When ‌macOS Tahoe‌ and iPadOS 26 launched last September, Apple quietly removed Safari's Compact tab layout – the option that merged the address bar and the tab bar into a single, space-saving row. If you were a fan of it, you will have been out of luck for months.


The good news is that Apple has brought it back. In macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, the Compact tab bar is once again available as an alternative to the default Separate layout. Here's how to enable it on both platforms.

On Mac

1. Open Safari.


2. In the menu bar, click Safari ➝ Settings....


3. Click the Tabs pane.


4. Next to "Tabs Layout," select Compact.

The address bar and tab bar will immediately merge into a single row, freeing up vertical screen space.

On iPad

1. Open the Settings app.


2. Scroll down and tap through to Apps ➝ Safari.


3. Under "Tabs," tap Compact Tab Bar.

That's all there is to it. If you decide you prefer the standard layout, simply retrace your steps and select Separate (on Mac) or Separate Tab Bar (on ‌iPad‌).

The Compact layout can be handy on the smaller screens of the MacBook Air or iPad mini, where every pixel of vertical space counts. It's worth trying if you've never used it, just be aware that tab titles are truncated more aggressively in this view, so when switching between many open tabs you'll have to rely more on favicons than on page names.
This article, "Safari's Compact Tab Bar Is Back on Mac and iPad" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has lost another senior figure from its Safari team as a lead designer departs for The Browser Company, extending a pattern of high-profile exits from Apple's browser team amid intensifying competition around AI-driven browsing.


Marco Triverio was a lead designer for Safari and has now joined The Browser Company, the developer of the Arc and Dia browsers. The move was confirmed by The Browser Company chief executive Josh Miller in a post on LinkedIn, marking the latest in a series of hires from Apple's Safari design leadership.

Miller emphasized that Triverio's arrival means The Browser Company has now recruited lead designers from every Safari design era that overlapped with the development timelines of Arc and Dia, roughly spanning 2020 through 2025.

The Browser Company has positioned itself as an alternative to traditional browsers by emphasizing significant new interaction models rather than incremental updates. The apps are often compared to Apple software due to their focus on visual clarity, animation, and user experience design.

Its Arc browser introduced a nontraditional tab system, extensive customization options, and collaborative tools such as shared workspaces and a built-in whiteboard. In 2025, the company introduced Dia, a browser designed around AI-assisted workflows that integrate generative tools, collaborative features, and creative utilities directly into the browsing experience.

For Apple, Triverio's exit adds to a broader pattern of senior staff departures that became more visible throughout 2025.
This article, "Apple Loses Safari Lead Designer to The Browser Company" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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