Summary
The ChatGPT/Codex browser side panel currently remains visible when switching to other tabs, including tabs where I never explicitly opened ChatGPT. In Brave (Chromium), each newly opened/switched-to tab can therefore have the side panel occupying page width with a new/separate chat window.
This is disruptive for workflows where ChatGPT is only needed alongside specific pages.
Proposed behavior
Add an extension preference for side-panel visibility with two modes:
- All tabs in this window — current behavior; the panel remains visible while switching tabs.
- Per tab / Only tabs where I open ChatGPT — the panel is visible only on tabs where the user explicitly opened it. Switching to a tab where it has not been opened hides the panel; returning to a tab where it was opened restores it.
Ideally, panel visibility should be independent from conversation identity/state. Choosing per-tab visibility should not necessarily imply that every tab must create a new conversation.
Expected per-tab workflow
- Open ChatGPT side panel on Tab A → panel appears on Tab A.
- Switch to Tab B, where ChatGPT was never opened → no side panel; webpage uses the full browser width.
- Explicitly open ChatGPT on Tab B → panel appears there.
- Return to Tab A → its panel remains/restores as appropriate.
Chromium API support
Chromium's Side Panel API supports tab-specific configuration via chrome.sidePanel.setOptions({ tabId, ... }) and tab-specific opening. Chrome's documentation describes tab-specific panels being hidden when switching to a tab where the panel is not enabled and appearing again when returning to an enabled tab.
Reference: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/reference/api/sidePanel
This suggests the extension could expose the behavior as a user-selectable option rather than forcing one visibility model.
Environment
- Browser: Brave (Chromium)
- Extension: official ChatGPT/Codex browser extension
This should ideally behave consistently across Chromium-based browsers supported by the extension.
Summary
The ChatGPT/Codex browser side panel currently remains visible when switching to other tabs, including tabs where I never explicitly opened ChatGPT. In Brave (Chromium), each newly opened/switched-to tab can therefore have the side panel occupying page width with a new/separate chat window.
This is disruptive for workflows where ChatGPT is only needed alongside specific pages.
Proposed behavior
Add an extension preference for side-panel visibility with two modes:
Ideally, panel visibility should be independent from conversation identity/state. Choosing per-tab visibility should not necessarily imply that every tab must create a new conversation.
Expected per-tab workflow
Chromium API support
Chromium's Side Panel API supports tab-specific configuration via
chrome.sidePanel.setOptions({ tabId, ... })and tab-specific opening. Chrome's documentation describes tab-specific panels being hidden when switching to a tab where the panel is not enabled and appearing again when returning to an enabled tab.Reference: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/reference/api/sidePanel
This suggests the extension could expose the behavior as a user-selectable option rather than forcing one visibility model.
Environment
This should ideally behave consistently across Chromium-based browsers supported by the extension.