iOS 15: How to get the iPhone's old Safari layout back

jason-cipriani

Safari's new design in iOS 15 isn't for everyone. 

Apple released iOS 15 near the end of September, and the company is currently readying the next update, iOS 15.2, for release likely sometime this week. For some, there's still an annoying change in the iPhone's web browser, Safari. After updating to iOS 15 you may have noticed that the address bar is not located at the bottom of the screen. 

ZDNET Recommends

 width=

The best iPhones

You can find iPhone models directly from Apple starting from $449.

The change is a jolt to your muscle memory. I know I found myself constantly reaching to the top of the iPhone's screen for the address bar, but eventually, I grew to enjoy the new layout.

It only takes a couple of seconds to make the switch. I suggest giving the new Safari a chance for a day or two before going back to the old design -- I've been using it since June and don't think I could go back to the old Safari. Nonetheless, here are the steps should you need them. 

Also: iOS 15 destroyed your iPhone's battery life? Don't panic!

How to go back to the old Safari design

There are two ways to go about reverting Safari to its previous look. One is done directly in Safari; the other requires you to open the Settings app. They both do the same thing, so it's really up to you how you go about making the chance. 

 width=

The first method requires you to go to  Settings , then find and select  Safari . Scroll down until you see get to the  Tabs  section. There you'll find two thumbnails of the iPhone.  Tab Bar , which is the new design, is on the left.  Single Tab , or the old design, is on the right. Select  Single Tab . 

The second method, which is much easier and quicker, is all done directly in Safari itself, but it's a little hidden. 

 width=

You can move Safari's address bar back to the top of the screen with ease. 

In Safari, tap on the  aA  icon that should be on the left side of the address bar. A menu will show up, and at the top of it will be the  Show Top Address Bar option . Select it. (You can also use the same steps to reverse the change, as shown in the screenshots above.)

The new Safari isn't the only new feature in iOS 15. I have a few of them here that you need to know about , as well as some great hidden features I've found so far . 

If you're going back to the old-look Safari as soon as possible, let us know why in the comments.

 width=

The best iPad screen protectors you can buy

 width=

Netflix to longtime customers: Say goodbye to iTunes billing and lower prices

 width=

The Apple products you shouldn't buy this month: March 2024 edition

Don’t like the new Safari on iOS 15? Here’s how to go back to the old design

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo

iOS 15 launches this week and brings with it a lot of new features including Live Text, Focus modes, a new Weather app, FaceTime enhancements as well as more features like FaceTime screen sharing coming later this year. However, one of the more drastic changes is to Safari. Apple has dramatically redesigned the layout of Safari, as well as adding new features like Tab Groups. However, if you don’t like the new UI, you can go back. Here’s how.

On the iPad, Apple has redesigned the tab bar with new button shapes and a compact layout option for how the tabs are arranged in the Safari toolbar.

On the iPhone, there is a more drastic change. The address bar now sits at the bottom of the screen above the toolbar, and there’s a new look for the tabs screen too. It’s fair to say that the default design on iOS 15 is a pretty big departure from what came before. 

Why did Apple redesign Safari? Apple said they are bringing important controls closer to your fingers with a bottom-oriented appearance. That means the address bar is now easier to access with one hand, especially if you have a larger iPhone like an iPhone 13 Pro Max. As well as being able to tap into the address bar, you can also now swipe left and right on the tab bar to quickly switch between tabs with a gesture.

However, if you really don’t like the new UI of Safari, you can make it look and work like iOS 14 again. Mostly. 

How to put the address bar back on top

Site default logo image

To move the URL bar in iPhone Safari back to the top of the screen, it’s quite easy.

When browsing inside of Safari on iOS 15, tap the “Aa” button in the address bar. Then press the ‘Show Top Address Bar’ in the menu that appears. In Top Address Bar mode, Safari will look almost identical to how it looked on iOS 14. 

The new grid design of the Tabs view cannot be reverted however. If you want to go back to the new bottom address bar design, simply press the Aa button again and choose ‘Show Bottom Tab Bar’.

You can also change this layout setting from the Settings app. Navigate to Settings -> Safari -> Tabs -> select Single Tab.

How to disable color tinting 

One more subtle Safari design change is that iOS 15 will now tint the top toolbars of Safari to reflect the accent color of the website. For example, if you are viewing a website with a red background, the top toolbar of Safari will also inherit the red theme. This is more noticeable on iPad and Mac but it applies to iPhone too. Again, if you don’t like this effect, you can turn it off. 

Unlike reverting the Safari address bar design, the color tinting option can only be changed in Settings. Navigate to Settings -> Safari -> Tabs -> toggle Allow Website Tinting to off. 

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

change safari look

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

iOS 15

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog . Message Benjamin over email or Twitter .

Benjamin Mayo's favorite gear

Philips Hue Lights

Philips Hue Lights

The easiest way to get into HomeKit and Apple smart home tech. Great for gifts.

iPhone Wireless Charger

iPhone Wireless Charger

Inexpensive, fast, wireless charger for iPhone.

5 Ways You Can Customize Safari on iPhone to Give It a New Look

Thanks to iOS 15, Safari is now more customizable than ever. Learn the different ways to personalize the look and feel of Safari on your iPhone.

Safari is usually one of the most used apps on one's device. Luckily for us, recent iOS updates have increasingly allowed us to make multiple edits to Safari's physical appearance.

You can change your background, enable website tinting, change the position of the address bar, and access websites in different layouts. You can easily make all of these changes in your iPhone's Settings app.

Here, we'll look at some of the different ways you can give Safari a whole new look on your iPhone.

1. Change Your Background for Safari's Start Page

You can use any image from the stock Photos app to change your Safari background. Some pre-set wallpapers are also available for you to choose from. Follow these steps to customize your Safari's background :

  • Open a new Safari tab by pressing the Tabs button. Then, tap on the plus ( + ) icon.
  • Swipe to the bottom of your new tab and tap on Edit .
  • You will see the Background Image toggle at the very bottom. Enable it.
  • Choose from any of the options present on your screen. Tap on the plus ( + ) icon to open your gallery and select a photo from any album. You can also use a Live Photo, but keep in mind that it will remain a still background in Safari.

Safari home page

The Edit button lets you customize your Safari start page in several ways. Besides changing the background, you can use the toggles to choose what sections appear on your start page.

2. Shift the Position of the Address Bar

Apple's iOS 15 software update brought the address bar to the bottom of the screen by default as a part of the Safari revamp. However, if you want to switch back and put it at the top, you can do so in your iPhone's settings. Here's what you need to do:

  • Open Settings and go to Safari .
  • Scroll down to the section labeled Tabs . You will see multiple tab options here, including Tab Bar and Single Tab . As the icons depict, opt for Tab Bar to keep the address bar at the bottom of your screen or select Single Tab to shift it to the top.

Safari settings on iPhone

3. Enable or Disable Website Tinting

Website Tinting is a feature that allows the layout of your Safari page (the address bar) to change according to the website you have open. If the website's theme is black, your address bar will also turn black to match the layout when Website Tinting is enabled in Settings.

To turn website tinting on or off in Safari , follow these steps:

  • Scroll down to the section labeled Tabs , and turn the toggle on or off for Website Tinting .

If you haven't updated to iOS 15 yet, you can still find a similar feature in the Settings app under Accessibility with the name Show Color in Tab Bar .

4. Switch On Reader View and Make Edits to Text

Reader View tends to rework your webpage into a perfectly organized, ad-free layout to help you focus better on reading the content. The feature also allows you to do multiple things , like editing a webpage, changing font style, font size, and color. Here's how to switch on Reader's view in Safari:

  • After you open the webpage you'd like to read on Safari, tap on the Reader View icon in the corner of the address bar. The icon has an upper case and lower case alphabet paired together.
  • From the dropdown menu, select Show Reader View . Your webpage will appear ad-free and organized automatically. If the option is grayed out, Reader View is unavailable for that particular website.

Accessing Safari Reader View

If you want to make Reader View your default browsing method for a particular website, you won't have to repeat the above steps every time you open it. Follow these steps to make Reader View your go-to method for a particular URL:

  • Tap on the Reader View icon.
  • Choose Website Settings from the dropdown menu.
  • Turn on the toggle for Use Reader Automatically and press Done . The web page will now automatically switch to Reader View every time you open it.

Safari Reader View font customization

To change the font style, size, and color once you're in Reader View, here's what you need to do:

  • Enable Reader View by tapping on it and selecting Show Reader View . Once turned on, tap on the Reader View icon again.
  • A new pop-up will appear, displaying multiple options for font color and style. To change font size, tap on the upper case alphabet repeatedly to increase and lower case to decrease as much as you like.

5. Switch to Desktop Website

Today, most websites offer a mobile version and desktop version to support various devices people use. This increases efficiency and makes the browsing experience more convenient for the user. Both versions usually tend to differ in layout and functionality.

If you prefer to use the desktop version of a website on your mobile device, you can request to do so in Safari. Follow these simple instructions:

  • Tap on the Reader View icon in the address bar
  • From the context menu that pops up, tap on Request Desktop Website . The webpage will reload automatically to show the desktop version of the site.

If you want to make the desktop version of a website the default option on Safari, you can do so with these steps:

  • Open the website you want to change the feature for, tap on the Reader View icon, and a pop-up will appear. Tap on Website Settings .
  • Now, simply turn on the toggle for Request Desktop Website .

That's it. From now on, every time you visit this particular website, it will automatically load the desktop version of the site.

Give Your Safari a Whole New Look With These Tricks

The iOS 15 software update brought a ton of new features that let you change the physical appearance of your Safari to give you a more personalized browsing experience. From colors and fonts to backgrounds and layouts, you can apply a wide range of edits. So, update your iPhone to ensure all these features are available to use.

If you want to make functional improvements to your Safari besides these physical characteristics, extensions and shortcuts are the perfect way to go.

Pocket-lint

How to change the layout of safari on ios 15 to the previous one.

Apple has radically changed the look, layout, and feel of Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 - here's how to change it back.

Apple has radically changed the look, layout, and feel of Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 , moving the entire URL bar towards the bottom of the display into an all-in-one taskbar on iPhone, and integrating the tab row and URL bar into a single line at the top of the display on iPad. 

If you aren’t a fan of the switch, however, or think a less tech-savvy relative or friend may not take to the change so kindly, worry not, as Apple has included an easy-to-access option in the Settings app which’ll allow you to revert the Safari layout to the previous version should you so choose. 

First, we’ll take a look at how to move the iOS 15 URL bar back to the top of the display, then we’ll show you how to change the iPadOS layout next. So grab your iOS 15 device and let’s roll. Watch our video below, or follow the written guide beneath that: 

How to move the URL bar on Safari back to the top of the display on iOS 15

How to change the layout in Safari on iOS 15 to the previous one photo 2

Here's what the Settings page should look like for you if you'd like the URL bar to be at the top. On the right is an example of the change before and after. 

