You can customize bars in Shift Browser by using the Builder to drag and drop toolbars into the top, bottom, left, or right zones of your screen. These bars are native integrations that hold your apps, bookmarks, and controls, letting you build a workspace that adapts to your specific rhythm.

What are bars in Shift?

Bars are the structural foundation of your Space. While other browsers lock your tools into a single row at the top, Shift lets you orchestrate your layout. You can place up to three bars in each zone of your screen to keep your most important tools within reach.

• Vertical Bars: These live on the left or right side. They're great for organizing your apps and specialized tools in a clean grid.

• Horizontal Bars: These sit at the top or bottom. Use them for your bookmarks or clusters of navigation buttons.

• Special bars:

  • Expanded vertical bars: Provide extra height and layout space.

  • Tabs and Spaces bar: Keeps project switching simple.

  • Bookmarks bar: Display all bookmarks or just the ones you need in any bar.

How to add and remove your bars

To change your layout, you'll need to open the Builder. This is the specialized app in the sidebar where you manage your entire UI.

Adding a new bar

1. Open Quick Settings by clicking the gear icon

2. Open Custom Layout by clicking Build Your Browser.

3. Go to the Bars section in the Custom Layout panel.

4. Drag a bar from the panel into your desired zone.

5. Add up to three bars per zone (top, bottom, left, right).

Removing a bar

1. Open Quick Settings by clicking the gear icon

2. Open Custom Layout by clicking Build Your Browser.

3. Go to the Bars section in the Custom Layout panel.

4. Drag the bar back into the Customize layout panel.

Adjusting your sidebar width

Sometimes you need a little more room for your apps, or maybe you want a slim, minimal look. You can change the width of any vertical bar directly from your main view.

1. Move your mouse to the edge of the vertical sidebar where it meets the webpage.

2. Wait for a blue highlight to appear along the edge.

3. Click and hold the edge.

4. Drag the sidebar in or out until it's the perfect size for you.

Limitations of bars

• Each zone supports a maximum of three bars.

• Only vertical bars can be expanded.

• Features like bookmarks may behave differently depending on bar placement.

• Bars can only be added, removed, or reorganized while in the Bars section of the Custom Layout panel.

Related articles

• All About Customized Layouts in Shift
• Using spacers, grids, and separators to organize Shift
• Customizing controls in Shift
• How to access the Custom Layout setting

Have a question that wasn't answered above? Click to access our request form and get in touch with our Support team.