Microsoft may soon let you hide the Bing icon from Edge
Some dislike the Bing icon in the Edge Toolbar, so Microsoft is testing the option to hide it.
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What you need to know
Microsoft announced thenew Bing powered by ChatGPTearlier this year. Alongside that announcement, the tech giant unveiled an updated version of Microsoft Edge that includes Bing within the Sidebar. That update has sincerolled out to Edge stable, bringing Bing to more users.
While the new Bing features impressive AI technology, some dislike how it is presented within Microsoft Edge. The shortcut to open Bing within the Sidebar is a large blue Bing icon (officially it’s called the Discover). Some consider it too prominent and want to remove it.
New Bing ships to Edge Stable>Poll: How do you feel about the Bing icon in Edge?>Unlock Bing Chat AI for any web browser>How to sign up for the new Bing-powered by ChatGPT
It is possible tohide the Bing icon within Edgealready, but it requires a registry edit. Microsoft is testing a new option that’s much more user-friendly.
Leo Verela, who keeps a close eye on features for Microsoft Edge, spotted an option to hide the Bing icon in Edge. He shared some screenshots on Reddit, as well as details about the option. Those using Edge Canary can already hide the icon with a toggle. Assuming all goes well with testing, there’s a good chance that Microsoft will ship the option to everyone in the near future.
When Microsoft announced the new Bing, there was a wait list to try out the revamped search engine. It seems that may be changing. Multiple members of our team have been able tosign up for the new Bing without waiting.
If you use the new Bing, you’ll be using GPT-4, the newly announced Large Language Model from OpenAI. Microsoft recently confirmed that thenew Bing is powered by GPT-4.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