You’ll want to open up the Settings app, then navigate to Safari. Once you’re there, scroll down to the section labeled Tabs and simply select Single Tab, and you’re set. 

As you’ll be able to see in the little graphic shown, the URL bar will be brought to the top of the display as per usual rather than sitting on the bottom. It’s that easy! 

Alternatively, Apple has included an even easier way in iOS 15 to revert back: simply tap the pair of letter-As directly within Safari on the URL bar. The very first option should be "Show Top Address Bar". Selecting that should do the trick. 

How to change the layout in Safari on iOS 15 to the previous one photo 5

How to make the tab bar go back to normal on iPadOS 15

How to change the layout in Safari on iOS 15 to the previous one photo 1

On iPadOS, the process is exactly like it is on iOS 15. Simply open the Settings app, find the menu titled Safari, and scroll to the section labeled Tabs. Instead of Compact Tab Bar, switch to Separate Tab Bar. And you’re done - the URL bar and tab bar should be on discrete lines now as it was in iOS and iPadOS versions of the past. 

If you’d like to check out Pocket-lint’s recap of all the new features available on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, check out our guide by tapping right here . 

Guiding Tech

We explain and teach technology, solve tech problems and help you make gadget buying decisions.

Top 6 Ways to Customize Safari on Mac

With macOS Big Sur and Monterey, Apple positions Safari as the true alternative to Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge . With each iteration of macOS, Apple adds a good amount of new features and customization options to Safari on Mac. Here are the top six ways to customize Safari like a pro on Mac.

Customize safari on mac

Not everyone is a fan of Safari’s new tab management, boring white background, or a simple home screen. With Safari’s personalization options, you can easily tune the Safari experience to your liking. Follow the methods below and make necessary changes to the Safari browser to make it truly yours.

1. Try New Tab Design

With macOS Monterey, Apple is offering a different way to organize your tabs. You can either keep your tabs separate (the default option) or use the compact layout.

Step 1: Open Safari on Mac and click on Safari name in the menu bar.

Step 2: Go to Safari Preferences.

Open safari preferences

Step 3: From the Tabs menu, select Compact.

Select safari compact layout

You will quickly see the current tabs changing the position to the top with extensions and other items. This is useful for those who want to utilize more space in Safari on Mac.

As for us, we find it quite a busy arrangement when dealing with dozens of tabs, so we moved back to the Separate option.

2. Enable Color in Tab Bar

This is yet another addition Apple added with the macOS Monterey update. You can now enable color in the tab bar. Safari will extract color from the website and show it across the tab bar.

Step 1: Open the Safari Preferences menu.

Step 2: Go to Tabs.

Step 3: Enable Show color in tab bar option.

Show color in tab bar

Again, when you have multiple tabs opened in Safari and are switching among them, you might have a hard time constantly changing colors in Safari tabs. From the same menu, you can revert to the previous method.

3. Customize Toolbar

This is one of the oldest methods to customize the Safari experience on Mac. Open Safari and right-click on a space in the top space. Select Customize Toolbar, and it will open a dedicated toolbar menu.

You can use the toolbar menu to drag and drop relevant functions to the toolbar. Users can even add Flexible space to the Safari toolbar.

Customize toolbar

We mostly keep the extensions from the left side of the address bar and the Download, Share and Add Tab on the right side.

4. Apply Background Wallpaper

Introduced with macOS Big Sur, Apple allows you to change the default background in the Safari start page. Follow the steps below to change wallpaper in Safari on Mac.

Step 1: Open Safari and click on the hamburger menu at the bottom.

Step 2: Use the scroll bar at the bottom and glance over the default wallpapers to apply in Safari.

Enable background image

Step 3: If you are not satisfied with Apple’s built-in wallpapers, you can click on the + icon and apply a wallpaper from the Mac storage.

Make sure you don’t end up using a funky wallpaper that makes it difficult for you to read text on the Safari home page.

5. Enable iCloud Tabs

This is useful for those switching between Apple devices frequently. If you have Safari tabs opened on iPhone or iPad, you can easily access them from the Safari home page on Mac without going into the History.

Step 1: Go to Safari and click on the hamburger menu at the bottom.

Enable icloud tabs

Step 2: Enable iCloud tabs, and you will see the Safari tabs appearing on the home.

From the same menu, you can enable Privacy Report as well. Privacy report states the amount of harmful trackers Safari is blocking during your browsing sessions.

6. Change Search Engine

By default, Safari uses Google to answer your queries. However, Safari isn’t limited to Google only. You can easily change it to Yahoo or DuckDuckGo from the Preferences menu. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Safari on Mac.

Step 2: Use command + , keys and open the preferences menu.

Step 3: Go to Search.

Open safari search

Step 4: Select the Search engine.

Step 5: You can change from Google to Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia.

Change search engine

If you are not satisfied with the new search engine, you can always go back to Google from the same menu.

Personalize Safari Experience on Mac

Users can also go ahead and uninstall Safari extensions on Mac. Safari remains our top choice to browse the web on the Mac. If you miss your favorite Chromium extensions, you can consider checking out Chrome or Edge on the Mac . We recommend going with Safari and making relevant changes based on your preferences for the rest of the crowd.

Last updated on 07 February, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

change safari look

DID YOU KNOW

change safari look

Parth Shah is an evergreen freelance writer covering how-tos, app guides, comparisons, listicles, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and smart TV platforms. He has over five years of experience and has covered 1,500+ articles on GuidingTech and Android Police. In his free time, you will see him binge-watching Netflix shows, reading books, and traveling.

More in Mac

change safari look

4 Best Tools to Recover Data From Hard Drives and Memory Cards

N_Best_Fixes_for_Voice_Isolation_Not_Working_in_FaceTime

8 Best Fixes for Voice Isolation Not Working in FaceTime

Join the newsletter.

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

How to change Safari 15's design back to normal in Mac OS Monterey

Compact or separate?

Safari 15 on Compact Tab View

When Apple launched the public beta of Mac OS 12 Monterey at its Worldwide Developers Conference, one of their most controversial design choices was to change the look of Safari.

It’s fair to say that this was not met with universal acclaim , and Apple very quietly gave users the option to revert back to a more familiar look to the browser.

For the full release of Monterey, Apple gives users both options. In this article, we’ll run you through the differences between the two designs, and explain what you need to do to change Safari 15’s design from one to the other.

The Compact view

We’ll start by looking at the new look Apple added to Safari 15, which is described as the ‘Compact’ view. This was the look that was rolled out during the beta trial period, and the look which garnered so much criticism from users. 

The change is concerned almost exclusively with the layout of the tabs and the URL box. Instead of having a standalone URL box, the active page tab becomes the URL box. The thinking behind this was apparently to reduce the amount of space needed for the tabs and the URL box, allowing more space for the website itself. In most cases, however, the amount of space being saved didn’t make much of an impact on the look of a page.

An additional feature of the Compact view is something called “Show Colour on Compact Tab Bar”. This feature will modify the base color of Safari, to try and match the dominant tones of the website you are browsing. This is intended to make the tabs blend in more, creating the illusion of a full-screen webpage.

There was a lot of disquiet from beta testers about these changes. So Apple has made sure to include another display option on Safari. We’ll look at that next.

The Separate view

The ‘Separate’ view is what most of us would consider the traditional layout of Safari. The URL bar is separate and sits above the Tab bar. Essentially, this is the same layout as you would have been accustomed to when using Big Sur. The color tab bar option is not available either. 

For most users, this familiar setup will work just fine, and there is an element of the if-it-isn’t-broken-then-don’t-fix-it about all of this. However, there will be others who believe the Compact layout suits them better. Whichever category you fall into, the good news is that switching from one format to the other is simple. 

How to change Safari’s design in Mac OS Monterey

If you do want to switch from one Safari design to the other, here’s what you need to do:

  • Open your Safari menu and click on Preferences
  • From this menu, navigate to Tabs
  • You then have the option to select Compact or Separate. Click on whichever one you want, in order to select it.

If you want the Compact layout, you can also decide whether or not to have ‘Show Colour in Compact Tab Bar’ active or not. It is automatically activated on the Compact layout by default. If you want to turn it off (or back on again):

  • In the same Preferences menu as above, go to Advanced
  • Under Accessibility, toggle the third tick box marked ‘Show Colour in Compact Tab Bar.'

Switching between the two Safari designs on Mac OS Monterey is really simple, regardless of which layout works best for you.

  • How to manage your tabs in Safari 15

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.

Steven Shaw is a full-time freelancer, but before his change of career at the start of 2021, he was in the retail industry, leading teams to achieve goals in selling technology products, such as smart phones, tablets and more.

Graduating from the University of Cambridge with a Masters in Medieval History, he's always had a passion for the topic, alongside technology, and many Simpsons quotes.

You'll find him on TechRadar mainly helping out the Software & Downloads section, offering his knowledge of macOS, Windows and more, from the systems that he's sold and showcased for many years in his previous life.

The M3 iMac is now available refurbished from Apple and it's a better purchase for the planet and your wallet

Apple Magic Keyboards are at risk from security attacks – update now to protect your Mac or iPad

Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, March 2 (game #768)

Most Popular

By Aatif Sulleyman February 24, 2024

By Andrew Pollard February 24, 2024

By Aatif Sulleyman February 23, 2024

By Adam Marshall February 21, 2024

By Allisa James February 20, 2024

By Bill Borrows February 19, 2024

By Daniel Pateman February 18, 2024

By Adam Marshall February 18, 2024

  • 2 'Feels like magic!': Groq's ultrafast LPU could well be the first LLM-native processor — and its latest demo may well convince Nvidia and AMD to get out their checkbooks
  • 3 'A single optical fiber': Scientists build a silicon-less computer that use light waves and surpasses existing systems for classification — could this be the ultimate AI CPU?
  • 4 World’s largest laptop vendor wants you to buy fewer notebooks by allowing users to change batteries and other parts — but a tiny tweak could be a deal breaker
  • 5 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 could be up to 70% faster than the 4090, but its best chips might be reserved for AI
  • 2 Nvidia CEO predicts the death of coding — Jensen Huang says AI will do the work, so kids don't need to learn
  • 4 AI is going to change your phone – and your face. Here's how
  • 5 Apple says it’ll ‘break new ground’ in generative AI – here’s what to expect

How to switch between the new and old Safari design on iPhone and iPad

In rethinking some of the fundamentals in Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple has managed to ruffle the feathers of its customers. The same redesign has continued in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. The good news is you can decide between adopting the redesign complete with the new consolidated tab bar, or stick with Safari’s old version with the familiar tab interface.

