Apple launched a brand new, compact design for Safari in iOS 26 that serves because the default structure, however there are two different design choices out there in case you do not prefer it.
Within the Safari part of the Settings app, you’ll be able to choose Compact (the default), Backside, or High. The latter two are the choices in iOS 18, so iOS 26 makes use of that very same structure, however with a tweaked design to match the Liquid Glass aesthetic.
The three Safari Tab choices in iOS 26, Mild ModeFunctionally, the Backside and High Tabs function in the identical approach because the Safari Tab bars in iOS 18, so that you need not change something about how you employ Safari. The Compact possibility hides the share, bookmark, and tab settings behind the three-dot button on the left of the URL bar.
Safari in iOS 18The Liquid Glass translucent design blends the URL bar and buttons into the background of the webpage you are taking a look at no matter what structure you select. The impact is comparable in each Mild and Darkish mode, with the colour of the bar decided by the webpage’s content material.
If you scroll down with any of the Tab settings, the URL bar and buttons collapse down right into a single, small bar with simply the webpage handle listed. The collapsible bar means that you can see extra of the webpage with out distractions.
Collapsed Tab Bar in iOS 26Again when iOS 15 was in beta testing, Apple modified the design of Safari and didn’t initially present completely different structure choices for the URL bar. Apple acquired unfavourable suggestions all through the beta testing course of, and finally carried out choices to revert to the unique design. This time round, Apple has realized its lesson, and has offered customers with extra alternative for the Safari structure.
The iOS 15 Safari Tab BarApple has really provided design selections for a number of of the iOS 26 design updates that could possibly be controversial. The Telephone app presents a unified view, for instance, however by default, it is not carried out. There are additionally glass-like icons that may be chosen, however they’re additionally not the default possibility.
