---
title: How do I use the side panel instead of the popup?
description: "Open Chrome's built-in side panel from the extension menu, or set the side panel as your default view in settings. It shows the exact same report as the pop-up, just docked to the side of the browser and vertically, and…"
url: "https://seoactionplan.com/docs/side-panel-vs-popup/"
updated: "2026-07-24"
category: Getting Started
---

# How do I use the side panel instead of the popup?

Open Chrome's built-in side panel from the extension menu, or set the side panel as your default view in settings. It shows the exact same report as the pop-up, just docked to the side of the browser and vertically, and it stays open while you navigate.

## The four ways to view a report

SEO Action Plan can show its report in four different layouts, all built on the same underlying data:

- **Popup**: opens from the toolbar icon, with horizontal tabs across the top. This is the default.
- **Side panel**: uses Chrome's native side panel API, with vertical navigation down the left side and the same content as the popup.
- **Full-page report**: an expanded, standalone tab with download and print options, useful for a longer read.
- **Onboarding carousel**: a short first-run walkthrough that appears once, right after you install the extension.

## Opening the side panel

There are two ways to get to the side panel view.

1. Open the pop-up, go to settings, and set the side panel as the default view. From then on, clicking the toolbar icon opens the side panel instead of the pop-up.
2. Or use Chrome's own side panel icon or menu in the toolbar to open SEO Action Plan directly, without changing your default setting.

## Why pick the side panel

The pop-up is fast, but it's small, and it closes the moment you click anywhere outside it. The side panel fixes both:

- It stays open while you click around the page or navigate to a new one, so you don't have to reopen it after every click.
- It gives the report more vertical room, which helps on tabs with longer lists like Headings, Images, or Links.
- It doesn't interrupt what you're doing on the page the way a pop-up does when it covers part of the screen.

Once you've picked a view, the [overview of what each tab checks](https://seoactionplan.com/docs/what-each-tab-checks/) works the same way regardless of which layout you're using.

## Common questions

 **Does the side panel show different data than the pop-up?**

No. It's the same report, the same tabs, and the same checks. The only difference is the layout: vertical navigation instead of horizontal tabs, and a panel that stays open instead of closing when you click elsewhere on the page.

  **Can I switch back to the pop-up later?**

Yes. The default view setting can be changed back to pop-up at any time from the extension's settings, and it takes effect immediately.

  **Is there a fourth way to view the report besides the pop-up and the side panel?**

Yes. There's also a full-page report view for a standalone, expanded read with download and print options, and a first-run onboarding carousel that only appears once, right after install.