From a14152e89719e5ed5e176dcb253e0f7e090e5592 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Rizel Scarlett <rizel@squareup.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2026 05:42:06 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add guide for customizing the sidebar (#7638)

---
 .../docs/guides/desktop-navigation.md         | 76 +++++++++++++++++++
 documentation/docs/guides/tips.md             |  3 +
 2 files changed, 79 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 documentation/docs/guides/desktop-navigation.md

diff --git a/documentation/docs/guides/desktop-navigation.md b/documentation/docs/guides/desktop-navigation.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1d2f88d6b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/documentation/docs/guides/desktop-navigation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+---
+sidebar_position: 16
+title: Customizing the Sidebar
+sidebar_label: Customizing the Sidebar
+description: Personalize how you navigate goose Desktop by changing the sidebar's look, position, and behavior
+---
+
+import { PanelLeft, Menu } from 'lucide-react';
+
+:::info Desktop Only
+Sidebar customization is available only in goose Desktop.
+:::
+
+The sidebar is how you navigate between pages in goose Desktop: Home, Chat, Recipes, Apps, Scheduler, Extensions, and Settings. You can customize its appearance, position, and behavior to fit the way you work.
+
+To access these settings:
+
+1. Click the <PanelLeft className="inline" size={16} /> button in the top-left to open the sidebar
+2. Click `Settings` in the sidebar
+3. Click the `App` tab
+4. Scroll to the **Navigation** section
+
+## Style
+
+Choose how the sidebar displays its items.
+
+| Style | Description |
+|-------|-------------|
+| **Tile** (default) | Large icons with labels arranged in a grid. Good for quick visual scanning. |
+| **List** | A compact, single-column list. Takes up less space and shows more items at once. |
+
+:::note
+In List style on smaller windows (under 700px wide), the sidebar automatically collapses to icons only.
+:::
+
+## Position
+
+Move the sidebar to any edge of the window.
+
+| Position | Description |
+|----------|-------------|
+| **Left** (default) | Vertical sidebar on the left side of the window |
+| **Right** | Vertical sidebar on the right side of the window |
+| **Top** | Horizontal bar along the top of the window |
+| **Bottom** | Horizontal bar along the bottom of the window |
+
+## Mode
+
+Control what happens to your content when the sidebar is open.
+
+| Mode | Description |
+|------|-------------|
+| **Push** (default) | The sidebar takes up space and your content shifts to make room. The sidebar stays visible while you work. |
+| **Overlay** | The sidebar floats on top of your content without moving anything. Click outside or navigate to dismiss it. |
+
+:::note
+In Overlay mode, the Style and Position settings are not available. The sidebar always appears as a full-screen tile overlay.
+:::
+
+## Customize Items
+
+You can reorder and hide items in the sidebar from the **Customize Items** section of the navigation settings.
+
+- **Drag items** to reorder them
+- Click the **eye icon** to show or hide individual items
+
+Click `Reset to defaults` to restore the original order and visibility.
+
+## Toggle Sidebar
+
+Show or hide the sidebar without opening Settings:
+
+- **Menu bar:** Go to **View → Toggle Navigation**
+- **Keyboard shortcut:** The shortcut is shown next to the menu item and can be customized in `Settings` > `Keyboard`
+
+The sidebar's open/closed state is remembered across sessions.
diff --git a/documentation/docs/guides/tips.md b/documentation/docs/guides/tips.md
index 361ed65da1..56460e1f7b 100644
--- a/documentation/docs/guides/tips.md
+++ b/documentation/docs/guides/tips.md
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ You can turn a successful session into a reusable "[recipe](/docs/guides/recipes
 ### Embrace an experimental mindset
 You don’t need to get it right the first time. Iterating on prompts and tools is part of the workflow.
 
+### Customize the sidebar
+goose Desktop lets you [customize the sidebar](/docs/guides/desktop-navigation) to match how you like to work. Adjust its position, appearance, and which items are visible.
+
 ### Keep goose updated
 Regularly [update](/docs/guides/updating-goose) goose to benefit from the latest features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.