Click an extension’s toolbar icon — or press its shortcut — to open it in Chrome’s side panel. Pin the extension from the puzzle-piece menu so the icon is always visible, and set your own shortcut at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
What the side panel is
Chrome’s side panel is a column on the edge of the browser window that stays open while you move between tabs. Extensions can show their interface there, which is why AI assistants use it: the page and the assistant are visible at the same time.
Opening an extension in the side panel
- Click the puzzle-piece icon in Chrome’s toolbar.
- Click the pin next to the extension to keep its icon visible.
- Click the icon to open the side panel.
With Hark, you can also press Alt+Shift+H.
Changing the keyboard shortcut
Type chrome://extensions/shortcuts into the address bar. Find the extension and set any combination you like. A shortcut you remember is the difference between using an assistant ten times a day and forgetting it exists.
Moving the panel and resizing it
Drag the panel’s edge to resize it. In Chrome’s settings, under Appearance, you can choose whether the side panel appears on the left or the right.
Tips for working with an assistant in the panel
- Keep the panel narrow for reading, and switch to full-window mode for long conversations.
- Use right-click → “Ask Hark about …” on selected text.
- Let the assistant see the page only when you need it: in Hark that is the “Use this tab” switch.