MS Edge - Sidebar and copilot not working on Linux Ubuntu v24 LTS

Microsoft, You Just Lost Me as a Fan

I just spent the last 30 minutes wrestling with my Microsoft account—just so I could leave a comment here—after discovering I can’t use the new Copilot feature unless I’m on the much-despised Microsoft Edge.

When I first heard about this new feature, and that it was supposedly available to “every” Copilot user, I was thrilled. But deep down, I knew there had to be a catch. It’s Microsoft, after all—too good to be true. And sure enough, I was right.

Linux users? We’re second-class citizens of the internet now.

I don’t usually have beef with big tech companies, but this one goes too far. I even downloaded two versions of Edge—stable and dev—just to see if I could get in. No luck.

Here’s the thing: The AI that becomes equally dominant on all platforms will win. That’s why open-source models are evolving so quickly—they’ve already narrowed the gap with closed-source systems. If you block a huge user base of builders, you’re not protecting your lead; you’re creating room for open-source to leapfrog you.

Microsoft needs to remember: sometimes you have to sacrifice a little control to win the masses. That’s the way forward for learning, creating, and thriving in the AI community. Don’t follow the path of those giant internet companies that collapsed because they forgot to please their users.

I’ve actually liked more of Microsoft’s services than most people I know. And let’s not forget—you won the PC wars against Apple and IBM by opening the doors to everyone.

So yes, I’ll use AI to clean up this rant (ironically enough) and maybe even make it my first blog post. But here’s the takeaway: Microsoft, you might have gained some Linux users today, but you’ve definitely lost me as a fan.

It seems especially unfortunate that the Linux builds of Edge omit the sidebar code path entirely, with no feature flags, policies, or workarounds available. Many developers and IT professionals choose Linux as their primary environment. By withholding a core UI feature from Linux users, Edge creates an unnecessary second‑class experience for a large segment of your audience.

Copying HubApps from a Windows install worked, it's a shame though that this hasn't been fixed yet.

I wanted to say this is the first time I've found an actual fix for a problem via this site. Thanks a million Zazo58 ! Copied HubApps to by profile folder from another device, and immediately the side bar is working.

Brilliant! Copied the hubapps file from my windows pc to my Deepin install. Thanks a lot, works perfectly. 😎

It's now 15th of February and it still breaks after updating Edge. Just copied the HubApps file to my profile directories again. Copilot is so important to Microsoft but less so on platforms other than Windows. 

the file that is missing is called HubApps, and it can be copied from any edge install, on windows it would be here:

AppData/Local/Microsoft/Edge/User Data/Default/HubApps

this file needs to be copied to:

flatpak version:

.var/app/com.microsoft.Edge/config/microsoft-edge/Default/

regular install:
.config/microsoft-edge/Default/

and restart edge, then copilot will work.

link to sample HubApps file
https://controlc.com/565dfd65

also might have to copy into other profiles if you have some

all of this info is above but unclear, ive also added a link to a copy of the file if you do not have a working install

Remove installation

$ apt remove microsoft-edge-stable

Remove config

$ rm ~/.config/microsoft-edge

Download oldest and latest versions

$ curl -o microsoft-edge-stable_121.0.2277.128-1_amd64.deb https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge/pool/main/m/microsoft-edge-stable/microsoft-edge-stable_121.0.2277.128-1_amd64.deb

$ curl -o microsoft-edge-stable_131.0.2903.112-1_amd64.deb https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge/pool/main/m/microsoft-edge-stable/microsoft-edge-stable_131.0.2903.112-1_amd64.deb

Install oldest version

$ apt install ./microsoft-edge-stable_121.0.2277.128-1_amd64.deb

Execute  Edge

$ microsoft-edge

Update to latests version

$ apt install ./microsoft-edge-stable_131.0.2903.112-1_amd64.deb

Remove installation

$ apt remove microsoft-edge-stable

Delete configuration

$ rm -lr ~/.config/microsoft-edge

Install older versión

$ apt install ./microsoft-edge-stable_121.0.2277.128-1_amd64.deb

Update

$ apt install ./microsoft-edge-stable_131.0.2903.112-1_amd64.deb

download older version of Edge from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download?form=MA13FJ