With macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 Beta 1, Apple is reintroducing a feature that was removed just a few months ago: the compact tab bar in Safari. After disappearing from the system with macOS Tahoe 26 and iPadOS 26, it is now available again as an option. This return affects both Macs and iPads and represents a small but significant change for many users.
When macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26 were released last fall, Apple introduced a comprehensive redesign. The centerpiece was the so-called Liquid Glass design, which gave the user interface a more modern and transparent look.
However, this overhaul also removed a long-standing Safari option: the compact tab bar. Apple completely removed it from the system settings.
It's rare for an established feature to be completely removed from Safari. The reaction from many users who regularly relied on the space-saving layout was therefore all the more pronounced. Possible reasons for the removal likely lay in design decisions or priorities during the transition to the new look. No detailed official explanation was provided.
The compact tab bar returns in macOS 26.4
With macOS 26.4 Beta 1, Apple has responded to criticism and reintegrated the compact tab bar into Safari. In the System Preferences app on the Mac, the tab bar can once again be configured to be displayed in a single row. This compact view combines several elements:
- the address bar
- the currently open tabs
- Navigation buttons
- other Safari controls
Everything is located in a single bar at the top of the screen. This saves vertical space and creates a more streamlined interface. Especially on smaller displays, this allows more of the open website's content to be visible.
iPadOS 26.4 also brings back the option
At the same time, Apple is reintroducing the feature in iPadOS 26.4. Safari can also be switched to compact view in the iPad's settings.
Configuration is done directly via the Settings app. There, the tab bar can be combined back into a single row, which combines the address bar, tabs, and other controls.
Especially when using the iPad with an external keyboard or in productive use with multiple open tabs, the compact layout can offer advantages.
Choice between compact and separate tab bar
Apple isn't stopping at just one solution. In addition to the compact version, the "Separate Tab Bar" option remains available.
With this setting, the tabs and the address bar are separated. This results in a clearer visual structure and can be particularly helpful when many tabs are open.
This means that macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 once again offer the choice between two different layouts. This flexibility was no longer available in the original version 26.
Significance of the return in macOS 26.4
While the reintroduction of the compact tab bar isn't a fundamental system feature, it demonstrates that user feedback is taken into account. Many users voiced their criticism after its removal in macOS Tahoe 26 and iPadOS 26.
With Beta 1 of macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, this decision is partially reversed. The feature is once again available as an option, without completely abandoning the new design.
Compact Safari tab bar available again in macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4
macOS 26.4 brings back the compact Safari tab bar to Mac and iPad. After being removed with macOS Tahoe 26 and iPadOS 26, it is now available again as a selectable option in Beta 1.
The settings can be adjusted via the system preferences on a Mac or the settings on an iPad. There you can choose between a compact and a separate tab bar.
Even though it's a relatively small change, the return in macOS 26.4 represents a noticeable improvement for many. The freedom to choose between two layouts is thus restored. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Apple)
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