Set Aside Tab Feature | Collection Added to Edge insider Dev and Canary

[HotCakeX]

• Now you can Set your Tabs Aside Quickly and reopen them later.
• these tab groups Can get Synced with other devices that have Edge browser installed (Only desktops for now) so you can also resume your work from another computer.
• The tab groups that are set Aside are non-volatile, meaning they are not automatically deleted once you reopen them (unlike Edge legacy's behavior)
• you can give custom names to the tab groups you set Aside.

Here is a 1080p 60FPS video to show you how easily it's done:

https://streamable.com/uitri

[#2]

I'm currently interested in the set aside feature for tabs I want to keep active in the background but do not wish to clutter my tab view. Is there currently a way to keep them active like this? Thanks.

[#3]

Hi, you can put your tabs in a group and then move that group to another window then minimize that window, OR you can use Windows 10 multiple desktop feature to put them on another desktop which is a nice and easier to use feature

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ae/help/4028538/windows-10-multiple-desktops
https://community.windows.com/en-us/stories/virtual-desktop-windows-10

[#4]

This is a CFR. Looks promising. Hope it makes way to other insiders soon.

[#5]

@HotCakeX This is good to see -- thank you! I don't have that feature available yet (although I'm on the latest Canary) but I'm looking forward to it rolling out. Seems like a good time to enable the Collections button on the toolbar again :)

[#6]

@seancorfield @Rohit Yadav Thanks, yes I believe soon it will be rolled out to a bigger test group in Canary channel

[#7]

@HotCakeX It still seems a bit too time consuming, like there should be a button next to the collections button to make life easier.

[#8]

Looking good. Keen to give it a go. Having them as non-ephemeral will be great.

Having them as "continually updating" would be cool too. If you close or open a tab, it updates the "set aside group".

[#9]

This one is available on edge dev since last week.

[#10]

@hussain5416_ 

---

@hussain5416_ wrote:
This one is available on edge dev since last week.

---

do you have it on Dev channel?

[#11]

@cjc2112 

---

@cjc2112 wrote:

@HotCakeX It still seems a bit too time consuming, like there should be a button next to the collections button to make life easier.

---

I was intentionally working x3 times slow in video for demonstration purposes ;)

they could add a separate button at the bottom of the Collections button, like that button appears when you hover over Collections button ( to save space ) and that button will add all open tabs to a Collection.

but you still need to right-click on each collection to open all of them. there are too many options to choose from.

"open all" , "open all in new window" , "open all in a new inPrivate window" , "delete collection" etc.

[#12]

@andrewvinci 

---

@andrewvinci wrote:
Looking good. Keen to give it a go. Having them as non-ephemeral will be great.

Having them as "continually updating" would be cool too. If you close or open a tab, it updates the "set aside group".

---

I like this idea and find it useful too, for example I load up my tab group and start browsing and opening/closing websites, next time that I want to close Edge I don't have to add them again to that same collection, because the tabs will automatically be saved in the collection that I opened first. of course no duplicates should be there..

[#13]

@HotCakeX 
A bit clunky but better than nothing. I think the process should be automated somehow, a single click should do everything like in the old Edge

[#14]

Well sure yeah, this is not final, just the beginning, i guess :)

[#15]

I noticed the scope of this experiment is expanded now in Version 82.0.458.0 (Official build) canary (64-bit), you can update your browser and see if you have it now

[#16]

@HotCakeX I seem to have it on all my machines now, on both Canary and Dev builds, and it's working well enough to satisfy me, as a replacement for Set Aside Tabs.

There are definitely some improvements possible -- adding it to the right-click menu on the non-tab area of the toolbar, for example, which already repeats add all tabs to favorites, even tho' the wording differs (why?); adding a shortcut key for it; showing tab information on hover for tabs in the collection (not just the collection name!); adding the time to the auto-generated name for the collection (since I'm going to be setting aside multiple tab sets during the day); adding a setting so the Collections pane is open on each new window created (and on a browser restart).

I haven't used Collections up until now because I just didn't find them useful but just adding this one feature (SAT) is likely to make them a core part of my browser workflow. I wouldn't have expected that.

[#17]

Yes I also feel like it should be made easier to spot for people new to the browser, like a dedicated button and added to here as You said

[#18]

There should at least be an option to make it volatile, but this is already some AMAZING news! I really hope Microsoft implements the other features asked from people here in this thread (an button, a shortcut and a way for them to be continuously updated.)