In this post, we’ll show you how to reverse the new Safari design back to how things used to be before iOS 15 came along.

Apple’s controversial changes in Safari

After you update the operating system software on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to iOS 15/iPadOS 15 or newer, you’ll immediately notice the visual changes in Safari. By default, Safari for iPhone will show the URL at the bottom instead of the top. And on iPad, Safari will merge the URL bar and tabs into one consolidated area where each tab doubles as the URL bar.

iPhone screenshot showing bottom address bar in Safari on iOS 15

Another default that some people may dislike causes Safari to color-match browser chrome to the website’s header color, which is called website tinting. But it’s easy to disable those features at will and bring back the old design.

Apple provides specific controls to turn on or off the website tinting feature and move the URL bar from top to bottom and vice versa. Let’s show you the steps for all that.

How to switch between the old and new Safari design on iPhone

To bring back the old Safari interface on iPhone, you must change two new settings.

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone
  • Choose Safari from the root list
  • Choose between tabs on top or bottom underneath the Tabs heading:
  • Tab Bar: The new default, which repositions the address bar to the bottom.
  • Single Tab: Choose this to get the old Safari interface back.

Choose the Single Tab option if you’ve become accustomed to the previous Safari design. And boom, just like that, you have your old Safari interface back!

iPhone screenshot showing Safari options for tabs with top and bottom address bar placement on iOS 15

You can switch between the top and bottom address bars without leaving Safari: Hit Safari’s A A menu and select Show Top Address Bar or Show Bottom Tab Bar  from there.

iPhone screenshot illustrating the bottom address bar with the “aA” menu options in Safari on iOS 15

These menu shortcuts are great time-savers for those times when you’d like to change your preferred URL bar on the fly but don’t necessarily want to switch to the Settings app.

Managing website tinting on iPhone

Another setting worth adjusting is Safari’s new feature that color-matches the toolbar area to the website’s header color. Here’s how to change that:

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone and choose Safari .
  • Slide the switch next to Allow Website Tinting to the OFF position to disable the feature

With it turned off, the Safari toolbars will no longer change their color when switching tabs.

Three iPhone screenshots showing website tinting settings for iOS 15 Safari

How to switch between the old and new Safari design on iPad

On iPad, the tab bar and the URL area have remained stuck to the top. What’s changed is the new design that consolidates the tabs and the URL bar into a single area. Changing this design, as well as toggling the website tinting option, can be done in the Safari preferences within the Settings app on iPadOS 15 or later.

  • Open the Settings app on your iPad
  • Choose between tabs on top or bottom underneath the Tabs heading

This is what the interface around these preferences looks like.

iPad screenshot illustrating the Safari settings in iPadOS 15 for choosing between separate tab bar and compact tab bar

And here’s a brief description of the two tab layout options available:

  • Separate Tab Bar: This is how Safari on iPad used to be. You get separate URL and tab sections at the top. Select this setting to bring back the old Safari experience.
  • Compact Tab Bar:  The new, optional Safari design that integrates the URL bar and the tab section into one consolidated area. When you click a tab, it expands automatically to make room for the URL field within. Tabs that grow in width as you touch them can be quite confusing, so disable this feature if you find that it doesn’t work for you.

Like with iPhone, you can switch between the top/bottom address bar in Safari’s A A menu.

Managing website tinting on iPad

iPadOS 15 and later has the setting for folks who might prefer to stop the color-matching between the iOS status bar and the website’s accent color, but it’s named differently from the Website Tinting switch on iPhone.

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
  • Slide the switch next to Show Color in Tab Bar  to the OFF position to disable the feature

And just like that, Safari’s tab bar will switch back to a dull gray design, but at least it won’t adjust itself dynamically to match the accent color of the website you are in.

Safari tips you’ll love:

  • How to use Safari tab groups
  • 11 tips to customize and personalize Safari on iPhone and iPad
  • How to pin tabs in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • How and why to update Safari, Chrome, and other web browsers on iPhone and Mac

Apple updates macOS Safari with a new look, but you can turn off the big changes

A trip to preferences will tone down the design changes.

By Mitchell Clark

Share this story

change safari look

Apple has released a redesigned version of Safari for macOS Big Sur and Catalina. The update, announced as part of the upcoming macOS Monterey , was released the same day as iOS and iPadOS 15, bringing the web browser’s new look and features across Apple’s platforms.

To update to the new Safari 15, you can go to System Preferences > Software Update, where it should automatically refresh and show up. Unlike updates to macOS, you shouldn’t have to reboot your computer after updating Safari.

The development behind this version of Safari has been interesting. The full OS update that it was originally a part of, which also brings features like Universal Control and Quick Notes, isn’t here yet, but Apple decided to ship the new Safari anyway. For those who have upgraded to iOS 15 , that’s a good thing — it means that you can immediately use tab groups across all your devices. The update also includes features like better tracking protection and automatic switching to HTTPS for sites that support it.

Apple’s original vision for Safari 15, which has been toned down slightly over the beta period.

While the Safari update brings new features, it also brings a new design. Apple’s made several changes to it since it was announced (though not as many as it’s made to Safari for iPhone ), tweaking it to be less starkly minimal. Looks-wise, it’s still a major change from Safari 14, but there are preferences that you can tweak to walk back some of the more distracting changes. If you don’t want websites to be able to change the color of your tab bar, you can go to Safari’s preferences > Tabs, and uncheck “Show color in tab bar.” If you want your tabs to be on their own row, you can switch from Compact mode to Separate.

change safari look

Unchecking “Automatically collapse tab titles into icons” turns the tab bar into a sort of carousel when you have too many of them. I certainly don’t prefer it, but it’s an option if that’s your sort of thing.

Unchecking the “automatically collapse tab titles” box hides the true chaos.

While Safari 15 takes a bit to get used to (I'm still getting over the learning curve myself), Tab Groups is a great feature to share between my iPhone and computer. Safari 15 also comes with the usual host of security updates , though none seem too severe. After you update, be sure to let us know what you think of the new design — is it a breath of fresh air or just another refresh that you’ll grudgingly get used to?

Volkswagen ID.7 review: a superior EV that happens to be a sedan

Google is blocking rcs on rooted android devices, eufy’s new 360-degree 4k camera doesn’t need wi-fi or power outlets, dune: part two is a pointed examination of the books’ most subversive ideas, google cuts team of contractors who went on strike.

Sponsor logo

More from Tech

The PlayStation Portal sitting on a bedside table with a pair of earbuds. The handheld gaming device is streaming God of War: Ragnarök off a PlayStation 5.

Sony’s portable PlayStation Portal is back in stock

Stock image illustration featuring the Nintendo logo stamped in black on a background of tan, blue, and black color blocking.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will now reportedly arrive in 2025 instead of 2024

Apple AirPods Pro

The best Presidents Day deals you can already get

Figma CEO Dylan Field.

Interview: Figma’s CEO on life after the company’s failed sale to Adobe

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Internet Browsers
  • Safari Browser

Simple Steps to Change Your General Preferences on Safari

Last Updated: June 13, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 216,973 times. Learn more...

Do you want to increase your privacy on Safari or maybe make it more useful for you? To change your Safari preferences on an iOS device, you'll need to use your device's Settings app instead of the Safari app. On macOS computers, you can change the settings from Safari's Preferences menu. Both the mobile and the desktop share some similar settings, but the desktop version has many more options available.

Things You Should Know

  • On an iPhone or iPad, go to your device's Settings app to change the general preferences of Safari.
  • On Mac, change your general preferences in "Safari > Settings > General."
  • Changing things like your search engine and preventing trackers will provide you with more privacy and increase your security.

Step 1 Tap the Settings app on your device.

  • This method works for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
  • Forgot your iPhone's password? You can reset it in 2 ways !

Step 2 Scroll down and tap

  • The "Search Engine Suggestions" toggle will provide search suggestions from your default search engine as you type.
  • The "Safari Suggestions" toggle provides search suggestions curated by Apple.

Step 4 Tap the toggle next to

  • Use the Safari app instead of Settings to change how your Home page behaves .

Step 1 Open Safari.

  • You can enable or disable various search preferences underneath this menu, including using Safari Suggestions.

Step 8 Use the Security tab to enable or disable security settings.

Community Q&A

chris johnson teye akplehey

You Might Also Like

Disable Private Browsing on iPhone

  • ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
  • ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/customize-your-safari-settings-iphb3100d149/ios
  • ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2042451/exploring-safaris-preferences.html

About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA

  • Send fan mail to authors

Is this article up to date?

change safari look

Featured Articles

Make Your School More Period Friendly

Trending Articles

What is Golden Child Syndrome? 7 Signs You Were the Golden Child

Watch Articles

Wrap a Round Gift

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

Keep up with tech in just 5 minutes a week!

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

JMurchie

How to change Safari tabs back to stacked iOS 15

The recent iOS 15 update has changed the way tabs are viewed in safari. Previously, the tabs appeared “stacked”, meaning that the title of each web page fit onto the screen, and the X button to close them was in the same position for every tab, making it easy to open and close them. The recent update has switched to a new view which displays the tabs as separate windows, meaning that the web page titles are too short to be of any use and sorting through tabs now means going back and forth across the screen. Is there any way to change back to the previous design? Alternatively, does anyone know of a decent alternate browser which doesn’t have this problem?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 8, iOS 15

Posted on Nov 12, 2021 4:42 AM

Posted on Dec 4, 2021 7:53 AM

Hello, I agree, poor design. Any updates with helpful information to change it back? I’ve been looking everywhere to find the solution and all I keep finding is “choose the option ‘single tab’” which changes nothing on my phone.

The new layout for Safari open pages/tabs is absolutely NOT functional and it’s very disappointing to think how Apple wanted this as a feature! Safari has had the same function for open pages/tabs for as long as I can remember and it has always been very functional and aesthetically pleasing (just another part of its pure function) because it stacked the pages like a filing cabinet where you could very quickly see all titles/labels clearly (and imagery etc on page itself), scroll through very quickly, able to digest a lot of info at once, and take action with ease. Makes sense 100%, in real life filing cabinets and online in applications like Safari.

But now, the worst design… imagine in real world taking a lot of documents out of file and spreading them all out in front of you on the floor, laying flat side by side, and just keep them there, lots just spread out… All while you are standing trying to see what they say or file through etc?! Can you imagine if you had to do it that way everyday?! You wouldn’t, it doesn’t work and that’s why filing systems work. Well, that’s what the equivalent of this is like with the new Safari update and IT IS UNUSABLE.

The new layout makes it where you cannot see page titles and/or page content easily (even with great eyes) and you can’t thumb through them, only some can be on screen at a time… what’s the point of having it if you don’t have these essential features? That’s literally the entire job of the tabs! Don’t fix what’s not broken; classic and intuitive design stays because it’s been solved and it works hands down.

