TL;DR: Chrome 146's built-in vertical tabs only reposition the tab strip — no auto-grouping, no hibernation, no quick switch, no session save. Tabbiy runs in the side panel and fills every gap the native sidebar leaves: one-click auto-grouping by domain, custom rules matching paths/subdomains/keywords, hibernation that frees RAM while keeping tabs visible, and save/restore that survives Chrome restarts. Both are free for core use.

Chrome 146 finally shipped native vertical tabs in March 2026, and by the April stable rollout the flag was no longer required — vertical tabs became a plain Settings toggle. If you have been waiting for Google to solve the cramped horizontal tab strip without an extension, this is the release that answers it.

But two questions keep showing up in search: "chrome vertical tabs not showing" and "do I still need a chrome vertical tabs extension." The short answer is that the built-in sidebar handles layout, while a tool like Tabbiy handles everything around it — auto-grouping, hibernation, quick switch, and session save. This comparison breaks down where the built-in version stops and where a vertical tab manager still pulls ahead.

Why Chrome Vertical Tabs Are Not Showing

If the menu option is absent, one of three things is usually the cause.

1. Chrome is older than 146. Native vertical tabs shipped in Chrome 146 (March 2026) and reached everyone in the April stable rollout. Update Chrome first — anything older simply does not have the feature.

2. The flag is still required on your profile. The rollout was staged, so a small number of profiles still need the legacy route: open chrome://flags/#vertical-tabs, set it to Enabled, relaunch, then switch the tab position. On Chrome 150 and newer (June 2026 onward), the flag is gone entirely and the setting lives under Appearance.

3. The setting is in a different menu. Right-click any open tab or the empty space on the tab strip and choose Show Tabs Vertically. Or open Settings > Appearance > Tab position and switch from Top to Side. Both paths do the same thing.

Once enabled, the tab strip moves to a collapsible left sidebar. If you ticked every box above and vertical tabs still are not showing, the staged rollout has not reached your profile — install a chrome vertical tabs extension like Tabbiy for the features the native strip lacks.

What Chrome's Built-in Vertical Tabs Do

The implementation is a repositioned tab strip, and the fundamentals are solid:

  • Full title + favicon + close button per tab — no more truncated text at 20 characters
  • Resizable sidebar — narrow it to icon-only mode or widen it to show full titles
  • Tab group integration — group names and colors carry over from horizontal mode
  • Collapsible to an icon rail — one click to reclaim horizontal screen space
  • Cross-platform — Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS

For someone running 10 to 20 tabs who wanted a cleaner view, the built-in version hits the mark. Titles stay readable past the point where horizontal mode collapses them to favicons.

What the Built-in Sidebar Can't Do

The native sidebar is version one. The gaps are concrete features that power users already rely on extensions for:

CapabilityChrome 146 Built-inTabbiyAuto-group tabs by domainNo — every group created and maintained by handYes — auto-grouped on open, toggle with one clickCustom grouping rulesNoYes — path, subdomain, second-level domain, and keyword matchingTab hibernationNo — tabs are either open (using RAM) or closedYes — unload processes, keep visible in sidebar; click to reload the pageTab save and restoreNoYes — staging list with one-click restore, max memory releaseCustom tab titlesNoYes — rename tabs, saved titles persist in staging listFast tab switch (Alt+E)No — click-driven Tab Search onlyYes — jump between current and recent tab instantlyRight-click menu actionsPartialYes — save window, copy link, configurable middle-clickMulti-format export of saved tabsNoYes — JSON (free), CSV/HTML/Markdown (Pro)

None of these absences are surprising. Chrome ships a usable default and leaves power-user functionality to extensions — Memory Saver works the same way. The line between "built-in is enough" and "I need an extension" is whether you switch between multiple projects, keep tabs alive across restarts, or navigate by keyboard.

How Tabbiy Compares

Tabbiy runs in Chrome's side panel, just like the native sidebar — but it treats tabs as a workspace to manage, not just a strip to reposition.

Auto-Grouping vs Manual Maintenance

This is the biggest gap the built-in version never fills. Tabbiy auto-groups tabs by domain the moment you open them, and you can build custom rules that match paths, subdomains, second-level domains, and keywords to organize tabs into named groups automatically. The built-in sidebar respects groups you create by hand, but every group is manual — exactly the kind of task you stop maintaining by Thursday.

TaskChrome Built-inTabbiyGroup tabs by domainManual, every timeAutomatic, in real timeCustom grouping rulesNot supportedPath, subdomain, second-level domain, and keyword matchingKeep groups after restartOnly if saved manuallyPersistent

For a deeper look at how rule-based grouping works, see our auto-grouping guide.

Tab Hibernation: The Middle Ground

The built-in sidebar has no memory control — tabs are either open (using RAM) or closed (gone). Tabbiy adds hibernation: hibernated tabs stay visible in the sidebar but unload their processes from RAM, and reload when you click them.

