Software basics · Beginner

Sidebar (N panel)

The strip on the right of Blender’s viewport with exact values, view settings and add-ons

Also called N panel, N-panel

What is the sidebar (N panel) in Blender?

The sidebar (N panel) is a collapsible strip on the right edge of Blender’s 3D viewport and several other editors. Press N to show or hide it. Its tabs hold exact location, rotation and scale values, view settings, tool options and the panels that add-ons install.

Think of it like this

It is like the side pocket of a backpack: always there, quick to open, and where you keep the small things you reach for most.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How the sidebar works

  1. 01Hover over the 3D viewport and press N to open it.
  2. 02Tabs along its right edge switch between Item, Tool, View and any add-on panels.
  3. 03Type exact numbers in the Item tab to place, rotate or scale the active object.
  4. 04Press N again to hide it, or drag its edge to make it wider.

Sidebar (N panel) vs toolbar

PropertySidebar (N panel)Toolbar
ShortcutNT
PositionRight edge of the viewportLeft edge of the viewport
What it holdsExact values, view settings, add-on tabsTool buttons such as select, move and extrude
Changes with modeSome tabs doYes, each mode has its own tools

Reach for the toolbar to pick an interactive tool, and for the sidebar when you need exact numbers, view settings or an add-on’s panel.

Where the sidebar is used

  • Typing exact location, rotation, scale and dimensions
  • Changing the viewport’s lens and clipping distances
  • Using add-ons that live in their own sidebar tab

Beginner tip

When a tutorial says an add-on lives in the N panel, hover over the viewport, press N and read the tab names down the right edge. Drag the strip wider if names are cut off.

Sidebar (N panel) in Morphic

The Morphic for Blender add-on has its own Morphic tab in the 3D viewport sidebar. Press N to open it, then use the Chat, Image, Video and 3D tabs to describe scene changes or generate media.

See Morphic for Blender

Terms related to the sidebar

Sidebar (N panel) FAQ

How do I open the N panel in Blender?
Hover over the 3D viewport and press N. You can also choose View > Sidebar in the viewport header, or click the small arrow near the top right edge of the viewport.
Why is the Blender sidebar not showing?
It is probably closed or dragged very thin. Press N with the mouse over the viewport, since N acts on the area under the cursor. If it opens narrow, drag its left edge to widen it.
Where are add-on tabs in Blender?
Most add-ons that work in the viewport add a tab to the sidebar. Press N over the 3D viewport and look at the tab names along the right edge. Some add panels to the properties editor or entries in a menu instead.
What is in the Item tab?
The active object’s location, rotation, scale and dimensions, as numbers you can type into. In Edit Mode it shows the position of the selected vertices instead.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms