September 26, 2023

Microsoft Edge is not your standard web browser. It comes equipped with a wide range of built-in tools and functionality. In addition to AI-powered Copilot, Microsoft 365,¹ ² and more right in your Microsoft Edge sidebar, there’s also a red toolbox icon containing a range of apps to make your life easier. Whether you’re calculating finances, converting recipe units, translating a foreign language, or need to know what time it is overseas, Microsoft Edge Tools pane has you covered.

Helpful apps in the Microsoft sidebar Tools pane

When you select the toolbox icon in your Microsoft Edge sidebar, the Tools pane appears. Think of it as your quick toolkit for calculations, translations, conversions, and more. Here are five of the tools with easy access in your sidebar: 

1. Calculator

Need to calculate a quick percentage? Whatever straightforward math problem you need solved—including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—the online calculator will have it sorted in no time, all without leaving your browser. 

2. Unit converter

Converting a distance from kilometers to miles? Need to know what that Celsius temperature is in Fahrenheit? The unit converter in Microsoft Edge sidebar converts between a wide range of units of measurement, including length, temperature, weight, volume, mass, digital storage, and more. Convert away!

3. Translator

If you need to quickly translate text, drop it into the online translator textbox in the Microsoft Edge Tools pane. It will automatically detect the original language and translate it into any of more than 60 other languages. Select the sound icon to hear the text spoken aloud. Microsoft Edge also translates full webpages, so you can easily translate what you’re writing or reading into the language of your choice.

4. Dictionary

If you come across a word you're not familiar with or you want to double-check spelling, the online dictionary in the Microsoft Edge Tools pane can help. Drop the word or phrase into the dictionary textbox for the meaning and much more. See spellings, origin, synonyms, and any other information available right in your sidebar. You can also hear pronunciations by selecting this sound icon. Quick access to all of this information without opening a new tab makes this online dictionary one of many powerful, time-saving Microsoft Edge learning tools.

5. World clock

Keeping track of the time in different time zones? Let the world clock in the Microsoft Edge sidebar help. Add multiple clocks for different time zones, so seeing the time in the places that matter will be as easy as selecting the toolbox icon. 

More tools

You can also head to the Tools pane for a handy link to a QR code creator, timer, stopwatch, number converter, and more. Each of these additional tools opens a webpage in your browser, but you can initiate them quickly right from your Microsoft Edge sidebar.

For a web browser designed to put the tools you need right where you need them, try Microsoft Edge today. Whether it’s a quick definition, conversion, or translation, once you know how to find these tools in the Microsoft Edge sidebar Tools pane, using them is a great way to browse faster and smarter.