer be added" and that "quick access will be removed gradually in the future." However, don't mistake this for the complete removal of the Sidebar. The sidebar will continue to exist in some form, as the notification also says that "Copilot is not affected." This suggests that Microsoft is planning to dedicate that space for users to chat with Copilot.

The message also appears when you click the Plus icon in the Sidebar to add more tools or apps to it. So, it's safe to assume that only the Copilot option will live. Microsoft says this will "simplify" Edge, but users on Reddit and in the comments section of the leaker's post on X (formerly known as Twitter) have already shown their displeasure. A user even requested that Microsoft reconsider its decision, or else they would switch to another browser.

Microsoft hasn't specified when it'll remove the Sidebar app list, nor has it mentioned the deprecation on the Edge bar support page. This suggests Microsoft may take at least a few more months. The logical next step is to start pushing the notification to Edge Stable users before removing it.