MS Edge Workspaces Favorites Bar is not showing Favorites for individual workspaces

randle 155

I've got workspaces set up for different projects as well as personal use in Microsoft Edge. On each workspace there was an individual favorites bar at the top. This has been working fine until yesterday. Now there is only a generic favorites bar. Now when I add something to the favorites bar it appears the same across all workspaces. I can still see the bookmarks for the workspace favourite bar now as a drop down menu on the side. None of the right click options make this visible. When I create a new workspace it has the same universal bar. Does anyone know how to fix this so I have a different favorites bar on each workspace? Using on Windows 11 - MS Edge Version 127.0.2651.105 (Official build) (64-bit)

I installed the latest Dev Build and I can see the favorites bar working correctly on the Dev Build the first time it opens (this is the same with Canary). I logged out of the standard MS Edge and closed it. Then I tried doing a reset of the server data from the Dev Build given it was showing correctly. However, as soon as I closed the Dev Build and reopened it, it exhibited this same behaviour as the problem described above - a universal favorites bar rather than a workspace specific one.

I then logged in again on the normal build. It didn't change things once I ran the sync. I've also tried repairing the normal build and so I'm stuck. Please help!

Jinxin Wang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co Ltd) 2,190 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-08-23T08:01:16.84+00:00

Hi @Randle Bond,

I read your description. But I don't quite understand what you are mainly talking about, "On each workspace there was an individual favorites bar at the top" Do you mean that clicking the "Favorites" icon in the upper right corner of Edge cannot expand the contents of each workspace favorites? Because I tested the Favorites feature on Edge Stable and Edge Dev respectively. When I clicked the "Favorites" icon, I could display the "Favorite Bar", "Other favorites" and two other "workspaces". When I expanded the favorites from the workspace named "kobe", all of them could be expanded, but when I expanded from the workspace named "study", the "kobe" workspace could not be expanded. As shown in the figure below: So, I would like to know if this is also the issue you are describing? If it is convenient for you, please provide relevant screenshots to me (please cover up privacy information).

Best Regards,

Jinxin Wang
randle 155 Reputation points

2024-08-23T08:57:50.4866667+00:00

Hi, you can see a printables favourite on my bar in the browser window and then you can see a menu called tech I've clicked on. The menu called Tech used to be my favourites bar in the tech workspace. For some reason this changed and I get a universal favourites bar instead. If I hide or remove this favourites bar then the whole bar disappears.

If I remove the printables favorite this you can see it thinks this is a workspace bar, but it isn't functioning this way. It adds favorites here to all the workspaces.

You can see the list when I click manage favourites here

Does this make more sense?

This is what it used to look like. See how the favorites for Tech are spread across the favorites bar. Contrast with the top picture.
randle 155 Reputation points

2024-08-23T09:06:01.32+00:00

see update to the post above.
barry jenkinson 35 Reputation points

2024-11-09T23:32:25.64+00:00

It's the old ensh***ification problem. Workspaces was so good with logically different favourites in each workspace, but now the decay begins.
Charles Perreault 20 Reputation points

2024-11-11T15:47:07.6533333+00:00

People complained it was hard to share bookmarks between workspaces. Guess this is the result.
I totally agree the previous behavior was better for my use of workspaces. It just added extra clicks and mouse move when working in a workspace, and there is no known method to switch between experiences. Guess it's back to using multiple profiles and stop using workspaces altogether.
barry jenkinson 35 Reputation points

2024-11-11T18:27:37.44+00:00

I hadn't realised that was an option. Thanks. I can ditch workspaces until they come back to their senses.
Charles Perreault 20 Reputation points

2024-11-11T18:43:38.9466667+00:00

I was using profiles before, and workspaces became much more convenient because extensions (e.g. password manager) were shared, and all tabs/browser state were synced on a single M365 account across all my workstations. Now back to square 1. Guess I'll look for another browser altogether.
RE Hunter 20 Reputation points

2024-11-15T19:09:50.35+00:00

Do you create an email alias to link the profile to?
Charles Perreault 20 Reputation points

2024-11-17T18:37:22.4566667+00:00

Nah I doubt it would sync properly without overwriting anything with aliases to the same o365 accounts. Didn't try, hardly see it working. Even if it did, I don't see that being knowingly supported and it could break at anytime.
Furlani, Nicole 0 Reputation points

2024-11-20T14:26:35.3333333+00:00

This has been driving me crazy too. They should have at least just made it an option if I want to use the universal bar or not.
Oliver_R 5 Reputation points

2024-12-04T04:54:46.4633333+00:00

@jinxing wang Would you be able to submit the feedback from this thread to the Edge team for consideration?
Gerid Adams 5 Reputation points

2025-01-19T13:16:14.1033333+00:00

Why would you take away a feature that made workspaces so useful? Ugh...
Mark A-G 6 Reputation points

2025-01-19T21:45:33.91+00:00

I'd be happy if they just allowed you to pin the different folders in each of the workspaces to restore previous functionality. I provided feedback via the browser feedback feature but no responses.
Rayarthur Wild 0 Reputation points

2025-01-21T15:12:22.63+00:00

I have this 21st of January 2025 on my Microsoft organisational account following successful use of workspace for disability access for several months. Workspaces were proving to be a rare useful and accessible innovation in edge browser. Because I have a high level of visual distortion and stress it was extremely helpful to be able to see favourites related to specific tasks. Now I am once again flooded with information I cannot parse visually. Very disappointing. About 2 to 3 times a week now I have to reset systems for accessibility functionality with rapid updates often of questionable use.

