Chrome side panel: how to disable it?

[BillC]

A recent update to Chrome means all right click searches open in a side panel, rather than a new tab. I detest this new feature and want the old functionality.

Searches on the web suggest that I can disable it by entering chrome://flags/#search-web-in-side-panel in a new tab and disabling the option in its drop down box. Sure enough, there's the option and I have set it to disabled.

Nothing changes. Any help? I have restarted both Chrome and my PC.

 

[Little 10 Toes]

Are you using some add-ins? I highlight a word, right-click, select the third option "Search Google for (highlighted word)" and a new window opens up for me...

Edit: My chrome://flags/#search-web-in-side-panel option is set as "Default"

Double edit: Chrome is up to date
Version 115.0.5790.171 (Official Build) (64-bit)

 

[BillC]

That is the way it used to work for me, though it was a new tab, not a new window. Now it opens a side panel, which I find near useless, as it is too narrow.

My flag was set to Default, I changed it to Disabled with no effect.

I have Chrome Version 115.0.5790.171 (Official Build) (64-bit)

 

[BillC]

None of the seven Chrome extensions I use should have an impact, but I disabled them all anyway to see what would happen: nothing.

• Adblock Plus
• Disable HTML5 Autoplay (my anti-CNN addon)
• Google Docs offline
• History trends Unlimited
• NordVPN
• TinEye reverse image search
• Wayback machine

 

[Little 10 Toes]

So I do not get your "symptoms" for the side panel. I asked one of my friends and he gets the same results as I. What is your chrome://flags/#search-web-in-side-panel setting? Mine is "Default".

 

[BillC]

It's Disabled.

 

[Little 10 Toes]

What happens when it’s default?

 

[BillC]

The same as Disabled: the side panel opens.

 

[Little 10 Toes]

Don’t know what to say then other than I tried. Anyone else having this issue?