How to Turn “Show Tab Actions Menu” on or off in Microsoft Edge
The “Show tab actions menu” setting in Microsoft Edge adds a small button next to your tabs. From it you can switch to vertical tabs, search your open pages, or group tabs together. Turning the setting off removes the button from the toolbar. That gives you a little more room and a cleaner browser window.
You can turn the button on or off at any time in the Edge appearance settings. The change takes effect straight away and does not need a restart. The steps below work on Windows 11 with a current version of Edge, on both Home and Pro editions.
Open Microsoft Edge, click Settings and more (three dots) > Settings Appearance, then scroll to Select which buttons to show on the toolbar. Toggle Show tab actions menu on or off. The button appears or disappears from your toolbar immediately without restarting Edge.
Turn the “Show tab actions menu” on or off in Microsoft Edge
Showing or hiding the tab actions menu takes a few clicks in Edge settings. The option controls whether the extra tab management button appears in the top toolbar. Follow the steps below, then pick whichever setting suits the way you browse.
- Open the Microsoft Edge browser. Edge should open with a normal browser window showing your tabs along the top.
- Click the Settings and more button. It looks like three dots (…) in the top right corner. A drop-down menu opens.
- Select Settings from the menu. Edge opens the Settings page in a new tab.
micrsoft edge browser more option and settings Microsoft Edge browser has more options and settings - On the left side of the screen, click Appearance. The appearance options appear on the right. If you can’t see the left-hand list, the window may be narrow. Widen it, or click the menu icon at the top left of the Settings page.
microsoft edge settings appearance Microsoft Edge settings appearance - Scroll down to the section labeled Select which buttons to show on the toolbar. In some Edge versions this section may have a slightly different name, such as Customize toolbar. It holds a list of toggle switches for toolbar buttons.
- Find the Show tab actions menu option in that list.
- Toggle the switch to On to show the menu. Toggle it to Off to hide it. The tab actions button appears or disappears at once, so you can leave the Settings tab open and look at the toolbar to check.
The icon appears or disappears from your toolbar immediately. You don’t need to restart Edge or sign out.
Conclusion
Controlling the tab actions menu lets you set up your browser window for a cleaner look or for faster tab tools. You can change this setting whenever your preferences change, or when you need quick access to split screen and group features. Keep in mind that managed school or work computers might lock these appearance choices.
If the switch is missing or greyed out, the likely cause is a policy set by your organization, or an older Edge build that needs updating. To check for updates, open Settings and more > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
You should add a picture of this tab right at the beginning. I came here because MS talks about this tab without giving any hint as to what it looks like.