Get More Space For Tabs In Internet Explorer 9

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 14, 2011
Internet Explorer
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The latest beta of Internet Explorer 9 displays open websites in tabs on the right side of the address bar. The browser ui has been designed this way to maximize the space available for web pages in the browser. This is especially useful if a low resolution monitor is used.

Combining the address bar and tabs leads to problems on the other hand if many tabs are open at the same time as the browser compresses the space available and resorts to scrolling when tabs reach their minimum width.

Microsoft seems to have addressed those concerns by enabling an option to move tabs below the address bar in Internet Explorer 9 RC which is slated for a January 28 release. Then again, the default mode is still tabs on the right of the address bar which most Internet Explorer 9 users will use.

Those users can use a little trick to free up some extra space in the Internet Explorer 9 address toolbar. To do this they need to right-click on a free spot in the address bar (for instance on the right side of the last tab) and select "lock the toolbars" if the option is enabled. This disables the lock so that user interface elements can be moved around. Not a lot can be moved around though but it is possible to reduce the size of the address form.

Move the mouse to the rightmost location of the address form. The mouse cursor should change indicating that it is possible to move the element to the right or left. Hold down the left mouse button and move it to the left. This reduces the space of the address form. You should assign enough space for it so that it is still comfortable to enter website addresses in the form. Keep in mind that the form is also used for identification purposes.

Take a look at the before and after screenshots below.

internet explorer 9 ui

internet explorer 9 more tab space

Make sure you look the toolbars again once you are finished resizing the Internet Explorer 9 address form.

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