Tab groups vs combined tabs????

Hi John Alexander Ferguson,

As mentioned by Q&A Assist, Microsoft Edge includes two tab‑related features that may appear similar but are designed for different purposes, which can understandably cause confusion at first.

• Tab Groups are intended for organization. They let you group related tabs together, name them, color‑code them, and collapse or expand them in the tab bar. Ungrouping is straightforward and returns each tab to a normal state.
• Split tabs (side‑by‑side view) are intended for simultaneous viewing. This feature displays two webpages next to each other within the same window so you can compare or reference content at the same time. It is a layout mode rather than a grouping feature, which is why it behaves differently.

Because these features serve different use cases, they also have different ways to exit or undo them.

Split tabs don’t use an “ungroup” option because no group is created. To return to a normal view, use one of the following:

• Close one pane – closing either side exits split view.
• Exit split layout – use the split‑view control (if shown) to return to a single tab layout.
• Move a pane to a new window – drag one pane’s tab out of the split view.

Some quick tips to reduce confusion going forward:

• Use Tab Groups when your goal is organization and tab management.
• Use Split tabs only when you need to view two pages at the same time.
• If split view is not useful to you, avoid triggering it from the tab context menu.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Tab Groups and tab split/combined tabs in Microsoft Edge are solving different problems, even though both visually “combine” tabs.

1. Tab Groups

• Purpose: Organize many open tabs into labeled, color-coded groups.
• Behavior:
  • Groups sit in the same tab strip as normal tabs.
  • A group can be expanded/collapsed to show or hide its tabs.
  • Ungrouping returns each tab to a normal, standalone tab.
• How it’s powered: Edge has a Tab Grouping feature, and a Tab Organization service that can suggest and name groups automatically (for example via “Group Similar Tabs” in the Tab actions menu). When enabled, Edge can:
  • Suggest which tabs belong together.
  • Auto-generate a relevant name for the group.
• Control: Admins can enable/disable the Tab Organization service via the TabServicesEnabled policy.

2. Tab split / combined tabs (side‑by‑side)

• Purpose: View two pages at the same time in a single Edge window (side‑by‑side layout), more like a split view than an organizational feature.
• Behavior:
  • Two pages share the same window area, each in its own pane.
  • It is about layout and simultaneous viewing, not grouping for management.
  • “Uncombining” is typically done by closing one pane or exiting split view so each page is back to a single-tab layout.

3. Why both exist

• Tab Groups / Tab Organization: Focused on managing large numbers of tabs and keeping related work together, with optional automatic grouping and naming.
• Tab split / combined tabs: Focused on multitasking and comparison (e.g., reading one page while referencing another) within one window.

4. First‑time experience and discoverability The provided documentation emphasizes how to:

• Use tab groups and automatic tab organization.
• Enable the Tab actions menu and “Organize tabs.” It does not describe a dedicated first‑time user experience or walkthrough for distinguishing tab groups from split/combined tabs, which matches the confusion described.

For managing tab groups and automatic organization in Edge today:

1. Open Edge and go to Settings and more > Settings > Appearance.
2. Under Other appearance settings, enable Show tab actions menu.
3. Use the Tab actions menu to access Organize tabs and “Group Similar Tabs.”
4. If automatic naming/grouping is not desired, go to Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Search and connected experiences, and turn off Organize your tabs. New groups will then get generic names (like “Group 1”) and can be manually managed.

References:

• User data and privacy in Microsoft Edge
• Archived release notes for Microsoft Edge Stable Channel
• Meet Windows 11: The Basics