Google has begun testing a long-requested vertical tabs feature in its Chrome browser, marking a shift for the world’s most widely used web browser, which has so far resisted adopting the layout offered by several of its rivals.

Chrome, which commands about 71% of the global browser market, has traditionally relied on a horizontal tab bar, even as competitors such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox and Brave introduced vertical tabs to better manage large numbers of open pages. Google was first seen experimenting with the feature in November last year, but access was limited to the experimental Chrome Canary build.

The option has now appeared in Chrome Beta for the first time, signalling a broader rollout. According to users and reports by technology site Android Authority, the feature is available in Chrome Beta version 145, though it remains disabled by default and must be activated through a settings flag.

Once enabled, users can switch to a vertical layout by right-clicking the tab bar and selecting a new “Show tabs on side” option, which moves open tabs to a column along the side of the browser window. The layout can be reversed at any time by selecting “Show tabs at the top”.

Google has not formally announced the feature, but based on the company’s release schedule, vertical tabs are expected to reach the stable version of Chrome on January 28. If confirmed, the update would bring Chrome in line with other major browsers and address a long-standing request from power users who argue that vertical tabs improve visibility and navigation, particularly on wider screens.

The move reflects Google’s gradual willingness to adopt interface changes already popular elsewhere, as competition among browsers increasingly centres on usability and workflow efficiency rather than basic performance alone.