A Hidden Multitasking Powerhouse

While tablet and foldable phone users often praise the taskbar for quick access to essential apps, many owners of standard smartphones overlook a similar feature already residing on their devices. Whether referred to as a Sidebar, Edge Panel, or Smart Sidebar, this tool is one of the most effective ways to navigate Android, despite its puzzling absence from Google’s Pixel lineup.


This panel acts as a discreet, swipe-in menu that lives on the edge of your display. It provides an instant gateway to your most-used applications, recent history, and sometimes even AI-powered tools. Since it remains accessible over almost any interface, it dramatically reduces the number of taps required to switch between tasks.


Streamlining Your Workflow

Beyond simple app launching, this panel is a boon for multitasking. Instead of fumbling through complex menus to trigger split-screen mode, users can often drag an application from the sidebar directly onto the screen. This allows for a more fluid experience, whether you are opening an app in a freeform window or side-by-side view.


Samsung, in particular, elevates this feature by allowing users to add more than just apps. With the right configuration, your side panel can house:

  • Quick access to your clipboard
  • Favorite contacts
  • Live weather updates
  • Navigation shortcuts and system tools

Setting Up and Personalizing Your Panel

For those using Samsung devices, setup is straightforward:

  1. Navigate to the Edge panels menu in your settings.
  2. Select Panels to choose your desired content.
  3. Use the Edit button to customize the app list and contact shortcuts.
  4. Adjust the Handle settings to change its position, color, transparency, and size for optimal comfort.

For even deeper control, the Good Lock app—specifically the Home Up module—unlocks advanced features like unified panels and expanded app columns. Upcoming updates to One UI 9 are expected to bring further aesthetic control, including custom backgrounds and blur effects, though these remain in testing for now.


Availability Across Other Android Devices

Samsung isn't the only manufacturer offering this utility. Motorola users can enable it by going to Settings > Gestures > Sidebar, where a combined interface allows you to manage apps, tools, and contacts in one place. Similarly, OnePlus users can find the Smart Sidebar feature under Settings > Accessibility & convenience.


The Pixel Omission

Currently, Google’s Pixel devices notably lack a native sidebar, a limitation that remains a frustration for power users. While third-party applications exist to replicate this, they often come with paywalls, making a built-in solution far more desirable. While Google’s newer App Bubbles offer a different way to handle multitasking, they lack the efficiency and organization of a dedicated, always-ready sidebar. One can only hope that future Android updates will bring this missing piece of convenience to the Pixel family.