Google Chrome adds native vertical tabs and improved Reading Mode in latest update

Google Chrome has rolled out vertical tabs and an improved Reading Mode in its latest update, addressing long-standing user complaints about managing dozens of open tabs in a cluttered horizontal bar. Users can now enable vertical tabs by right-clicking the tab bar and selecting "Show Tabs Vertically", which shifts tabs to the side of the browser window for easier reading of full page titles and better handling of tab groups, according to TechCrunch.^[1] This native feature eliminates the need for third-party extensions that many users previously relied on for similar functionality.^[2][3]

The update comes after years of development and testing. Google first experimented with vertical tabs in Chrome Canary builds as early as July of the previous year, with sightings in the Chromium repository, as noted by Ubergizmo.^[2] By late 2025, it advanced to Beta channel in Chrome 145, where users could activate it via chrome://flags by enabling the "Vertical Tabs" option and setting the tab strip position to "Side" in appearance settings, per Winaero.^[3] Now in the stable release, the feature persists as the default once enabled, with no hardware-imposed limit on tab numbers beyond existing constraints, and it supports multiple windows and tab groups seamlessly.^[1]

Alongside vertical tabs, Chrome introduces a refreshed Reading Mode, which strips away website clutter like ads and sidebars for a distraction-free, text-focused experience—similar to features in rival browsers. The Verge highlights this as a welcome addition long overdue in Chrome, making pages easier to read without extensions. These changes reflect growing competition from browsers like Arc, which popularized vertical tabs, prompting Google to adopt innovations that could reduce the appeal of alternatives.^[1]

For power users overwhelmed by tab chaos, the vertical layout includes practical elements like a top search field, collapse/expand buttons, and context menu options such as "Close other tabs" or reverting to horizontal view. Videos from developer previews show refinements like potential "projects" buttons combining tab groups with AI chats from Gemini, though that's still experimental in Canary builds.^[4][6] Slashdot reports the rollout is gradual across all markets, ensuring broad access soon.

This matters for Chrome's 3 billion-plus users, many of whom hoard tabs for research, work, or shopping, leading to performance drags and frustration. By baking in these tools natively, Google streamlines workflows, potentially boosting retention amid rivals emphasizing unique interfaces. Early testers praise the intuitive design, with drag-and-drop reordering and side panel integration changing daily browsing habits, as one XDA Developers user described.^[7]

What happens next remains fluid: Google hasn't set a firm timeline for full refinement, but flags and settings tweaks suggest ongoing improvements like enhanced sidebar behavior before wider stable adoption.^[2][3] Users on Beta or Canary can experiment now via flags, while stable rollout continues progressively. Until fully polished, extensions like "Vertical Tabs" from the Chrome Web Store offer interim side-panel management with search and shortcuts.^[5]