How to Open Helperbird in the Chrome or Edge Side Panel

Learn how to access Helperbird through the side panel in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge so it stays open while you browse.

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What is the Side Panel?

The side panel is a built-in feature in Chrome and Edge that lets extensions like Helperbird stay open in a panel on the side of your browser window. Instead of opening and closing the popup every time, you can keep Helperbird visible while you browse.


Google Chrome

Step 1: Open the Side Panel

Click the side panel icon in the top-right area of your Chrome toolbar. It looks like a small square docked to the right side of the browser window. If you do not see it, you can also click the three dots menu, then select Side panel.


Step 2: Switch to Helperbird

The side panel will open — it may show your reading list or bookmarks by default. At the top of the side panel, click the dropdown menu and select Helperbird from the list of available panels.


Step 3: Browse with Helperbird Open

Helperbird will now stay open on the side of your screen. You can navigate to any website, adjust your settings, and use any Helperbird feature without the panel closing.


Microsoft Edge

Step 1: Open the Sidebar

Click the sidebar icon in the top-right area of the Edge toolbar, or press Ctrl + Shift + / to toggle the sidebar open.


Step 2: Find Helperbird

In the Edge sidebar, look for the Helperbird icon. If you do not see it, click the + button at the bottom of the sidebar to add Helperbird to your sidebar apps.


Step 3: Browse with Helperbird Open

Click the Helperbird icon in the sidebar. Helperbird will open in a panel on the side of your browser and stay visible as you browse from page to page.


Tips

  • Resize the panel by dragging its left edge to make it wider or narrower.
  • Close the panel at any time by clicking the side panel icon again or pressing the keyboard shortcut.
  • The side panel remembers your choice, so the next time you open it, Helperbird should still be selected.
  • For Firefox users, see our guide on How to Open Helperbird in the Firefox Sidebar.

Video Tutorial

Coming soon


Need Additional Help?

Having trouble opening Helperbird in the side panel? Reach out to our Helperbird support team and we'll walk you through it!

What People Are Saying

Join over 1,000,000 people who use Helperbird every day.

It's easy to use with every webpage since it's just an extension. You can access lots of different functions to declutter a page (show only the relevant text and not ads, for example). You can add post it notes to annotate, and it has things like text-to-speech.

Harmony M.

Harmony M.

Program Manager

Works a treat. This is brill!

Sue Dowdall

Sue Dowdall

Helperbird user

Really makes reading easier for dyslexics.

Máiréad Jones

Máiréad Jones

Helperbird user

Making such an useful tool, replying to every single comment or review and giving support to people's issues as soon as possible?? Carefully, he is a hero.

Martin Bui

Martin Bui

Helperbird user

This tool helps so many of our students at school - not only those students who have dyslexia, but students and adults who have other learning differences (and those who don't!). It helps ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in their learning!

Kim Norris

Kim Norris

Helperbird user

This chrome extension is absolutely amazing. I'm a Primary school teacher and it helps children with a broad range of needs. It's so easy to set up. I love the way it syncs across devices so set up is seamless across all the children's computers. The customizable features are a game changer for allowing children to enjoy reading and accessing the web in our school. The best application I have ever seen for school children. Looking forward to trying the iPad application soon.

Luke Mccarthy

Luke Mccarthy

Teacher

Helperbird logo: Stylized owl with large yellow eyes and a beige face, against a green background.

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