# Plugin API: What should \`panels.show\` and \`panels.visible\` do on mobile?

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/plugin-api-what-should-panels-show-and-panels-visible-do-on-mobile/37507>\
**Category:** Plugins\
**Tags:** mobile, plugin-api, api-design\
**Created:** [9 April 2024 23:10 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/plugin-api-what-should-panels-show-and-panels-visible-do-on-mobile/37507 "2024-04-09T23:10:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 3

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**Author:** ![benlau](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/benlau/32/8241_2.png) [@benlau](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/benlau)\
**Post date:** [17 March 2025 13:21 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/plugin-api-what-should-panels-show-and-panels-visible-do-on-mobile/37507/3 "2025-03-17T13:21:23Z")

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hi @personalizedrefriger ,

> With this, .show(panelId, false) will prevent a user from opening a plugin panel in the UI on mobile until .show(panelId, true) is called.

Is there an alternative way to close a panel that allows the user to open it again? I am the author of DDDot, a multifunction sidebar plugin. One of the features provided by the plugin is showing the list of backlinks for the current note.

If it is opened on mobile and the user clicks on a backlink, I would like to open the backlink and close the panel view automatically. However, if I call .show(panelId, false), the user won't be able to reopen the plugin using the tool button, which is quite inconvenient. So, I am looking for an alternative solution.

Thanks.

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