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

Updated on July 25, 2026

1 min read

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.

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.
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 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.