[#19]

Agreed, great suggestions too :)

[#20]

@HotCakeX This is not a replacement for 'Set Tabs Aside' feature because you lost the navigation history of the tabs and cannot go back to the previous page. A favorites folder will do just the same.

[#21]

Good point, collections normally only save links to contents but I think Edge team can manage to save navigation history into the collections that are generated by saving open tabs.

[#22 · Accepted solution]

@HotCakeX Thanks for getting the news out and kicking off this discussion. :) I'm thrilled to let you all know ( @PNvmkpk @YgorCortes @seancorfield @SOI_7 )  that this feature has now been fully released to our Canary and Dev channels! Here's our official announcement from our What's New page:

"Save multiple tabs to Collections

We have heard from feedback that you are using Collections to organize your web projects, and that there should be an easier way to save and open all tabs you're working with. That is why we're excited to announce that you can now quickly save all your tabs and reopen them using Collections. To save your tabs to a collection, simply right-click on a tab and select Add all tabs to a new collection. Tabs in your active window will be added to a new collection with the option to rename it. To reopen those tabs, right-click on the collection and select either to open the items in the current window, a new window, or an InPrivate window.

We would love for you to try this feature out and hope you send us feedback! You can send us feedback via the chat icon in the top right of the browser, or by reaching out to us on Twitter at @MSEdgeDev."

As always, we'd love to get your feedback about this feature. Enjoy!

Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge

[#23]

I totally agree. the single button to set aside all the open tabs was one of the best features in Edge. I browse a lot for business and setting aside all the tabs related to one search and starting a new session for another search and recall the previous search when needed was a matter of two clicks - simple.  Now I have all the tabs set aside in months, grouped in "groups" with no names so I have to open each single group, give it a name in order to recognise what is inside the anonimous folder icon. Time consuming!! @SOI_7 

[#24]

when will this feature be available? If I right click on a tab I do not have any option like "add to collection" or similar. Only save to Favourite. @fawkes 

[#25]

@Mostropovich 

---

@Mostropovich wrote:

when will this feature be available? If I right click on a tab I do not have any option like "add to collection" or similar. Only save to Favourite. 

---

It's currently on available in Canary and Dev channels. it will soon be available on other channels as well, first Beta and lastly Stable channel.

https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/download

[#26]

@Mostropovich 

Spoiler

---

@Mostropovich wrote:

I totally agree. the single button to set aside all the open tabs was one of the best features in Edge. I browse a lot for business and setting aside all the tabs related to one search and starting a new session for another search and recall the previous search when needed was a matter of two clicks - simple.  Now I have all the tabs set aside in months, grouped in "groups" with no names so I have to open each single group, give it a name in order to recognise what is inside the anonimous folder icon. Time consuming!!

---

Groups can be given names in Edge:

you can activate it here: edge://flags/#tab-groups

also when you set all tabs aside in a Collection, it automatically gives them a name but you can change them if you want but it's not necessary.

[#27]

@HotCakeX My tab groups are enabled, but haven't been working for at least a month and I forgot they were there. Weird.

[#28]

They are not automatic yet, they never were automatic on Edge, I don't think Edge team even decided to work on it yet, I think they only pushed whatever changes Chromium had for the flag to Edge..maybe waiting for vertical tabs to be created first

[#29]

Hi,
I cannot follow the link, neither I have the option "hello Group xx" or similar. I have only "add all tabs to Favourite" (obviously I have the usual choices as well, in the menu, when click on the star icon).
If the option of adding to groups where available, I think that would for me. What I need, due to the nature of my browsing for business, is the ability to save all the tabs I want in the simplest way possible, remain in the browser and open another number of tables (searches) and save them as well, and so on. So the idea of having groups that I can name is good for me; It will be good when and if will become available as, at the moment, I do not have it.
Thanks for your reply.

[#30]

@Mostropovich 

Spoiler

---

@Mostropovich wrote:
Hi,
I cannot follow the link, neither I have the option "hello Group xx" or similar. I have only "add all tabs to Favourite" (obviously I have the usual choices as well, in the menu, when click on the star icon).
If the option of adding to groups where available, I think that would for me. What I need, due to the nature of my browsing for business, is the ability to save all the tabs I want in the simplest way possible, remain in the browser and open another number of tables (searches) and save them as well, and so on. So the idea of having groups that I can name is good for me; It will be good when and if will become available as, at the moment, I do not have it.
Thanks for your reply.