Apple support, can you please share with us how to get the stacked tab layout back? The “single tab” option does nothing for this. Please advise. Thanks so much!!!

Similar questions

  • Tabs are now Tiles, can I somehow return to that format? Safari just updated to 15.1.1 on my iPhone pro max. Tabs are now all side by side. I preferred the previous format where you could only see the addresses bar and could see 10-15 open tabs at a time. There are presently 215 tabs and I don’t want to categorize them. Do not like these tile type tabs. Anyway to get the old format back. [Re-Titled by Moderator] 2432 4
  • Safari When I’m using Safari on my iPad Pro and scroll down, the top menu bar with my tabs disappears. Is there a way to have my tabs and menu bar always appear and not disappear when I scroll? 1809 4
  • Safari With the latest Apple software update, Safari only appears on part of the iPad screen and some useless info appears on the left hand side, like tabs, Shared with you, bookmarks etc. I cannot get rid of that info and get Safari to fill the whole screen. Just makes Safari useless for me. Everything seems to get less intuitive and more cumbersome with each update. What is going on? 485 1

Loading page content

Page content loaded

Dec 4, 2021 7:53 AM in response to JMurchie

Chris_C1

Nov 13, 2021 8:02 AM in response to JMurchie

Hi JMurchie,

Thank you for posting in Apple Support Communities. We understand you'd like to change the way Safari displays tabs in iOS 15.

"You can choose between the top Single Tab you’re used to and the new bottom Tab Bar layout.

change safari look

  • Select either the Tab Bar or Single Tab layout.
  • You can move between layouts without losing the tabs you have open."

As discussed here: Customize your Safari settings on iPhone

Nov 13, 2021 12:25 PM in response to Chris_C1

Thanks for your response, but that’s not what I was referring to. I’m referring to the layout of the tabs themselves, not the location of the tab bar. Is there a way of switching back to the “stacked” tab view?

Dec 2, 2021 4:43 PM in response to Soulfil

100 % agree! It’s so dumb not to have this option. I’m less worried about where the browser bar is located, than finding a solution to this stupid gallery style tabs rather than the stacked view. For those of us with a lot of open tabs and little time we need speed and not leisurely star gazing our browser tabs.

Fix this Apple! Show us how PLEASE!

Fergus77

Dec 3, 2021 8:49 AM in response to JMurchie

It’s driving me insane as well - seem so backward. I used to be able to scroll very quickly through the stack and had all my tabs nicely ordered. It now takes ages in this new imposed page view to find what I want. I cannot see how anyone at Apple can think this is a step forward. It’s just so I un- user friendly!!!! Really regretting updating my iOS now!

Dec 4, 2021 1:43 PM in response to Chris_C1

This change is, as others are saying, very annoying. Please tell us how to get back to the stacked tabs we know and love!!

what was the point in making tabs so hard to work with? Help! Please fix it or at least respond to our concerns - and remember we are only trying to help Apple have the best possible product…

Dec 6, 2021 7:39 AM in response to Chris_C1

As numerous other users noticed, switching between single tab and “tab bar” changes nothing, and the new way safari shows tabs makes it impossible to see ANYTHING—the shrift is too small to distinguish which tab is what. I need to go manually through all the tabs one by one to find the tab I need, which consumes an immense amount of time!! This is insane DO REVERSE THAT FEATURE BACK AS IS WAS !!!!!!!!!!

Dec 8, 2021 7:02 AM in response to Sevenoaks181

Because Apple likes to get a rise out of people; it makes them feel powerful.

Clearly, this is a step in the wrong direction, and an example of Apple trying to copy Google, but Apple could have introduced Group Tabs with the stacked tabs. Instead they chose to tile their tabs, just like Google does. But we don’t like the tab files on Google either. Dumb Apple…

Dec 8, 2021 7:18 AM in response to Chris_C1

I agree with all these folks that the new tab layout as tiles (similar to Google) is not as easy to see, read and navigate as the older tiled pages that could still be seen and read as swiped through. Now, it’s a game of memory as the tab tiles do not contain enough graphic information to make them discernible from one another.

This retards the users’ experience, forcing a time consuming gambit fumbling for a particular tab.

Also, the new tab group function is dumb, and bloats the interface.

I use bookmarks, and I close tabs when I’m through using them. I do not keep all my tabs open all the time, so maybe I’ll take some time and tab them together… WTF?

K Shaffer

May 30, 2022 8:29 PM in response to dw3487

" How to get back to stacked tabs " (?)

..Ask again! ~ Through the only direct channel available..

Give Apple your ideas, via 'Product Feedback' portal links:

• Product Feedback - Apple | main link

// www.apple.com/feedback/

• Feedback - Safari - Apple [..To report Both: iOS iPad + iPhone & macOS ..]

//www.apple.com/feedback/ safari .html

[Another month, into yet another year; from 2021. ~I've

not actually seen valid results, from any posts here yet.]

.Mistaken: To consider Apple would need to look here

for any new ideas. They're swamped with ever-so-many.

Try & get their attention; to fine-tune again, older ones.

change safari look

May 1, 2022 11:11 AM in response to Tanner0515

There isn’t a way to change tabs back to stacking which is why K Schaffer’s above post suggested users send their frustrations straight to apple via these two links as this page is only a forum for users to help each other.

• Feedback - Safari - Apple [Use to report Both: iOS and macOS ]

// www.apple.com/feedback/ safari .html

Beerstar

Jan 7, 2022 2:52 PM in response to JMurchie

I have a degree in Cog Sci, specializing in Human Computer Interaction, and I agree that the new style is terrible design. It has taken all of the pertinent information, abridged it, made it smaller, and arranged it in a way that is difficult to decipher.

  • It's not as easy to see (because it's smaller).
  • There's less of it it to see (because each title is further abridged).
  • It's harder for your brain to isolate a specific title (because they are all the same size and on the same plane, whereas the old way provided a single title as the focal point, slightly larger than the others and easily scrollable).

There you go Apple, that was a free consultation...now please fix this.

Jan 13, 2022 5:38 AM in response to JMurchie

I really dislike the new update when it comes to safari. I really liked when tabs were stacked and it was easier to see what your last tab was. The separate tabs idea is super flawed, and was a really bad design choice. If anything safari should have not been updated except for app bugs.

Especially the fact that they decided to move the search bar to the bottom of the screen. It really messes up my typing, and I’m at least glad they had the option in settings to change back to one tab search, which places the search bar back to the top.

In conclusion, I hope they end up changing it back to the past version. It was more convenient, and was easier to navigate.

Apr 5, 2022 12:15 AM in response to Youngman44

Perhaps time has come (again) to report an issue, by use of this tool:

• Feedback - Safari - Apple [.Use to report Both: iOS and macOS .]

While my older Macs do OK with ESR Firefox versions.. even older

PPC G3/G4/intel, had run TenFourFox; until last build: in Oct 2021.

Have installed Brave for Mac. (chrome-based) Download For iOS .

An experimental/project. ~Have many bookmarks saved in Firefox.

change safari look

Apr 23, 2022 4:32 PM in response to Opposing

Please provide adequate feedback to Apple itself; not passers-by.

To add here, amounts to near Zero results; in a user-to-user forum.

(Too late to 'un-follow' emailed discussions; or not read/see most of

these. Long ago, I learned to see only most recent ~& escape lightly.)

change safari look

Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

change safari look

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

change safari look

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

change safari look

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

change safari look

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

change safari look

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

  • JetStream /
  • MotionMark /
  • Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

change safari look

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

change safari look

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

change safari look

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

change safari look

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

change safari look

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

change safari look

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

change safari look

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

change safari look

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

change safari look

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

change safari look

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

change safari look

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

change safari look

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

change safari look

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

change safari look

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

change safari look

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

change safari look

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

change safari look

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

' height=

Updated user interface for signing in to or signing up for your Google Account

What’s changing .

change safari look

Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature — users see these improvements automatically. Visit the Help Center to learn more about the new Google sign-in page .

Rollout pace 

  • Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains : Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on February 21, 2024, with anticipated completion on March 4, 2024

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts

Google Help: Learn about the new Google sign-in page

Share on Twitter

Filter by product

  • Accessibility
  • Admin console
  • Cloud Search
  • Directory Sync
  • Drive for desktop
  • Education Edition
  • G Suite for Education
  • G Suite for Government
  • Google Apps Script
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Chat
  • Google Classroom
  • Google Cloud Directory Sync
  • Google Docs
  • Google Drawings
  • Google Drive
  • Google Forms
  • Google Hangouts
  • Google Keep
  • Google Maps
  • Google Meet
  • Google Meet Hardware
  • Google Photos
  • Google Sheets
  • Google Sites
  • Google Slides
  • Google Tasks
  • Google Vault
  • Google Voice
  • Google Workspace
  • Google Workspace Add-ons
  • Google Workspace for Education
  • Google Workspace Marketplace
  • Google Workspace Migrate
  • Marketplace
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Premier Edition
  • Rapid Release
  • Rapid Releases
  • Scheduled Release
  • Security and Compliance
  • Weekly Recap
  • What's New

Filter by date

Subscribe by feed, subscribe by email, localized google workspace updates, useful links, join the official community for google workspace administrators.

In the Google Cloud Community, connect with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like yourself. Participate in product discussions, check out the Community Articles, and learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.

______________

Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

Advertisement

Supported by

Are We in a Productivity Boom? For Clues, Look to 1994.

Thirty years ago, the U.S. entered an era of productivity gains that enabled healthy growth. Experts are asking if it could happen again.

  • Share full article

An illustration showing various colorful triangles with things including an airplane, a medicine bottle, a computer, a car and a telephone sitting atop the triangles.

By Jeanna Smialek

The last time the American economy was posting surprising economic growth numbers amid rapid wage gains and moderating inflation, Ace of Base and All-4-One topped the Billboard charts and denim overalls were in vogue.

Thirty years ago, officials at the Federal Reserve were hotly debating whether the economy could continue to chug along so vigorously without spurring a pickup in inflation. And back in 1994, it turned out that it could, thanks to one key ingredient: productivity.

Now, official productivity data are showing a big pickup for the first time in years. The data have been volatile since the start of the pandemic, but with the dawn of new technologies like artificial intelligence and the embrace of hybrid work setups, some economists are asking whether the recent gains might be real — and whether they can turn into a lasting boom.

If the answer is yes, it would have huge implications for the U.S. economy. Improved productivity would mean that firms could create more product per worker. And a steady pickup in productivity could allow the economy to take off in a healthy way. More productive companies are able to pay better wages without having to raise prices or sacrifice profits.