Accepted answer

Jinxin Wang (Shanghai Wicresoft Co Ltd) 2,190 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-08-23T09:57:54.4466667+00:00

Hi @SimplifiedLife,

I read your reply and thank you for your reply. This feature has been changed due to a recent update. Workspaces now display a user's full set of favorites in the Favorites Bar, with a dedicated workspace folder accessible from the bar. For more detailed information, you can refer to the link. You can also refer to the following image.

Since this is a new feature, it cannot be disabled. You can refer to the link to submit the workspace feedback. Thank you for your understanding.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Best Regards,

Jinxin Wang
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5 people found this answer helpful.
俊祥龚 55 Reputation points

2024-08-23T10:32:12.2566667+00:00

I also need to get the workspace favorites bar back to the way it was before, with a separate favorites bar for each workspace.

This look is making the workspace less efficient

How do I need to give feedback on this requirement?

randle 155 Reputation points

2024-08-23T13:38:42.32+00:00

I'm really surprised they would change this feature of having custom favourites bars for workspaces. It was one of the key selling points for me as it showed me to be task focused with the right websites for a project a click away. I would have left the generic favourites in a menu instead. Or showed the favourites bar to be split...

Ricardo Diaz 45 Reputation points

2024-09-04T15:28:04.67+00:00

I feel the same. This was a great way to organize favourites. The way it is now adds an extra click.

Li Ting Wong 30 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2024-09-05T05:43:11.43+00:00

Is there a way to turned on the feature explicitly? I prefer the new look but only get that on one of my edge browsers. And I use multiple desktops.

Sanny 25 Reputation points

2024-10-30T08:32:06.7333333+00:00

Having all my favourites in the same taskbar just leads to procrastination. I just commited to the switch from chrome, only for the workspace as it was. Guess i go back to my old workflow with several chrome extensions :(

Jonathan Wong 25 Reputation points

2024-10-30T22:12:55.25+00:00

I much prefer it the way it was before. The advantage of workspaces for me was having a custom Favourites Bar for each workspace; now this is gone!

Please at least add a setting to revert the old behaviour.

Simon Young 25 Reputation points

2024-11-02T08:04:29.68+00:00

A specific favourites bar per workspace was so efficient, so this change is a regression from my perspective. Yes, the workspace favourites are still there on the far left of the favourites bar, but I could already do that without workspaces. I loved the optimised "workspace' experience as it was previously.

RE Hunter 20 Reputation points

2024-11-03T11:07:53.41+00:00

Fix this stupid change.

Ken 40 Reputation points

2024-11-04T03:14:52.56+00:00

Please at least allow us to configure and choose one of the following displays:

Show workspace favorites on the main bar, and full favorites on a folder menu

Show full favorites on the main bar, and workspace favorites on a folder menu

Ken 40 Reputation points

2024-11-04T03:20:29.8133333+00:00

To solve this once and for all, please allow us to choose between the following displays:

Show workspace favorites on the main bar and universal favorites on a folder menu.

Show universal favorites on the main bar and workspace favorites on a folder menu.

Otherwise you cannot satisfy all users and will have to revert to old behaviour and revert again then to new behaviour back and forth.

Antonette Page 15 Reputation points

2024-11-06T11:49:06.0733333+00:00

My browser recently received the change and my flabbers were gasted. I spent over an hour searching out settings to revert back to the old favourites bar but had no luck. I also wish for this to be a toggle feature.

Kellee Rosales 15 Reputation points

2024-11-06T23:35:07.3566667+00:00

What is the point of having different workspaces?? I also need to get the workspace favorites bar back to the way it was before, with a separate favorites bar for each workspace. Having them show up universally across all workspaces defeat the purpose of individual workspaces! Where is the feedback button???

Kellee Rosales 15 Reputation points

2024-11-06T23:37:58.2466667+00:00

Ohhhh my gosh yeaahhhhhh it fixed for you??!!! also need to get the workspace favorites bar back to the way it was before, with a separate favorites bar for each workspace! Is this where you fixed the problem? If so it's not working for me =( Did you restart your computer? Close all tabs? or just toggle on/off?

barry jenkinson 35 Reputation points

2024-11-09T23:30:27.56+00:00

The favourites temporarily came back but when I rebooted today it was back to the single folder again. I thought it was an edge update but apparently not.

