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.

The free version of this is so great and helpful to a LOT of people...but the upgraded version is next level:)

Mia Laudato

Mia Laudato

Helperbird user

It used to be a little rough but the Helperbird support team gave me access to the beta and can't wait for it to be released. Giving it 5 stars mostly for support and the upcoming features.

Firefox user

Firefox user

Helperbird user

Wow what great tool, I love it! Keep up the excellent work. Add more fonts in the future and cant wait for the ios version!!

A Google User

A Google User

Helperbird user

Excellent company and so easy to deal with. Robert showed great patience and answered every question I put. I use it for immersive reading and it is an excellent app. Well done.

Seamus

Seamus

Firefox user

Helperbird is an excellent extension supporting a range of learning differences. Aside from providing many evidence-based dyslexia-assistive tools, the extension also functions as an easy-to-use, feature-rich web experience customization tool suitable to support a wide range of cognitive differences (i.e., color blindness and ADHD-related focus concerns, among others). Also, the developer is a very good person who supports the various learning-different communities in many ways, including by designing the free version of Helperbird to provide enough functionality to be beneficial to people who cannot afford to subscribe to the full-function version.

Kirk Smith

Kirk Smith

Helperbird user

Brilliant extension! Have tired it for my daughter and she has come on leaps in school. While there are plenty of free features, the paid ones are only 30 USD a year. Can't recommend this enough.

Gary O'Connor

Gary O'Connor

Helperbird user

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

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