Add and place a panel
- Open Add a panel in a workspace pane.
- Choose Side chat, Terminal, Files, Git, Subagents, or Browser to open it in that pane.
- Use the row’s placement options for Top, Bottom, Left, Right, or Main stage when you want an explicit location.
- Drag a tab or panel choice to a supported drop target to move or split it.
- Resize the divider to give the content enough room.
Cancelling a drag from the panel menu does not create the new panel. The main task stage remains the central conversation surface even when other tabs are arranged around it.
Single and multiple instances
Side chat, Files, Git, and Subagents are single-instance panel types within the workspace. If one is already open, its menu choice is muted; find or move the existing panel instead of expecting another copy.
Terminal and Browser can have multiple instances. Each new terminal creates a separate shell, so verify the working directory and process state in the correct tab.
Keep the layout readable
Close panels you no longer need or move a cramped panel to Main stage. Choose horizontal or vertical pane tabs under Settings → Appearance. Layout restoration can bring panels back for a workspace, but do not treat a restored terminal’s visual presence as proof a former process is still running.
If a panel appears missing, inspect the existing tabs and collapsed space before resetting anything. See appearance, terminal, and workspace troubleshooting.
Arrange panels with the keyboard
Focus a workspace tab, then use Left or Right to select another tab. Alt+Arrow moves the focused tab to a split at that pane’s corresponding edge; Alt+Enter moves it to Main stage. These keys use Option on macOS and apply to the focused tab, not the Code composer. See the workspace-tab shortcut table for close and selection controls.