This matters when you have tabs you need to keep accessible but are not actively using. With the built-in version, you keep them open and waste memory, or close them and lose context. Tabbiy lets you do both — see how it fits into the broader Chrome memory fix toolkit.

Fast Tab Switching (Alt+E)

The built-in sidebar has a tab search button, but it is the same click-driven Tab Search UI that existed before. Tabbiy adds Alt+E — press it to cycle through your most recently used tabs. It is built for the most common real-world case: comparing multiple pages side by side without reaching for the mouse. Chrome's native sidebar has no equivalent shortcut.

Session Save and Restore

The built-in sidebar has no session persistence beyond what Chrome already does. Close a window or restart, and your tab layout depends on Chrome's built-in restore — which does not preserve groups or sidebar state reliably. Tabbiy saves and restores sessions with grouping intact, so a crashed window comes back already organized.

Custom Tab Titles and Export

Two features the built-in version has no answer for:

  • Custom tab titles — rename a tab to something you will actually recognize later
  • Multi-format import/export of saved tabs — JSON (free), or CSV/HTML/Markdown (Pro) so tabs move into notes apps, project trackers, or other browsers without reformatting

Feature Comparison Table

FeatureChrome Built-inTabbiyVertical sidebarYesYesFull tab titlesYesYesResizable sidebarYesYesCollapsible tab groupsYesYesTab group colors and namesYesYes (Pro: preset custom group colors)Auto-group by domainNoYesCustom grouping rulesNoYes (Free: 1, Pro: 3)Tab hibernationNoYesTab save and restoreNoYesToggle sidebar (Alt+D)NoYesFast tab switch (Alt+E)NoYesCustom tab titlesNoYesRight-click menu enhancementsPartialYes (save window, copy link, middle-click)Light / dark themeFollows systemFollows system, manual switch availableMulti-format export of saved tabsNoJSON (Free), CSV/HTML/Markdown (Pro)PrivacyBuilt into ChromeLocal-first, zero trackingInstall costZero (built-in)Requires extension installAccount requiredNoNoPriceFreeFree (Pro: $2.99/mo)

How to Switch from Built-in Vertical Tabs to Tabbiy

You do not have to choose — Tabbiy runs in the side panel, so it coexists with the native strip. But if you want Tabbiy as your primary sidebar:

  1. Install Tabbiy from the Chrome Web Store
  2. Open the Tabbiy sidebar with Alt+D
  3. Let auto-grouping run — every new tab joins a domain-based group automatically
  4. Hibernate idle groups to free RAM without losing access
  5. Switch the native strip back to horizontal (right-click > Show Tabs Horizontally) if you want Tabbiy as the only sidebar

For the full workflow — save, hibernate, restore, and keyboard shortcuts — see the usage guide.

When the Built-in Version Is Enough

Tabbiy is not for everyone. Chrome's built-in vertical tabs are the right choice if you:

  • Keep under 20 tabs open and close Chrome at day's end
  • Never need sessions to survive restarts
  • Are happy maintaining tab groups by hand
  • Want zero extensions installed

If that is you, the built-in version is a genuine improvement and costs nothing. But if you have outgrown a flat vertical strip and want tab management that keeps up with multi-project work, Tabbiy is built for that — and it pairs naturally with our OneTab comparison if you are also evaluating tab savers.

FAQ

Why are Chrome vertical tabs not showing?

Chrome vertical tabs need Chrome 146 or newer. If the option is missing, update Chrome first, then right-click the tab strip and choose Show Tabs Vertically, or open Settings > Appearance > Tab position > Side. On older builds, enable chrome://flags/#vertical-tabs and relaunch. If it still does not appear, the staged rollout may not have reached your profile yet.

Does Chrome have a vertical tabs extension?

Yes. Chrome 146 ships built-in vertical tabs, but they only reposition the tab strip. For auto-grouping, hibernation, quick switch, and session save, you need a Chrome vertical tabs extension like Tabbiy, which runs in the side panel alongside the native strip.

How do I enable the vertical tabs flag in Chrome?

Open chrome://flags/#vertical-tabs, set it to Enabled, and relaunch Chrome. Then go to Settings > Appearance > Tab position and switch it to Side. On Chrome 146 stable and newer (April 2026 rollout), the flag is no longer required — the setting appears under Appearance directly.

Can Tabbiy auto-group tabs in the side panel?

Yes. Tabbiy groups tabs by domain automatically the moment you open them, and supports custom rules that match paths, subdomains, second-level domains, and keywords. Chrome's built-in vertical tabs have no auto-grouping — you create and maintain groups manually.

Is Tabbiy free compared to Chrome built-in vertical tabs?

Both are free for core use. Chrome vertical tabs are built into the browser. Tabbiy is free with unlimited tabs, auto-grouping, hibernation, and session save. The Pro plan adds more custom grouping rules, unlimited custom groups, and multi-format export. Compare plans on the pricing page.

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