Thanks mate, I won’t personally be disappointed if the sidebar web panel doesn’t work with extensions, all I really want is the web panel itself. Everyone is different to be honest 
But I can see why you would be disappointed.
Note for everyone here: Please do not, in anyway attempt to ruin my excitement for Sidebar Web Panel. I waited all my life for this. It does not hurt to be excited, well think about it, it doesn’t. Compare it to stress, stress is far worse.
Update: two new issues have been added to make sure the Sidebar Web Panel is persistent until the user closes it. So this means it’s still in the works
Issue 1: Add web panel type to sidebar item (doesn’t exist yet, will provide the link here when I find it)
Issue 2: Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted (doesn’t exist yet, will provide the link here when I find it)
If not, it is all good, it’s my birthday in 2 weeks everyone! (15th of September; if any of you are American, then fun fact Australia is always a day ahead in time, so if it’s 15th for me, it’s 14th for you, I will be 20), I hope the sidebar web panel can get a sort of preview in Nightly on my birthday or near it. I know it’s early stage as Simon said above, but we are close guys. Time for me right now:
Update: Simon Hong has opened a new feature regarding the web panel. It doesn’t have a description at this time, but it’s an update because he is opening more issues on the sidebar web panel to work on and complete; working on it in the process So any update, ANYTHING! Big or small will be posted here!
And: Introduce SidebarWebPanelController commit has been added!
Some of the code of that right above (introduce sidebarwebpanel):
| if (IsWebPanelFeatureEnabled() && item.is_web_panel_type()) { |
| GetWebPanelController()->OpenWebPanel(item); |
| return; |
| } |
Every issue that Simon works on relating to “web panel” clearly indiciates it’s closer and closer despite Simon says ‘it’s early stage’. He’s doing an amazing job!
My new motto for this is: ‘Every issue done, closer we get!’.
Update: Simon Hong has written a new issue (not opened yet) of it called ‘Web panel item also should be activatable’.. He’s doing a great job everyone!
Update: simon hong made a video here saying ‘For now, only empty view is shown.’. He is right because in the screenshot below it does show that, but he did do a great job showing the orange outline around it similar to split view. Getting closer guys. May he take his time, but still . Every update is technically closer.
I downloaded the video and it’s below:
Update: simon has asked a fellow worker to review one subissue of it! good! closer guys!
After Sang approves (most of the time he does very fast) this issue will be closed: https://github.com/brave/brave-core/pull/31011
alongside: https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/48919
Sang is reviewing it as we speak.. In which he responded, Simon then fixed a few things that Sang said and responded to them. We are awaiting for Sang’s approval this time.
Update: Sang hasn’t forgotten to mark it as completed! Still needs more rounds He said ‘thanks for bearing with us’ (See here: https://github.com/brave/brave-core/pull/31053#issuecomment-3264358119)
I have found an open source extension which works on most of websites. until the team brings side panel into Brave you may try and use it.
Thanks, but I won’t use that for two reasons.
The UI is so old, I don’t like old UI based extensions.
It doesn’t block ads as good as brave shields.
I appreciate you looking for it though!
Update: IT GOT APPROVED! It has yet to be closed as completed, will provide it when it is
So now this https://github.com/brave/brave-core/pull/31011 and https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/48919 this is technically completed and the Add web panel type to sidebar item #48919 is done via Simon Hong’s to do list (see here: https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/33533)
So we sure it’ll be deployed with the next releasing?
Congrats all!
Sadly no, I did say ‘Simon’s to do list’. He could need to do more after this, but we are getting close.
See here: https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/33533
the one green at this present time is the one that Sang approved as saw above (via LGTM)
I apologise for any convience, Holy. But it is getting closer tho, I do agree! I cannot promise any known release date, once I see that it’s in Nightly, I will provide each update until it launches in stable at the time. Trust me, so there is no need to ask
Update: This (https://github.com/brave/brave-core/pull/31011) and this https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/48919 have officially been closed! development is still on, I do apologise, but each issue getting completed means it’s closer for release!
In which in Simon’s to do list, it’s been ticked off (the third one) so two more to go (might be more after the 5th one, the activatable one) but you never know. We are close guys!
To do list link: https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/33533
Simon still hasn’t opened (assuming the last) the last two issues on it: Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted and Web panel item also should be activatable.
