Link a browser or profile
Link a space to the browser or profile you use for that work. For example, link your Work space to Chrome · Work.
These instructions apply to SupaSidebar 1.3.0 and later. Using 1.2.x?
What linking does
| Choice | Live Tabs in this space | Default destination for links |
|---|---|---|
| No link | Tabs from all enabled, supported browsers | Your existing link-opening settings |
| A browser, such as Chrome | Tabs from that browser | That browser |
| A profile, such as Chrome · Work | Tabs belonging to that profile | That profile |
A one-time Open With choice, a saved link’s Preferred Browser, or a higher-priority Air Traffic Control rule can choose another destination. See Browser Selection.
Bookmarks are optional. Linking does not automatically import bookmarks, sync changes back to the browser, or close tabs.
Link a new or existing space
- New space: choose Link a browser or profile while creating the space. The ⓘ button explains the choice before you link it.
- Existing space: click the link icon next to the space name, then select a browser or profile.
- From Preferences: open Preferences → Spaces → My spaces, select the space, and manage its linked browser or profile.
- From a space menu: right-click its space icon or open its header options menu. Choose Link a browser or profile…, Linked to…, or Space settings… as appropriate.
The space header shows the browser and profile name, such as Chrome · Work. Click that label to check for bookmarks, review a permission issue, open Space settings…, or unlink.
The picker shows the available browser and profile choices. A browser may support linking the whole browser without supporting individual profiles. See Browser Support.
In SupaSidebar 1.3.1 and later, an unlinked space in Preferences shows only the browser/profile picker. The Live Tabs, Opening links, and Bookmarks details appear after you link it.
Add bookmarks when you want them
When creating a linked space, click Fetch bookmarks, review the results, and choose what to include. For an existing space, click its linked browser/profile label and choose Check for new bookmarks in….
- Named profile: fetch bookmarks from that profile.
- Whole browser: for Chrome, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi, Firefox, and Zen, fetch bookmarks from all discovered profiles in that browser.
- Safari: fetch from Safari’s bookmark library, including when a Safari profile is linked.
- Unsupported source: the connection menu explains that bookmark checking is unavailable.
Choose what to add. The browser’s bookmarks stay unchanged. New bookmarks are checked when you request it; there is no background or two-way bookmark sync. If some profiles cannot be read, the warning names them and any readable results remain available to review.
The Import Bookmarks guide also covers importing a browser into separate spaces and importing an HTML file.
Switching spaces
Open Preferences → Spaces → Switching spaces for the existing browser/profile switching options:
- Open linked browser if it isn’t running controls whether SupaSidebar launches the linked browser when you enter its space.
- When a linked browser/profile becomes active offers Ask to switch space, Switch automatically, and Do nothing.
Both are off by default: the linked browser does not launch automatically, and browser/profile activation is set to Do nothing. Updating preserves choices you previously saved.
These existing switching controls require Live Tabs to be enabled. The connection itself and its default link destination do not require Live Tabs to be visible.
Switching to a linked space updates its tab list. Existing browser-window activation behavior continues to apply. Linking alone does not enable the legacy close-and-reopen flow.
Close and reopen tabs per space
If you already use tab memory, its controls are under Preferences → Spaces → Switching spaces → Advanced. Enable Close and reopen tabs on space change only if you want that behavior.
This is a separate, legacy workflow. Closing can affect other profiles in the linked browser, and restoring a saved profile is best-effort. See Close and reopen tabs (Legacy) for its scope, tab locks, and restore behavior.
Existing connections after updating
Your existing browser/profile links remain. If you had explicitly turned off automatic opening in linked profiles, that choice is preserved for those spaces. Preferences → Spaces → My spaces shows the space’s opening behavior. Choose Open links in this browser or profile if you want to enable it for that space.
New connections use the linked browser/profile as their default destination. This does not depend on whether Live Tabs is currently visible. If you later disable Air Traffic Control or its linked-space Open route, links follow the remaining opening settings.
Permissions and missing tabs
The connection menu shows a permission warning when a required permission is missing. Use its action to open the relevant settings. You can also open Preferences → Permission Status.
Opening a URL and reading a browser’s tab list can have different requirements. A successful open does not by itself verify tab access. See Linked browser troubleshooting if the browser opens but its tabs do not appear.
Unlink a browser or profile
Click the linked browser/profile next to the space name, then choose Unlink. The space returns to showing tabs from all enabled, supported browsers. Bookmarks you already added remain saved in the space.
To choose a different browser or profile, unlink the current one and use the link icon again.
Find the right setting
| What you want to change | Where to go |
|---|---|
| This space’s browser/profile or bookmarks | Link icon next to the space name |
| Manage connections across spaces | Preferences → Spaces → My spaces |
| Browser/profile switching behavior | Preferences → Spaces → Switching spaces |
| Live Tabs or Recents display | Preferences → Browser Activity |
| Which browsers can provide tabs or history | Preferences → Privacy & Browsers |
| Permission access | Preferences → Permission Status |
| Exceptions for particular links or sites | Preferred Browser, Open With, or Preferences → Air Traffic Control |
You can also search settings instead of remembering these locations.