Apple Is Bringing Back One of Safari’s Best Features.
One of the most appealing qualities of Apple software, at least in theory, is its uncluttered design. That’s why many users (including me) were upset when the Compact Tabs feature in Safari was removed in macOS 26 and iPadOS 26. It was a great way to organize the browser bar, and since then, people have been constantly complaining about its absence.
Fortunately, those disgruntled users now have reason to rejoice, as MacRumors reports that the “Compact Tab” feature will return in the upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 releases. Their report includes a screenshot of Safari’s macOS settings, showing both “Detached” and “Compact” tabs available.
Why I like Compact Tabs
Here’s why I’m thrilled to see this feature return: your browser’s default tab bar sits directly below the main toolbar (which contains the address bar, as well as the back/forward and “open new tab” buttons). Compact Tabs moves tabs into the address bar, a space that’s otherwise mostly empty. This halves the space taken up at the top of the browser. This feature isn’t for everyone—people who regularly keep dozens of tabs open usually prefer more space to see which tab belongs to which. But for those of us who like things organized (like me), Compact Tabs was the perfect solution.
And everything will be perfect again. Apple hasn’t yet announced when the 26.4 update will be available to all macOS and iPadOS users, but judging by the update release cycle, it will likely arrive within the next month or so. And if you don’t want to wait, you can try the 26.4 beta now.
One thing to keep in mind here is that beta versions of software are by definition less stable than the release version, meaning you may have to put up with a few bugs that will annoy you or (in the worst case) make your computer unusable.
However, if you want to get started, open System Preferences on your device and go to General > Software Update . Here, enable beta updates—after doing so, you should be offered the 26.4 beta. I generally don’t recommend risking a beta version of an operating system for a minor quality-of-life improvement (though there are other interesting features ), but the full version should be available soon.