Steve Lubetkin 0 Reputation points

2024-11-16T13:10:21.7366667+00:00

Don't understand why they made this change. All it does is clutter up the favorites bar. My solution was to create a new folder in the favorites bar called "Favorites (ALL)" and drag all the random favorites into that folder. Now I just have two items on the favorites bar, the workspace favorites drop-down, and the Favorites (ALL) folder. Much cleaner look, even though it now takes an additional mouse-click to access the workspace-specific favorites.

Stupid change, Microsoft.

Oliver_R 5 Reputation points

2024-12-04T04:52:27.19+00:00

I am also very dismayed by this change! Why was this necessary? Workspaces were the perfect tool for separating out big projects and work areas that need their own information and tools at your fingertips. Now everything is so cumbersome and clunky.

Please revert it back to the way it was, or at least introduce an option! When I did a google search I saw that there were people asking it to be like it is now, and my guess is that the feature was changed because of that.

But for the majority of us who really love Workspaces, we switched to Edge because no other browser did them this way and they were just perfect.

Mikayla 0 Reputation points

2024-12-27T17:07:10.54+00:00

I also very much would like to see the workspace-specific favorites bar come back. I really like the suggestion above made by Ken who suggests:

Please at least allow us to configure and choose one of the following displays:

Show workspace favorites on the main bar, and full favorites on a folder menu

Show full favorites on the main bar, and workspace favorites on a folder menu

SAEED ALOURI 0 Reputation points

2025-01-10T10:43:13.4433333+00:00

I think it should be the opposite, when you are in a workspace, it's favorites should be the ones on the favorites bar, and other workspace (e.g. "main") should be under the separate folder.
Also, I understood that "sharing/collaboration" is one of the purposes for workspaces and I don't want to share all of my favorites with everyone.

Jonathan Wong 25 Reputation points

2025-01-15T21:11:39.4533333+00:00

Wow this was fixed in an early January update (Workspaces favorite bars came back) but now it has just been reverted to this unproductive behaviour. What is going on?

Gerid Adams 5 Reputation points

2025-01-19T13:20:38.1233333+00:00

I hate this. Looks like I am going back to Chrome. Being able to separate my projects (including my favorites) was an awesome feature and main reason I started using Edge as default.

Has anyone found a work around? I invested a lot of time sorting these out and creating nice workspaces for my projects. I also don't want to be sharing my personal favorites with others that have access to my workspaces.

Rayarthur Wild 0 Reputation points

2025-01-21T15:15:05.71+00:00

I would like to know if there was an assessment of digital accessibility before this decision was made? It is especially disappointing that it cannot be toggled or disabled. Only on v off - could you please outline how workspaces have any features at all to distinguish them from using one browser interface
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3 additional answers

Alex Fantuz 75 Reputation points

2025-01-20T18:23:57.75+00:00

You can try this:

Type edge://flags on Edge address bar

Search for "Show Workspace Favorites in Favorites Bar" > Set to Enabled

Restart Edge
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15 people found this answer helpful.
Mark A-G 6 Reputation points

2025-01-21T03:15:47.2766667+00:00

Thank you so much, that's exactly what I was looking for!

Mark A-G 6 Reputation points

2025-01-21T03:17:33.1+00:00

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I was looking for when they first implemented the change.

GrandSeb 0 Reputation points

2025-01-21T13:54:14.5266667+00:00

This works ! Thanks!

barry jenkinson 35 Reputation points

2025-01-21T14:25:00.96+00:00

Fantastic! Thanks Alex. I just hope Microsoft don't remove this ability out of stupidity or malice.

Charles Perreault 20 Reputation points

2025-01-21T14:28:44.7266667+00:00

This is great news. Works like a charm.

Ricardo Diaz 45 Reputation points

2025-01-21T15:26:12.1233333+00:00

Finally! thanks!

Milan Cvrkal 21 Reputation points

2025-01-22T13:21:29.1066667+00:00

It solved my issue :-), thanks

Lee, Jessica 0 Reputation points

2025-01-22T20:10:25.2033333+00:00

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

Uwem Ekpenyong 0 Reputation points

2025-01-24T16:57:05.48+00:00

This is the way.

Ron Britvich 0 Reputation points

2025-01-25T22:45:22.1633333+00:00

Excellent!!! Back to the good ol' days.

Oliver, Timothy 0 Reputation points

2025-01-30T21:15:25.3833333+00:00

Thank you! Works exactly as described. My Favorites are back where they belong.
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Mamamia Ma 5 Reputation points

2025-01-22T00:56:45.8733333+00:00

The workspace specific favorite bar was a very good feature until this is changed.

The previous behavior which display the whole workspace favorite on the workspace windows was much effective because whenever I'm working on the specific workspace. I only want to focus the favorites that I have collected for that workspace.

The Non-workspace favorite now takes up the whole bar instead makes the workspace windows favorite much less effective.

Can the behavior be reverted? Or maybe provide an option knob to allow user to decide.
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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MS Edge Workspaces Favorites Bar is not showing Favorites for individual workspaces

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