Several of the trends in place today have parallels with what was happening in 1994 — but the differences explain why many economists are not ready to declare a turning point just yet.

The Computer Age vs. the Zoom Age

By the end of the 1980s, computers had been around for decades but had not yet generated big gains to productivity — what has come to be known as the productivity paradox. The economist Robert Solow famously said in 1987, “You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics.”

That changed by the middle of the 1990s, as semiconductor manufacturing improved and computers became cheaper. Businesses began to learn how to invest in information technology, and it helped productivity to boom.

For years, economists and analysts have questioned whether we might be experiencing a new productivity paradox: Despite our sudden access to cloud computing, rapid internet connections and mobile phones, productivity gains were tepid in the late-2000s and throughout the 2010s.

Since 2020, companies have learned how to leverage existing digital tools in new ways as employees shifted toward remote work. Will that cause lasting efficiency improvements in some sectors?

So far, whether remote work is good or bad for productivity remains hotly debated, as a recent paper by Nicholas Bloom at Stanford and other researchers explained. Early research has suggested that employees may be less efficient when they are totally remote, and that hybrid work leads to small, if any, productivity gains.

But workers who are saving commuting and grooming time often feel more productive — even if that saved time isn’t captured in official productivity data.

“The studies probably understate the effect,” Mr. Bloom said, explaining that employees who are happier thanks to job flexibility may be less likely to quit — helping companies to avoid unproductive retraining. Remote work could also allow companies to move more “tedious” jobs abroad, he thinks, shuffling Americans toward more dynamic work.

“The aggregate story is potentially pretty powerful,” he said in an interview, predicting that remote work is midway through unleashing a decade-long productivity boom. “We’re in a brave new world: It’s going to take years.”

The Internet vs. Artificial Intelligence

In the 1990s, the World Wide Web was coming into widespread use. Companies initially fretted that it might sidetrack their workers. (“Oh, what a tangled web, this Internet,” a 1995 article in The New York Times sighed about online distractions.) But the tools ultimately streamlined many types of work.

One retrospective on the 1990s boom found that a combination of efficient computer manufacturing and increased information technology use accounted for about two-thirds of the era’s productivity pickup.

Today’s shiny-new-technology equivalent is artificial intelligence. While many economists said it was probably too early to see the benefits of A.I. showing through in full force, some proponents think it could prove transformative by automating mental tasks including proposal writing and emails.

“There’s a lot more to come as more people adopt these things,” said Erik Brynjolfsson, an economist at Stanford who is optimistic that we may be on the cusp of a productivity takeoff as white collar-workers have their day-to-day abilities augmented by the new tools. He has been running experiments and finding that A.I. does help workers, and has co-founded a company that coaches firms on how to best employ the technology.

But Robert Gordon, a leading productivity-focused economist at Northwestern University, is skeptical. He said that unlike with the computer and early internet age, A.I.’s biggest impacts may be in office work — whereas computer manufacturing also became more efficient in the 1990s, allowing for gains across several sectors.

“I don’t see the universality of A.I. sweeping through the economy with that multi-industry impact,” Mr. Gordon said.

Walmart vs. Internet Shopping

Another driver of the 1990s productivity boom? Companies were making big logistical improvements. Walmart grew rapidly during the decade, bringing with it strong supply chain management that allowed it to efficiently stock shelves with cheap products from around the world. Distribution, notably in pharmaceuticals , also improved.

One possible challenge is that such gains are hard to win twice: Now that firms have become more efficient, it may be difficult for them to improve drastically. Online shopping continued to revolutionize retail in the 2010s, for instance, but both industry and overall productivity gains were modest.

That underlines an important point about productivity growth. It’s easy to pick low-hanging fruit, like optimizing supply chains using software. Once that has been done, it can become harder to make gains. The economy ends up with higher productivity levels, but not necessarily sustained high productivity growth.

Entrepreneurship Booms

What can lead to lasting productivity gains is a burst of innovation that feeds on itself — and that makes the recent uptick in business formation a hopeful sign. New businesses are often more inventive.

Back in 1994, lots of businesses were formed as people tried to capitalize on breakthroughs in information technology. Today, business applications have been surging again , probably the result of people deciding to strike out on their own after losing or quitting jobs amid the pandemic.

The new business bump could simply reflect that people were reshuffling to at-home work, recent research by the Fed economist Ryan Decker and the University of Maryland’s John Haltiwanger has suggested. But many of the new firms are in potentially productivity-spurring fields including online retailing, software publishing, computer-systems design, and research-and-development services.

Two Inflation Comedowns

The 1990s and the 2020s have another possible productivity booster in common: slipping pricing power.

Inflation had been cooling for years by the mid-1990s, and Fed officials noted at their meetings that companies were losing their ability to continue to raise prices without losing customers. To keep profits from collapsing, firms had to figure out how to be more efficient.

“Of necessity we will tend to get an increase in productivity because it is being forced on the system,” Alan Greenspan, then the Fed chair, theorized during one Fed meeting .

Inflation is also coming down today. And the job market was strong back then and is now — meaning companies have had to pay up to attract workers. When wages are rising faster than prices, firms must stretch their workers further if they hope to maintain their profits.

Alan Greenspan vs. Jerome H. Powell

By 1996, Mr. Greenspan was becoming convinced that productivity was on the rise — so he persuaded his colleagues that they did not need to try to slow down the economy so much. With productivity improving, strong growth was less likely to cause inflation.

Jerome H. Powell, the current Fed chair, has praised Mr. Greenspan’s “fortitude” and foresight in navigating that period.

It may be a lesson he can draw on in the months ahead. Growth remains stronger than Fed officials had expected, and policymakers will need to decide whether to react by keeping interest rates higher for longer.

For now, Mr. Powell is unconvinced that America is in a new productivity boom. “My guess is that we may shake out and be back where we were,” he said during a Jan. 31 news conference.

But, he acknowledged, “I don’t know.”

In the 1990s, it took until 1999 for economists to really believe that productivity had taken off, noted John Fernald, an economist at INSEAD Business School. So while hope is now glimmering, confidence could be years away.

Jeanna Smialek covers the Federal Reserve and the economy for The Times from Washington. More about Jeanna Smialek

iPad User Guide

  • Setup basics
  • Make your iPad your own
  • Keep in touch with friends and family
  • Customize your workspace
  • Do more with Apple Pencil
  • Customize iPad for your child
  • Models compatible with iPadOS 17
  • iPad mini (5th generation)
  • iPad mini (6th generation)
  • iPad (6th generation)
  • iPad (7th generation)
  • iPad (8th generation)
  • iPad (9th generation)
  • iPad (10th generation)
  • iPad Air (3rd generation)
  • iPad Air (4th generation)
  • iPad Air (5th generation)
  • iPad Pro 10.5-inch
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
  • What’s new in iPadOS 17
  • Turn on and set up iPad
  • Wake and unlock
  • Set up cellular service
  • Connect to the internet
  • Sign in with Apple ID
  • Subscribe to iCloud+
  • Find settings
  • Set up mail, contacts, and calendar accounts
  • Learn the meaning of the status icons
  • Charge the battery
  • Show the battery percentage
  • Check battery usage
  • Use Low Power Mode to save battery life
  • Read and bookmark the user guide
  • Learn basic gestures
  • Learn advanced gestures
  • Adjust the volume
  • Find your apps in App Library
  • Switch between apps
  • Zoom an app to fill the screen
  • Quit and reopen an app
  • Drag and drop
  • Open two items in Split View
  • Switch an app window to Slide Over
  • View an app’s windows and workspaces
  • Multitask with Picture in Picture
  • Move, resize, and organize windows
  • Access features from the Lock Screen
  • Perform quick actions
  • Search on iPad
  • Get information about your iPad
  • View or change cellular data settings
  • Travel with iPad
  • Change or turn off sounds
  • Create a custom Lock Screen
  • Change the wallpaper
  • Adjust the screen brightness and color balance
  • Customize the text size and zoom setting
  • Change the name of your iPad
  • Change the date and time
  • Change the language and region
  • Organize your apps in folders
  • Add, edit, and remove widgets
  • Move apps and widgets on the Home Screen
  • Remove apps
  • Use and customize Control Center
  • Change or lock the screen orientation
  • View and respond to notifications
  • Change notification settings
  • Set up a focus
  • Allow or silence notifications for a Focus
  • Turn a Focus on or off
  • Customize sharing options
  • Type with the onscreen keyboard
  • Dictate text
  • Move the onscreen keyboard
  • Select and edit text
  • Use predictive text
  • Use text replacements
  • Add or change keyboards
  • Add emoji and stickers
  • Take a screenshot
  • Take a screen recording
  • Write and draw in documents
  • Add text, shapes, signatures, and more
  • Fill out forms and sign documents
  • Use Live Text to interact with content in a photo or video
  • Use Visual Look Up to identify objects in your photos and videos
  • Lift a subject from the photo background
  • Subscribe to Apple Arcade
  • Play with friends in Game Center
  • Connect a game controller
  • Use App Clips
  • Update apps
  • View or cancel subscriptions
  • Manage purchases, settings, and restrictions
  • Install and manage fonts
  • Buy books and audiobooks
  • Annotate books
  • Access books on other Apple devices
  • Listen to audiobooks
  • Set reading goals
  • Organize books
  • Create and edit events in Calendar
  • Send invitations
  • Reply to invitations
  • Change how you view events
  • Search for events
  • Change calendar and event settings
  • Schedule or display events in a different time zone
  • Keep track of events
  • Use multiple calendars
  • Use the Holidays calendar
  • Share iCloud calendars
  • Take photos
  • Take a selfie
  • Take a Portrait mode selfie
  • Take videos
  • Change advanced camera settings
  • Adjust HDR camera settings
  • View, share, and print photos
  • Use Live Text
  • Scan a QR code
  • See the world clock
  • Set an alarm
  • Use the stopwatch
  • Use multiple timers
  • Add and use contact information
  • Edit contacts
  • Add your contact info
  • Send Contacts on iPad
  • Use other contact accounts
  • Hide duplicate contacts
  • Export contacts
  • Get started with FaceTime
  • Make FaceTime calls
  • Receive FaceTime calls
  • Create a FaceTime link
  • Take a Live Photo
  • Turn on Live Captions
  • Use other apps during a call
  • Make a Group FaceTime call
  • View participants in a grid
  • Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together
  • Share your screen in a FaceTime call
  • Collaborate on a document in a FaceTime call
  • Use video conferencing features
  • Hand off a FaceTime call to another Apple device
  • Change the FaceTime video settings
  • Change the FaceTime audio settings
  • Change your appearance
  • Leave a call or switch to Messages
  • Block unwanted callers
  • Report a call as spam
  • Connect external devices or servers
  • Modify files, folders, and downloads
  • Search for files and folders
  • Organize files and folders
  • Set up iCloud Drive
  • Share files and folders in iCloud Drive
  • Share your location
  • Add or remove a friend
  • Locate a friend
  • Get notified when friends change their location
  • Notify a friend when your location changes
  • Add your iPad
  • Get notified if you leave a device behind
  • Locate a device
  • Mark a device as lost
  • Erase a device
  • Remove a device
  • Add an AirTag
  • Share an AirTag or other item in Find My on iPad
  • Add a third-party item
  • Get notified if you leave an item behind
  • Locate an item
  • Mark an item as lost
  • Remove an item
  • Adjust map settings
  • Get started with Freeform
  • Create a Freeform board
  • Draw or handwrite
  • Apply consistent styles
  • Position items on a board
  • Search Freeform boards
  • Share and collaborate
  • Delete and recover boards
  • Get started with Health
  • Fill out your Health Details
  • Intro to Health data
  • View your health data
  • Share your health data
  • View health data shared by others
  • Download health records
  • View health records
  • Log menstrual cycle information
  • View menstrual cycle predictions and history
  • Track your medications
  • Learn more about your medications
  • Log your state of mind
  • Take a mental health assessment
  • Customize your Sleep Focus
  • Turn Sleep Focus on or off
  • View your sleep history
  • Check your headphone audio levels
  • Use audiogram data
  • Back up your Health data
  • Intro to Home
  • Upgrade to the new Home architecture
  • Set up accessories
  • Control accessories
  • Control your home using Siri
  • Use Grid Forecast to plan your energy usage
  • Set up HomePod
  • Control your home remotely
  • Create and use scenes
  • Use automations
  • Set up security cameras
  • Use Face Recognition
  • Configure a router
  • Invite others to control accessories
  • Add more homes
  • Get music, movies, and TV shows
  • Get ringtones
  • Manage purchases and settings
  • Magnify nearby objects
  • Change settings
  • Detect people around you
  • Detect doors around you
  • Receive image descriptions of your surroundings
  • Read aloud text and labels around you
  • Set up shortcuts for Detection Mode
  • Add and remove email accounts
  • Set up a custom email domain
  • Check your email
  • Unsend email with Undo send
  • Reply to and forward emails
  • Save an email draft
  • Add email attachments
  • Download email attachments
  • Annotate email attachments
  • Set email notifications
  • Search for email
  • Organize your email in mailboxes
  • Flag or block emails
  • Filter emails
  • Use Hide My Email
  • Use Mail Privacy Protection
  • Change email settings
  • Delete and recover emails
  • Add a Mail widget to your Home Screen
  • Print emails