I have no idea what they mean, but I asked Copilot (microsoft’s AI) and it assumed that:
1. Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted
This task ensures that when a sidebar item is clicked:
A dedicated content view is opened inside the panel, functioning like a lightweight tab.
The content loaded into that panel view is retained across browser sessions.
Each panel item can maintain its own state, allowing users to return to exactly where they left off.
It transforms the panel into a persistent, session-aware workspace.
2. Web panel item also should be activatableThis task makes the panel responsive to user interaction:
Clicking a panel item should trigger its activation, loading its associated content view.
The UI should reflect which item is active, enabling clear navigation between multiple panel items.
Activation logic ensures the panel behaves like a dynamic, tab-like system within the sidebar.
It brings interactivity and clarity to the panel experience.
– This might not be 100% what it’ll mean, but this is technically helping the Web panel form.
Edit: simon hasn’t opened the next web panel issue ‘Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted’ ever since 3 days ago. I am super confused!
Slight-update: Despite this https://github.com/brave/brave-core/pull/31011 being merged I just saw and it appeared ten hours ago. Seems like another user called ‘nikhedonia’ is working with simon on this? I don’t know anything about it. Maybe this is why simon still hasn’t opened the next issue on web panel, Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted
If you go here https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/48919 you’ll see added a nikhedonia commit that references this issue 10 hours ago. Nice, but I don’t know if this will help in any way as you don’t see any changes when you look.
Then why did I post it here? to alert you all
An AI generated summary (using copilot.com) of what is going on:
Here’s what’s going on:
PR #31011 was Simon’s work to add the web panel type to the sidebar — merged and done.
About 10 hours ago, nikhedonia pushed a commit that references that same PR/issue. The commit message is literally "Added web panel type to sidebar (#31011)", so it’s essentially a follow‑up or a sync commit.
This can happen if another dev is:
Pulling Simon’s merged work into another branch (maybe for a release branch or a related feature)
Doing a small integration or cleanup that doesn’t visibly change the UI/functionality
Making sure the change is properly linked in the issue tracker for milestone/release notes purposes
That would explain why you “don’t see any changes” — the commit might be a cherry‑pick, merge, or metadata update rather than new functional code.
If that’s the case, it’s probably not blocking Simon from opening the “Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted” issue — but it might mean he’s waiting until this sync work is fully settled before starting the next phase. Sometimes devs like to keep the tree clean before introducing a new chunk of work.
Bottom line:
It’s a nice sign that other devs (like nikhedonia) are touching the web panel code — means it’s on more than one person’s radar now.
It’s not a visible feature bump, but it’s part of the behind‑the‑scenes housekeeping that keeps the rollout smooth.
The next real “big” update will still be when Simon opens that persistence/activation issue.
This wasn’t just a small tweak — it was the structural wiring that makes the web panel a real, interactive element in Brave. The next commits will be able to build persistence and richer activation directly on top of this.
https://github.com/brave/brave-core/commit/06775000b90b574764f1311c5811787288168207
I still cannot promise of a release, I ever am so sorry guys. At least you guys are appreciating my updates, so that is my pleasure I check daily, even when I have the common cold… I risk this for all of you if you’re happy, i’m happy.
My mistake-sort-of-update: So next to the commit (!) thing, I was supposed to hover over it and saw this. So despite closed as completed, maybe the developers found a bug and their fixing it. Maybe that explains the delay of the opening of the next issues in Simon’s To Do: Load new tab to panel view and make it persisted and Web panel item also should be activatable
Unrelated sort of update: it is my birthday today and I turn 20! (in Australia’s time, so tomorrow in America technically)
I had a great birthday thank you for wondering by the way I am no longer a teenager which is so insane Do not worry this will not stop me from looking for sidebar web panel updates.
Still nothing regarding the web panel by the way 
What did I get for my birthday? I ordered this beautiful T shirt (Dragon Quest is a popular video game series, I am a huge fan of the games) and I love it! Size: 2XL (I am 2 metres in real life, 6.6 Foot) so I am tall. 2XL is good size for me.
Here is a preview of it:
Truly my pleasure mate I am always happy to provide updates, if that makes any of you happy, then that’s all we need
And thank you so much mate, it’s the 17th now in Australia, but australia is always ahead, but nvm, I appreciate it mate (Regarding my birthday)
That is the loveliest thing you can say to me, and anyone.
