Regression: No way to reopen the sidebar from an open chat

ChatGPT Bugs
1

Environment

  • Surface: ChatGPT chat UI; exact app/web version not recorded
  • Browser/device: Not recorded
  • Affected feature: Left sidebar in an active conversation

Steps to reproduce

  1. Open a conversation.
  2. Hide the sidebar using its collapse/hide control.
  3. Try to reopen the sidebar while staying in that conversation.

Actual behavior

Once hidden, there is no visible sidebar toggle in the conversation. The only way I have found to make the sidebar visible again is to click Home, which takes me out of the current chat.

Expected behavior

A show-sidebar control should remain available so I can reopen the sidebar without leaving the current conversation.

This feels like a regression in the navigation flow. Is this intended, or can the sidebar toggle be restored?

2

I’m experiencing exactly the same issue in both Edge and Chrome. Once I close the sidebar, the toggle disappears and I can’t reopen it unless I resize the window to mobile width. I’ve tried clearing the cache, resetting the browser and using a fresh profile, without success.

Has anyone found a solution or reliable workaround?