If you've ever dabbled with the Edge Bar on Windows 10 and felt its convenience, you might have noticed its absence on Windows 11—those sleek, rounded corners just don't offer this nifty shortcut by default. However, fret not! With some tweaking, you can bring this handy feature to your Windows 11 desktop. Let me walk you through the details, step by step, and throw in some context on why you’d even want this feature.
It’s essentially a dockable command center filled with shortcut goodies like search functionality, quick links to WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and more—all accessible without even launching the full-fledged Microsoft Edge browser. Ideal for multi-taskers and productivity geeks, it offers a light footprint compared to keeping multiple tabs open in your browser.
Sounds great, right? But here's the catch: On Windows 11, Microsoft doesn't enable this feature out of the box. Why? Well, it seems not every feature gets the red carpet upon moving from Windows 10 to 11 (looking at you, live tiles). Some gems require a bit of extra digging.
Now, here's how to enable this gem.
To enable it:
So, what’s the verdict? Whether you're a heavy multitasker, a productivity enthusiast, or just someone who loves playing with new features, the Edge Bar on Windows 11 has something to offer.
And if you're already using it, we’d love to hear—what's your favorite feature on the Edge Bar? Share your experiences on the forum to keep the discussion alive.
Source: The Windows Club How to display Edge Bar on Windows 11 Desktop
What Exactly is Edge Bar?
Imagine having a mini sidebar chilling on the right-hand side of your desktop. That’s the Edge Bar.It’s essentially a dockable command center filled with shortcut goodies like search functionality, quick links to WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and more—all accessible without even launching the full-fledged Microsoft Edge browser. Ideal for multi-taskers and productivity geeks, it offers a light footprint compared to keeping multiple tabs open in your browser.
Sounds great, right? But here's the catch: On Windows 11, Microsoft doesn't enable this feature out of the box. Why? Well, it seems not every feature gets the red carpet upon moving from Windows 10 to 11 (looking at you, live tiles). Some gems require a bit of extra digging.
Now, here's how to enable this gem.
How to Enable Edge Bar on a Windows 11 Desktop
To get the Edge Bar up and running on Windows 11, you’ll need to tweak the Edge browser shortcut and adjust a few settings. Buckle up, it’s simpler than it sounds with this step-by-step guide:Step 1: Create a Desktop Shortcut for Microsoft Edge
- If you already don’t have a shortcut for Edge on your desktop, press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type this pathway:
"%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"
Hit Enter. - Locate Microsoft Edge in the folder that pops up. Right-click it, and select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
Step 2: Modify the Shortcut’s Target Properties
- On your desktop, locate the newly created Microsoft Edge shortcut. Right-click and go to Properties.
- In the Target field, you’ll see something like this:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" - Add the following at the end of the text in the target field, ensuring there’s a space between the primary path and this parameter:
--enable-features=msEnableEdgeBarOnWin11ForTesting,msEdgeBarAutoHideIntoTheRightFringe - Hit Apply, then OK to save these changes.
Step 3: Enable the Edge Bar from Edge Settings
- Double-click the modified desktop shortcut to launch the Edge browser.
- Go to Settings in Edge (navigate via the three-dots menu in the top right corner).
- In Settings, switch to the Copilot and Sidebar tab.
- Scroll to the “Edge Bar” section and toggle Enable Edge Bar to On.
Step 4: Optional Automatic Launch
- If you love Edge Bar so much that you want it to start automatically when your PC boots, toggle the switch for:
“Automatically open Edge Bar when the device starts.”
The Power of the Edge Bar & Why Use It?
The Edge Bar is more than just aesthetics; it’s about efficiency. Here’s what makes it stand out:- Quick Access to Web Apps: No need to launch Edge for frequent tasks like checking social media or doing a quick Google search.
- Streamlined Workflow: Especially useful on setups with limited screen real estate—it feels like having dedicated widgets.
- Auto-Hide Feature: It neatly tucks itself into the right fringe when not in use, keeping your desktop tidy.
What About the Edge Search Bar?
If you're looking for another flavor of desktop utility, you might want to consider the Edge Search Bar. Unlike the Edge Bar, this is a standalone feature powered by Microsoft Edge and Group Policy configurations.To enable it:
- Open Local Group Policy Editor (type
gpedit.mscin your Start menu’s search to find it). - Navigate to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge - Locate the policy titled Enable the Search Bar, double-click it, and switch it to Enabled mode.
Wrapping Up: Why This Matters?
While the Edge Bar remains more of a hidden treat on Windows 11, its practicality can’t be overstated—particularly for users juggling multiple browsers, tasks, and applications. And with Microsoft increasingly weaving Edge into Windows’ fabric (think Copilot, Bing AI integrations, and the like), the Edge Bar will likely remain a useful tool in the ever-evolving world of Windows.So, what’s the verdict? Whether you're a heavy multitasker, a productivity enthusiast, or just someone who loves playing with new features, the Edge Bar on Windows 11 has something to offer.
And if you're already using it, we’d love to hear—what's your favorite feature on the Edge Bar? Share your experiences on the forum to keep the discussion alive.
Source: The Windows Club How to display Edge Bar on Windows 11 Desktop
