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

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 13, 2021 8:02 AM

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.

  1. Go to Settings > Safari, then scroll down to Tabs.
  2. