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No. The left sidebar in the Tella editor (the toolbar with Setup, Layout, Cut, Effect, and the other tools) is always visible, and there is no way to hide, close, minimize, or collapse it. This is the same on Mac, Windows, and the web. When you open the editor, the first panel you see is Setup, where you change general settings for your video like its dimensions, title, and description. Setup is a tool, not a popup, so it stays on screen until you switch to a different tool.

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How do I get past Setup to keep editing?

The sidebar is meant to stay open while you work. To move on from Setup, just:
  • Click any other tool in the left toolbar (for example Cut, Layout, or Style). The panel updates to show that tool.
  • Click directly on your video in the timeline or on the canvas to start making edits.

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Why doesn’t clicking Setup or pressing Escape close the sidebar?

Each tool has a shortcut key that opens it (for example C opens Cut, Y opens Layout, E opens Effect). These keys switch between tools, they do not toggle a panel open and closed:
  • Clicking the Setup icon always opens Setup. Clicking it again while Setup is already open does nothing, because you are already there.
  • Escape closes the command menu (the one you open with ⌘ + K / Ctrl + K). It does not close the sidebar.
So if clicking the Setup icon or pressing Escape seems to “do nothing” to the sidebar, that is expected. The sidebar is always on, and the right move is to pick the tool you want or click into your video to continue.

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Can I hide the Script panel on the right?

Yes. The Script panel on the right of the editor can be toggled with the sidebar button at the right end of the playbar (tooltip Toggle sidebar) or Shift + S. The same panel holds the Tella Agent chat.

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Can I watch my video without the sidebars?

Yes. Click Fullscreen preview in the playbar, or press F, to play your video fullscreen with the sidebars and Script panel hidden. Press Escape to return to the editor. See Edit a video.
Want a way to collapse the left sidebar for more room on screen? Let us know; we track feature requests like this from support.
Last modified on October 27, 2026