Use keyboard shortcuts

  • Get travel directions
  • Select other route options
  • Find stops along your route
  • View a route overview or a list of turns
  • Change settings for spoken directions
  • Get driving directions
  • Report traffic incidents
  • Get cycling directions
  • Get walking directions
  • Get transit directions
  • Delete recent directions
  • Get traffic and weather info
  • Predict travel time and ETA
  • Download offline maps
  • Search for places
  • Find nearby attractions, restaurants, and services
  • Get information about places
  • Mark places
  • Share places
  • Rate places
  • Save favorite places
  • Explore new places with Guides
  • Organize places in My Guides
  • Delete significant locations
  • Look around places
  • Take Flyover tours
  • Find your Maps settings
  • Measure dimensions
  • View and save measurements
  • Measure a person’s height
  • Set up Messages
  • About iMessage
  • Send and reply to messages
  • Unsend and edit messages
  • Keep track of messages
  • Forward and share messages
  • Group conversations
  • Watch, listen, or play together using SharePlay
  • Collaborate on projects
  • Use iMessage apps
  • Take and edit photos or videos
  • Share photos, links, and more
  • Send stickers
  • Request, send, and receive payments
  • Send and receive audio messages
  • Animate messages
  • Change notifications
  • Block, filter, and report messages
  • Delete messages and attachments
  • Recover deleted messages
  • View albums, playlists, and more
  • Show song credits and lyrics
  • Queue up your music
  • Listen to broadcast radio
  • Subscribe to Apple Music
  • Listen to lossless music
  • Listen to Dolby Atmos music
  • Apple Music Sing
  • Find new music
  • Add music and listen offline
  • Get personalized recommendations
  • Listen to radio
  • Search for music
  • Create playlists
  • See what your friends are listening to
  • Use Siri to play music
  • Change the way music sounds
  • Get started with News
  • Use News widgets
  • See news stories chosen just for you
  • Read stories
  • Follow your favorite teams with My Sports
  • Subscribe to Apple News+
  • Browse and read Apple News+ stories and issues
  • Download Apple News+ issues
  • Solve crossword puzzles
  • Search for news stories
  • Save stories in News for later
  • Subscribe to individual news channels
  • Get started with Notes
  • Add or remove accounts
  • Create and format notes
  • Draw or write
  • Add photos, videos, and more
  • Scan text and documents
  • Work with PDFs
  • Create Quick Notes
  • Search notes
  • Organize in folders
  • Organize with tags
  • Use Smart Folders
  • Export or print notes
  • Change Notes settings
  • Delete, share, or copy a photo
  • View and edit Photo Booth photos in the Photos app
  • View photos and videos
  • Play videos and slideshows
  • Delete or hide photos and videos
  • Edit photos and videos
  • Trim video length and adjust slow motion
  • Edit Live Photos
  • Edit Cinematic videos
  • Edit portraits
  • Use photo albums
  • Edit, share, and organize albums
  • Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
  • Make stickers from your photos
  • Duplicate and copy photos and videos
  • Merge duplicate photos
  • Search for photos
  • Identify people and pets
  • Browse photos by location
  • Share photos and videos
  • Share long videos
  • View photos and videos shared with you
  • Watch memories
  • Personalize your memories
  • Manage memories and featured photos
  • Use iCloud Photos
  • Create shared albums
  • Add and remove people in a shared album
  • Add and delete photos and videos in a shared album
  • Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library
  • Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library
  • Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
  • Import and export photos and videos
  • Print photos
  • Find podcasts
  • Listen to podcasts
  • Follow your favorite podcasts
  • Use the Podcasts widget
  • Organize your podcast library
  • Download, save, and share podcasts
  • Subscribe to podcasts
  • Listen to subscriber-only content
  • Change download settings
  • Make a grocery list
  • Add items to a list
  • Edit and manage a list
  • Search and organize lists
  • Work with templates
  • Use Smart Lists
  • Print reminders
  • Use the Reminders widget
  • Change Reminders settings
  • Browse the web
  • Search for websites
  • Customize your Safari settings
  • Change the layout
  • Use Safari profiles
  • Open and close tabs
  • Organize your tabs with Tab Groups
  • View your tabs from another device
  • Share Tab Groups
  • Use Siri to listen to a webpage
  • Bookmark favorite webpages
  • Save pages to a Reading List
  • Find links shared with you
  • Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
  • Automatically fill in forms
  • Get extensions
  • Hide ads and distractions
  • Clear your cache
  • Browse the web privately
  • Use passkeys in Safari
  • Check stocks
  • Manage multiple watchlists
  • Read business news
  • Add earnings reports to your calendar
  • Use a Stocks widget
  • Translate text, voice, and conversations
  • Translate text in apps
  • Translate with the camera view
  • Connect apps and add your TV provider
  • Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or an Apple TV channel
  • Get shows, movies, and more
  • Watch sports
  • Watch Major League Soccer with MLS Season Pass
  • Watch multiple live sports streams
  • Control playback
  • Manage your library
  • Change the settings
  • Make a recording
  • Play it back
  • Edit or delete a recording
  • Keep recordings up to date
  • Organize recordings
  • Search for or rename a recording
  • Share a recording
  • Duplicate a recording
  • Check the weather
  • Check the weather in other locations
  • View weather maps
  • Manage weather notifications
  • Use Weather widgets
  • Learn the weather icons
  • Find out what Siri can do
  • Tell Siri about yourself
  • Have Siri announce calls and notifications
  • Add Siri Shortcuts
  • About Siri Suggestions
  • Change Siri settings
  • Set up Family Sharing
  • Add Family Sharing members
  • Remove Family Sharing members
  • Share subscriptions
  • Share purchases
  • Share locations with family and locate lost devices
  • Set up Apple Cash Family and Apple Card Family
  • Set up parental controls
  • Set up a child’s device
  • Get started with Screen Time
  • Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
  • Set up Screen Time for yourself
  • Set communication and safety limits and block inappropriate content
  • Set up Screen Time for a family member
  • Set up Apple Pay
  • Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
  • Track your orders
  • Use Apple Cash
  • Use Apple Card
  • Use Savings
  • Manage payment cards and activity
  • Power adapter and charge cable
  • Use AirPods
  • Use EarPods
  • Use headphone audio-level features
  • Apple Pencil compatibility
  • Pair and charge Apple Pencil (1st generation)
  • Pair and charge Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
  • Pair and charge Apple Pencil (USB-C)
  • Enter text with Scribble
  • Draw with Apple Pencil
  • Take and mark up a screenshot with Apple Pencil
  • Quickly write notes
  • Preview tools and controls with Apple Pencil hover
  • Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
  • Connect to a display with a cable
  • HomePod and other wireless speakers
  • iPad keyboards
  • Switch between keyboards
  • Enter characters with diacritical marks
  • Use shortcuts
  • Choose an alternative keyboard layout
  • Change typing assistance options
  • Connect Magic Trackpad
  • Trackpad gestures
  • Change trackpad settings
  • Connect a mouse
  • Mouse actions and gestures
  • Change mouse settings
  • External storage devices
  • Bluetooth accessories
  • Apple Watch with Fitness+
  • Share your internet connection
  • Make and receive phone calls
  • Use iPad as a second display for Mac
  • Use iPad as a webcam
  • Use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad across your Mac and iPad
  • Hand off tasks between devices
  • Cut, copy, and paste between iPad and other devices
  • Stream video or mirror the screen of your iPad
  • Use AirDrop to send items
  • Connect iPad and your computer with a cable
  • Transfer files between devices
  • Transfer files with email, messages, or AirDrop
  • Transfer files or sync content with the Finder or iTunes
  • Automatically keep files up to date with iCloud
  • Use an external storage device, a file server, or a cloud storage service
  • Get started with accessibility features
  • Turn on accessibility features for setup
  • Change Siri accessibility settings
  • Open features with Accessibility Shortcut
  • Enlarge text by hovering
  • Change color and brightness
  • Make text easier to read
  • Reduce onscreen motion
  • Customize per-app visual settings
  • Hear what’s on the screen or typed
  • Hear audio descriptions
  • Turn on and practice VoiceOver
  • Change your VoiceOver settings
  • Use VoiceOver gestures
  • Operate iPad when VoiceOver is on
  • Control VoiceOver using the rotor
  • Use the onscreen keyboard
  • Write with your finger
  • Use VoiceOver with an Apple external keyboard
  • Use a braille display
  • Type braille on the screen
  • Customize gestures and keyboard shortcuts
  • Use VoiceOver with a pointer device
  • Use VoiceOver for images and videos
  • Use VoiceOver in apps
  • Use AssistiveTouch
  • Use an eye-tracking device
  • Adjust how iPad responds to your touch
  • Auto-answer calls
  • Change Face ID and attention settings
  • Use Voice Control
  • Adjust the top or Home button
  • Use Apple TV Remote buttons
  • Adjust pointer settings
  • Adjust keyboard settings
  • Adjust AirPods settings
  • Adjust Apple Pencil settings
  • Control a nearby Apple device
  • Intro to Switch Control
  • Set up and turn on Switch Control
  • Select items, perform actions, and more
  • Control several devices with one switch
  • Use hearing devices
  • Use Live Listen
  • Use sound recognition
  • Set up and use RTT
  • Flash the LED for alerts
  • Adjust audio settings
  • Play background sounds
  • Display subtitles and captions
  • Show transcriptions for Intercom messages
  • Get Live Captions (beta)
  • Type to speak
  • Record a Personal Voice
  • Use Guided Access
  • Use built-in privacy and security protections
  • Set a passcode
  • Set up Face ID
  • Set up Touch ID
  • Control access to information on the Lock Screen
  • Keep your Apple ID secure
  • Use passkeys to sign in to apps and websites
  • Sign in with Apple
  • Share passwords
  • Automatically fill in strong passwords
  • Change weak or compromised passwords
  • View your passwords and related information
  • Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop
  • Make your passkeys and passwords available on all your devices
  • Automatically fill in verification codes
  • Sign in with fewer CAPTCHA challenges
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Use security keys
  • Control app tracking permissions
  • Control the location information you share
  • Control access to information in apps
  • Control how Apple delivers advertising to you
  • Control access to hardware features
  • Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
  • Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
  • Use a private network address
  • Use Advanced Data Protection
  • Use Lockdown Mode
  • Receive warnings about sensitive content
  • Use Contact Key Verification
  • Turn iPad on or off
  • Force restart iPad
  • Update iPadOS
  • Back up iPad
  • Return iPad settings to their defaults
  • Restore all content from a backup
  • Restore purchased and deleted items
  • Sell, give away, or trade in your iPad
  • Install or remove configuration profiles
  • Important safety information
  • Important handling information
  • Find more resources for software and service
  • FCC compliance statement
  • ISED Canada compliance statement
  • Apple and the environment
  • Class 1 Laser information
  • Disposal and recycling information
  • Unauthorized modification of iPadOS
  • ENERGY STAR compliance statement