---

Hello group xx is the name I gave to it as an example, it's not a static thing.

another thing is that you have to be on Dev or Canary channels.

lastly, you need to enable Tab groups, then right-click on a tab and select add to group.

Go to: edge://flags/

search for "tab groups", enable it, restart Edge.

[#31]

I really don't like how collections work compared to "set these tabs aside" it was was simpler to use that way and whatever you do you can save quickly.. Now if you close out of tabs you no longer need you have to save the collection again.

[#32]

There will hopefully be a separate button added for it as many users asked for it too but to be honest it's very simple to right-click on a tab and select "add all tabs to collection". it's just 2 clicks.

[#33]

Yes, the "Add tabs to collection" function is super quick in the current state, but it's the resume that is a bit clunky. If I were the Edge team, I'd at least make the "Open all" button always visible in the Collections menu  so that even the resume is a 2 clicks action

[#34]

@SOI_7 @xunderworldx Thanks for sharing that idea for Collections functionality. I chatted with the team, and they asked that you submit this through the in-browser feedback (if you haven't yet) so that they can keep track of it.

Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge

[#35]

So I tested collections on the beta version, and I can't add all tabs to a collection at once. You have to do one page at a time, that is ridiculous. Also it wont remember that you have closed out of some tabs and added new ones unless you add yet again another collection. They really really need to bring back the "set these tabs aside". I sent feedback, but if everyone can send the same feedback perhaps they will listen.@fawkes@fawkes 

[#36]

@xunderworldx Thanks for sending in that feedback.

The "add all tabs" feature was added to Collections fairly recently, so it's currently working its way up through Canary and Dev. However, if all goes smoothly, it's expected to be coming to Beta in the near future. In the meantime, feel free to give it a try on one of the earlier preview builds and let us know what you think of it so far! And if you'd like to join the formal discussion about bringing back the legacy "set tabs aside" functionality, you can comment in this thread too.

Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge

[#37]

Agreed. Needs a single button for set-aside, needs to have an option for volatile, and needs to retain nav history (not quite as important for me but still nice). Until then, it's just a stopgap.

[#38]

@Alexvrb It also needs to open faster. I know this isn't going to be as easy as in the old edge, because it was using windows processes to boost performance and keep everything at 60fps, like opening STA and scrolling. Regardless, it should open faster, maybe by lessening the data stored in collections.

[#39]

@fawkes 

this step takes too long and its useless. please add "set tabs aside" feature like edge legacy.

I hate this stupid collection and I'm force to return to edge legacy. collection is useless 

[#40]

Why

[#41]

Without preserving the navigation history in each of the saved tabs, this feature is still useless to me.

[#42]

@BMurri exactly. I don't understand why many keep saying collections is replacement for set tabs aside feature. It simply is no where near the set tabs aside feature.

[#43]

@fawkes 

Personally, I LOVE this idea for Collections so much that I now use it every day and have been since @HotCakeX first posted this Post.  I think it is 10(TEN) times better than "Set Aside Tabs" ever was!  Every morning I open 7 Tabs for 7 different websites that I work in.  With Set Aside tabs I would have to hit the "button" to set those tabs aside again after working in those tabs each and every time or I'd have to open each tab separately fresh all over again.  With the Collection feature they are Always there and no need to place them in a Collection after every time I worked on those sites....  Open Collections, Open that collection, click Open ALL and poof they are all opened in a new window.  When done, just close that window/new opened browser instants and all is done.  No need to resave or anything else. You can NOT get any simpler than this.   And every time I open them they are right where I left off the last time in them....  It's not rocket science.....

Dennis5mile

[#44]

@Dennis5mile Thanks for that delightful feedback! We're so glad to hear that you're enjoying it! 

Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge

[#45]

@Dennis5mileThat's a different usage scenario, because collections is (at its core) a different feature. What works perfectly for you might not be optimal for everyone. See, the way I use set aside tabs is basically for stuff I ran out of time to look over and/or address. So when I reload tabs, they get used once, and I close them. I don't need to manually go back in and delete them. Until they give me an option to make them volatile, they're barely better than bookmarks for me.