Safari is among the apps Apple is giving particular attention to in iOS 27 – and the browser gains several Apple Intelligence features at once. The new repertoire ranges from automatically sorted tabs to self-created extensions and webpage monitoring.
The big theme of iOS 27 is Apple's AI push centered on the new Siri unveiled at WWDC, and Safari is among the apps that benefit most from it. Several of the new features rely on Apple Intelligence and take over tasks that are often tedious in everyday browsing: sorting countless tabs, monitoring websites, or replacing insecure passwords. On top of that come improvements in speed and battery consumption, as well as new safety features for children. Part of the new additions, however, is tied to current hardware.
Automatic Tab Organization
The most striking new addition is probably automatic tab organization. Safari uses Apple Intelligence to sort open tabs by relevant topics and group together pages that are related in content. If you're searching for a new couch while also planning a weekend, for example, you'll find the pages you have open grouped by topic.
Automatic sorting can be enabled via the icon with the three lines in the upper right of the tab view, by turning on the option to automatically create topics there. The same menu also shows all groups and allows filtering by topic, so you can open just the tabs of a specific topic and hide the rest. In addition, there's a new "Resume Browsing" section on the Start Page that lets you continue recently closed topics or topics you have open on other devices. Pages saved in Bookmarks and the Reading List can also be grouped by topic.
Create Custom Extensions With AI
One of the most exciting announcements is the ability to create custom Safari extensions with AI. Using the "Create an Extension" option in the Safari settings, accessible to the left of the address bar, you should be able to describe in your own words what the extension should do. Apple intends to provide suggestions in several categories such as productivity, focus, creativity, and development and design. Some of the examples Apple cites:
- Create a citation for the current webpage and copy it to the clipboard
- Set up a three-minute focus timer for the page
- Set the minimum font size to 14 point
- Turn the page content into "pirate speak"
- Style websites in 90s fashion with bold colors and type
- Draw a different flower with every new tab
- Show the dimensions of elements when tapping on them
- Enable a webpage's editing mode to change its contents
Monitor Websites With "Notify Me"
With the "Notify Me" feature, Safari is meant to monitor a website for changes and notify you as soon as new information is detected. Apple cites use cases such as the start of concert ticket sales or the restocking of a sold-out product. To use it, you open the desired website, tap the settings icon to the left of the address bar, and choose "Notify Me." You can then specify what Safari should watch for, including frequency and time. At most, Safari checks the page once per day at a set time, with weekly and monthly intervals available as alternatives.
Replace Passwords Automatically
In iOS 27, the Passwords app can use Safari to automatically replace passwords flagged as insecure or compromised with strong ones. The feature uses Apple Intelligence to independently navigate to the relevant website, sign in, and update the password with a single tap. With this, Apple expands the already useful function in which the Passwords app flags data leaks and weak passwords, adding an automated correction step.
"Ask to Browse" for Children
As part of the new child safety features, iOS 27 introduces "Ask to Browse," among other things. With it, children need parental approval before they are allowed to visit a new website. The feature is part of the broader new child safety tools that Apple unveiled at WWDC.
A Faster and More Efficient Safari
Beyond the AI features, Apple has worked on performance. According to Apple, Safari's power efficiency has increased, so the browser uses less battery. Web apps and Start Page content load faster, JavaScript processing is quicker, and animations as well as graphics appear smoother.
Requirements and Availability
Features such as automatic tab grouping, custom extensions, and webpage monitoring require Apple Intelligence – which in turn requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. On older models that support iOS 27 but not Apple Intelligence, these AI features remain unavailable. The speed and battery improvements as well as "Ask to Browse," by contrast, work across devices. iOS 27 is currently in the beta phase; the final version arrives in fall 2026 alongside the new iPhone models.
Safari Becomes an Active Assistant
The thrust of the Safari changes is clear: the browser should no longer just display websites but actively think along – organizing tabs, monitoring pages, fixing passwords, and, if desired, even building custom extensions. How well these AI features actually hold up in everyday use will become clear with the final version. For owners of an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone, Safari in iOS 27 is likely to be among the most noticeably reworked apps in any case.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The New Safari Features in iOS 27
Safari sorts open tabs by topic using Apple Intelligence and groups together pages that are related in content. You can enable this via the three-line icon in the tab view. In addition, groups can be filtered, and saved Bookmarks as well as the Reading List can be organized by topic.
That's planned: using "Create an Extension" in the Safari settings, you should be able to describe in your own words what the extension should do – for example, copy a citation or set the minimum font size. Apple provides suggestions in several categories. The feature is among the AI features being rolled out gradually with iOS 27.
Safari is meant to monitor a website with it and notify you of changes, for example when concert tickets go on sale or a product becomes available again. It checks at most once per day, with weekly or monthly options as well.
The Passwords app uses Safari and Apple Intelligence to independently navigate to the website, sign in, and replace credentials flagged as weak or compromised with a strong password at the tap of a button.
Tab organization, custom extensions, and webpage monitoring require Apple Intelligence and thus an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. The speed and battery improvements as well as "Ask to Browse" also work without Apple Intelligence.
Yes. Apple has improved power efficiency, so Safari uses less battery. In addition, web apps and Start Page content load faster, JavaScript is processed more quickly, and animations as well as graphics appear smoother.
iOS 27 is currently in the beta phase. The final version will be released in fall 2026 alongside the new iPhone models.