Customize your Safari settings on iPad

change safari look

Customize your start page

Every time you open a new tab, you begin on your start page. You can customize your start page with new background images and options.

The start page in Safari, which shows favorite websites, websites shared with you, and websites saved to your Reading List. At the bottom of the screen is the Edit button.

Scroll to the bottom of the page, then tap Edit.

Choose options for your start page.

Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites. See Add a webpage to your favorites .

Frequently Visited: Go straight to the websites you visit most.

Shared with You: See links shared with you in Messages. See Find links shared with you .

Privacy Report: Stay updated on how many trackers and websites Safari blocked from tracking you. See View the Privacy Report .

Siri Suggestions: As you search, allow websites shared in Calendar and other apps to appear.

Reading List: Show webpages currently in your Reading List. See Add the current webpage to your Reading List .

Recently Closed Tabs: Go back to tabs you previously closed.

iCloud Tabs: Show open tabs from other Apple devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID and Safari is turned on in iCloud settings or preferences. See Organize your tabs with Tab Groups .

Select Image from Library

Note: Your custom start page settings are updated on all your Apple devices where you have Use Start Page on All Devices turned on, and you’re signed in with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication .

Change the text size for a website on Safari

the Page Settings button

Tap the large A to increase the font size or the small A to decrease it.

A webpage with the Page Settings menu open. From top to bottom, the menu includes Text Size, Show Reader, Listening Controls, Hide Toolbar, Request Mobile Website, Website Settings, and Privacy Report.

Change the display controls for a website on Safari

You can hide the search field, switch to Reader, and more.

Hide the search field: Tap Hide Toolbar (tap the top of the screen to get it back).

See a streamlined view of the webpage: Tap Show Reader (if available).

To return to the normal view, tap Hide Reader.

See what the webpage looks like on a desktop computer: Tap Request Desktop Website (if available).

You can also adjust Safari settings in Accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Per-App Settings. Tap Add App, choose Safari, then tap Safari to adjust the settings.

Choose where to save downloads

When you download a file in Safari, you can choose whether to save it to iCloud or on your iPad.

change safari look

iCloud Drive: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive. This allows you to access the downloaded file on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID .

On My iPad: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder on your iPad.

Share website passwords with a group

You can create a group of trusted contacts and share a set of passwords. Passwords stay up to date for everyone in the group, and you can remove someone at any time.

See Create shared password groups .

Adjust privacy settings for Safari

You can choose what privacy settings you want across Safari, and create individual exceptions for websites. See Browse privately .

You can navigate in Safari using keyboard shortcuts if you have an Apple external keyboard connected to your iPad.

To view available keyboard shortcuts, connect your keyboard, then press and hold the Command key.

The Focus

WhatsApp has made a major change to the app and users hate it

Many WhatsApp users opened the app this week to find that the color scheme has changed to green, and they hate the new look. All the icons, from the call symbol to delivered ticks and bottom bar are no longer their usual dark blue shade – but why?

Why your WhatsApp is now green

Your WhatsApp has turned green as the app is changing its entire theme to “bring a modern, new experience to WhatsApp” and “make it more accessible and easier to use,” the site said .

This change is slowly rolling out across profiles and everyone who uses WhatsApp will eventually receive this update, so it’s not something you can opt out of.

The color is changing from blue to green on all iOS devices to match their brand. Android devices already had green icons, but the shade is slightly altering.

・ LOVE THIS: TikTok’s ‘Social Media Is Fake’ trend is renouncing idealism and outing real-life struggles

WhatsApp has also changed how and where they use the color, using it “more intentionally” so you can “focus on the things that matter most on the screen”.

Other iOS and Android changes

As well as switching the color from blue to green, WhatsApp has also changed the appearance of some of their icons and buttons on iOS.

The shape and color will look different, and some parts of the messaging app are now more spaced out than before too.

For Android users, WhatsApp has made dark mode even darker to make text easier to read, and added more white space to light mode.

The shade of green they use has also changed to match their brand color, and icons and spacing will similarly look different.

On top of that, the WhatsApp logo will now appear in the Chats tap, and the tabs previously at the top of the screen are now at the bottom.

WhatsApp users hate new theme

The new color scheme has taken social media users by surprise and they’re not keen on the new green look at all.

Many have taken to Twitter /X to moan about it, with one person writing: “What’s this green nasty WhatsApp update?”

“My WhatsApp changed to green this morning and I’m absolutely disgusted,” said another.

A third person added: “I’ll eventually get used to WhatsApp being green, but it doesn’t look good.”

“But whyyyy did you change it from blue to green? Whyyyyy?” someone else wrote.

Everyone will have to get used to it, because the new color is here to stay!

・ OH NO: The ‘Taxi Cab Theory’ might be the reason why your dating life is leading nowhere

WhatsApp has made a major change to the app and users hate it

How-To Geek

How to change safari's default search engine on mac.

Prefer DuckDuckGo? Or something else? Switching is easy.

Quick Links

Changing search engine in safari preferences, using other search engines with safari, duckduckgo is your best choice.

Safari is a solid browser for most Mac users. It's fast, energy-efficient , plays nicely with the iPhone and iPad , and more. If you're not happy with the default search engine , though, changing it takes only a few clicks. Related: How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone or iPad

To change Safari's default search engine, launch the Safari app on your Mac and click on "Safari" in the top-left corner of the screen and select "Preferences" from the list that appears:

macOS Safari Preferences

A new window will appear. Click on the "Search" button to switch to the search engine preferences:

Reveal Safari search engine preferences

Click on the drop-down arrow to select a search engine of your choice. You'll be able to choose from Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing , and Ecosia :

Safari available search engines

Once you've chosen your desired search engine you can close the preferences panel. From now on, all searches you conduct from the address bar will use the search engine specified in Safari's preferences.

There's currently no way of adding more search engines to Safari, which means if you want to use another search provider by default, you'll need to use an alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox.

Fortunately, you can use one clever workaround to search the web with different search engines directly from the Safari URL bar. To do this you'll need to use DuckDuckGo as your default search engine, so follow the steps above to change to this default search engine in Safari's preferences.

DuckDuckGo supports a range of additional operators called "bangs" which are primarily designed to limit your search to a particular website . For example, if you search "change Safari search engine !htg" in DuckDuckGo, you'll trigger the How-To Geek bang (!htg) which will search this website specifically, using our choice of search provider (which happens to be Google).

You can do this for a range of services like YouTube (!yt), Wikipedia (!w), and Twitter (!twitter). You can also use it to search Google (!g), Google Images (!gimg), and Gmail (!gmail) without having to rely on Google as your primary search engine. Remember that you don't get DuckDuckGo's enhanced privacy when using these bangs since the search engine merely hands your request to a third-party search instead.

Bangs include other search providers like Bing (!bing) and Ecosia (!eco). Head to the DuckDuckGo Bangs Repository  and search for your desired search engine, then add the bang to each search.

Not only is DuckDuckGo the best default Safari search engine from a privacy perspective, but you can also always switch to Google and get more in-depth results by adding a "!g" bang to your search. Searching with DuckDuckGo soon becomes second nature, especially when you've remembered which bangs to use for your favorite websites and search engines.

You can also use DuckDuckGo for media, maps, news, and directions .

Take a look inside 'The Beast,' the $1.5 million bulletproof presidential limousine used by Trump and Biden

  • US presidents are driven in a heavily armored limousine nicknamed "The Beast."
  • It features a secure communications system and fridge stocked with the president's blood type.
  • Military cargo aircraft transport the presidential limousine for use abroad.

Insider Today

When US presidents aren't flying on Air Force One or taking helicopter trips in Marine One , they're driven around in a presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

Weighing in at 20,000 pounds and outfitted with advanced security and communications systems, the newest model of "The Beast" debuted during the Trump administration in 2018.

Take a look inside the famous vehicle.

US presidents travel in a secure limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

change safari look

US presidents rode Lincoln limousines for most of the 20th century until the 1980s, when the Reagan administration switched to Cadillacs.

