iOS 26 Update: Safari’s New Tab Layout Is Optional—Customize Your Experience!

This Monday, Apple unveiled its iOS 26, introducing the new Liquid Glass interface, which has significantly redefined the Safari browser’s user interface. The address bar now sports a much more compact design, flanked by just two buttons: one for backward navigation on the left, and another for various options on the right. Recognizing that this design might be a bold departure, Apple has provided an option to switch back to a more traditional layout. This can be accessed through Settings > Apps > Safari > Tabs. Additionally, there’s a third option that positions the address bar at the top of the screen.

Outlined below are the three aforementioned options in use. The first option maximizes content visibility but offers fewer directly accessible options. The second option takes up more screen height but maintains a level of transparency and does not extend across the entire screen width like in iOS 18. The third option keeps various controls at the bottom of the screen, with only the address bar moved to the top.

As you scroll down, the address bar automatically minimizes, whether it’s positioned at the bottom or the top of the screen (in the case of the third option, the bottom controls also disappear). To regain the full interface, you must either click on the website name or scroll in the opposite direction. Notably, the Liquid Glass interface adjusts its hue to match the background, ensuring optimal contrast at all times.

iOS 26 has just entered the beta phase, and Safari, along with many other applications, is still under development. Adjustments may be made based on user feedback over the summer. The final version is not expected to be released until September.