The latest model of the presidential limousine was commissioned by the US Secret Service in 2014 and used for the first time in 2018 by President Donald Trump.

Designed to look like a longer version of a Cadillac XT6, the chassis of the car is actually that of a Chevrolet Kodiak truck produced by General Motors, NBC News reported. The vehicle weighs around 20,000 pounds and cost around $1.5 million to build.

The heavily armored vehicle is bulletproof, blast-resistant, and sealed to withstand biochemical attacks.

change safari look

While details about the limousine's security measures remain classified, NBC News reported that the vehicle features a night-vision system, tear gas firing capabilities, and door handles that can be electrified to prevent intruders.

The windows are believed to be 3 inches thick and the vehicle's armor around 8 inches thick.

"The Beast" is also equipped with medical supplies, including a refrigerator stocked with the president's blood type.

change safari look

The limousine's secure communications system is able to dispatch the launch codes for nuclear weapons.

The presidential seal appears throughout the design of the car.

change safari look

The seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and 13 arrows in its talons below a banner reading "E Pluribus Unum" (" Out of many, one"), appears on both the interior and exterior of the passenger door.

The limousine can seat up to seven people.

change safari look

The interior features water bottle holders and plush leather seats. Previous presidential limousines have also included a fold-out desk, according to the US Secret Service .

"The Beast" travels with the president.

change safari look

Presidential limousines are transported by military cargo aircraft, such as US Air Force C-17s, for use during the president's travels, according to the US Secret Service.

When abroad, the presidential limousine flies the American flag and the flag of the host country.

change safari look

When Biden visited the UK in June 2021, the presidential limousine flew both the American flag and the Union Jack.

On Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents change the car's license plates as a new president takes power.

change safari look

Some presidents have used the Washington, DC, "End Taxation Without Representation" license plates, while others have removed the slogan, Axios reported.

Accompanied by the presidential motorcade, "The Beast" remains an instantly recognizable symbol of the power of the presidency.

change safari look

"It is safe to say that this car's security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world," the assistant director for the US Secret Service's Office of Protective Operations said of "The Beast, " according to the US Secret Service's official website.

change safari look

  • Main content

IMAGES

  1. How to change Safari Start Page's background on iPhone and iPad

    change safari look

  2. Change the layout in Safari on iPhone

    change safari look

  3. 3 Ways to Change Safari Settings on iPhone or iPad

    change safari look

  4. How to Change Safari Preferences on My iPhone

    change safari look

  5. How To Change Safari Address Bar Design In Ios 15 On Iphone

    change safari look

  6. How to Change Safari Background Image in MacOS

    change safari look

VIDEO

  1. Top 10 Safari Settings to Change for a Better Browsing Experience

  2. How To Change Homepage In Safari Web Browser [Tutorial]

  3. How to Change Background in Safari on iPhone

  4. How to Move Safari Address/Search Bar to Top iOS 15 [Two Methods]

  5. How to Change Safari Homepage on iPhone? Try this

  6. How to customize your Safari start page on your Mac

COMMENTS

  1. Customize your Safari settings on iPhone

    You can customize your start page with new background images and options. Open the Safari app on your iPhone. Tap , then tap . Scroll to the bottom of the page, then tap Edit. Choose the options you want to appear on your start page: Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites. See Bookmark a favorite website.

  2. iOS 15: How to get the iPhone's old Safari layout back

    The first method requires you to go to Settings, then find and select Safari. Scroll down until you see get to the Tabs section. There you'll find two thumbnails of the iPhone. Tab Bar, which is ...

  3. Don't like the new Safari on iOS 15? Here's how to go ...

    On the iPhone, there is a more drastic change. The address bar now sits at the bottom of the screen above the toolbar, and there's a new look for the tabs screen too. ... Safari will look almost ...

  4. 5 Ways You Can Customize Safari on iPhone to Give It a New Look

    Here, we'll look at some of the different ways you can give Safari a whole new look on your iPhone. 1. Change Your Background for Safari's Start Page . You can use any image from the stock Photos app to change your Safari background. Some pre-set wallpapers are also available for you to choose from. Follow these steps to customize your Safari's ...

  5. How to change the layout of Safari on iOS 15 to the old one

    Simply open the Settings app, find the menu titled Safari, and scroll to the section labeled Tabs. Instead of Compact Tab Bar, switch to Separate Tab Bar. And you're done - the URL bar and tab ...

  6. How to Customize the Safari Start Page on iPhone and iPad

    Here's how. First, open Safari on your iPhone or iPad and open a new tab by tapping the tabs button (two overlapping rectangles), then tapping the plus ("+") button. You'll see Safari's "Start Page" by default. To edit what's on the Start Page, scroll down if necessary and tap the "Edit" button. When you tap "Edit," a "Customize Start Page ...

  7. Top 6 Ways to Customize Safari on Mac

    Step 1: Open the Safari Preferences menu. Step 2: Go to Tabs. Step 3: Enable Show color in tab bar option. Again, when you have multiple tabs opened in Safari and are switching among them, you ...

  8. How to change Safari 15's design back in macOS Monterey

    If you do want to switch from one Safari design to the other, here's what you need to do: Open your Safari menu and click on Preferences. From this menu, navigate to Tabs. You then have the ...

  9. How to revert Safari design back to the old version

    Choose Safari from the root list. Choose between tabs on top or bottom underneath the Tabs heading: Tab Bar: The new default, which repositions the address bar to the bottom. Single Tab: Choose this to get the old Safari interface back. Choose the Single Tab option if you've become accustomed to the previous Safari design.

  10. Apple updates macOS Safari with a new look

    Apple has released a new version of Safari for macOS, version 15. It brings new features, as well as a big design change from the previous version. Here's how to tone the changes down if it ...

  11. How to Change the Safari Background: iPhone, iPad, & Mac

    Things You Should Know. On iOS, open a new start page. Tap "Edit," toggle on "Background Image," and then select a photo. On Mac, open Safari, click "Settings," and check the "Background Image" box. Select a photo and then click "Choose." Method 1.

  12. Better Browsing: 30 Hidden Tricks Inside Apple's Safari Browser

    Now, here are 30 tricks to help you have a better experience when using Safari. 1. Navigate Tab Bar. (Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple) The jump to iOS 15 moved Safari's address bar to the bottom of ...

  13. How to change Safari settings on your Mac

    Look and feel. Perhaps the first change most people want to make to a web browser is to its start page. Here's how to do that. Click on the Safari menu and choose General. Select the General tab. From the top menu, choose whether Safari opens with a new window, a new private window, open tabs from last session, or all non-private windows from ...

  14. How to Change Your General Preferences on Safari: Mac + iOS

    On an iPhone or iPad, go to your device's Settings app to change the general preferences of Safari. On Mac, change your general preferences in "Safari > Settings > General." Changing things like your search engine and preventing trackers will provide you with more privacy and increase your security. Method 1.

  15. All-new Safari on Mac Apple's new look for the internet ...

    At WWDC 2021, Apple refreshes its Safari browser for MacOS Monterey and the iPhone. The updated browser aims to streamline tabs functionality in new ways.

  16. How to change Safari tabs back to stacked…

    We understand you'd like to change the way Safari displays tabs in iOS 15. "You can choose between the top Single Tab you're used to and the new bottom Tab Bar layout. Go to Settings > Safari, then scroll down to Tabs. Select either the Tab Bar or Single Tab layout.

  17. Change the layout in Safari on iPhone

    In the Safari app , you can choose the tab bar layout that works best for you. Depending on the layout, the search field appears at the top (Single Tab layout) or bottom (Tab Bar layout) of the screen. Go to Settings > Safari, then scroll down to Tabs. Select either Tab Bar or Single Tab. See also Customize your Safari settings Organize your tabs.

  18. How to Change the Safari Home Page on a Mac

    It can be any website you want. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Safari > Preferences. In Preferences > General, click the "Set to Current Page" button. This changes your home page to the current website Safari has open. After clicking the button, the address in the "Homepage" field will change to the address of the current page.

  19. How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone or iPad

    Changing the Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone and iPad. To get started, open the Settings app and tap "Safari." Next, under the "Search" heading, tap "Search Engine." Finally, select the search engine that you would like to use as your default when inside Safari. To select a search engine, tap it.

  20. Safari

    Safari. Blazing fast. Incredibly private. Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it's the world's fastest browser. 1.

  21. Google Workspace Updates: Updated user interface for signing in to or

    We're updating the look and feel of our sign-up and sign-in pages with a more modern look, which is in-line with the Material Design across our other products. You'll see the updated interface across web and mobile devices. Note that this is strictly a change in visual appearance, there are no functionality impacts or changes.

  22. Change Appearance settings on Mac

    On your Mac, use Appearance settings to change the overall look of macOS, and choose how you use scroll bars. Learn how to use a light or dark appearance. To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Appearance in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Choose the appearance for buttons, menus, and windows on ...

  23. Are We in a Productivity Boom? For Clues, Look to 1994

    Thirty years ago, the U.S. entered an era of productivity gains that enabled healthy growth. Experts are asking if it could happen again. By Jeanna Smialek The last time the American economy was ...

  24. Live Podcast at Xposure 2024 with Dr. Ali Mohamad

    Live Podcast at Xposure 2024 with Dr. Ali Mohamad

  25. Eclipse viewing glasses: How to protect your eyes during the total

    But never face the sun and look directly at it through the pinhole. The Sun released an X1 solar flare, a powerful burst of energy, captured by our Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on Oct. 2, 2022.

  26. Customize your Safari settings on iPad

    See what the webpage looks like on a desktop computer: Tap Request Desktop Website (if available). You can also adjust Safari settings in Accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Per-App Settings. Tap Add App, choose Safari, then tap Safari to adjust the settings.

  27. WhatsApp has made a major change to the app and users hate it

    Many WhatsApp users opened the app this week to find that the color scheme has changed to green, and they hate the new look. All the icons, from the call symbol to delivered ticks and bottom bar ...

  28. How to Change Safari's Default Search Engine on Mac

    To change Safari's default search engine, launch the Safari app on your Mac and click on "Safari" in the top-left corner of the screen and select "Preferences" from the list that appears: A new window will appear. Click on the "Search" button to switch to the search engine preferences: Click on the drop-down arrow to select a search engine of ...

  29. Take a look inside 'The Beast,' the $1.5 million bulletproof

    Take a look inside 'The Beast,' the $1.5 million bulletproof presidential limousine used by Trump and Biden. ... Secret Service agents change the car's license plates as a new president takes power.

  30. Change Healthcare cyberattack outage could last weeks

    T he outage caused by the Change Healthcare cyberattack could last weeks, a top UnitedHealth executive suggested in a Tuesday conference call with hospital cybersecurity officers, according to a ...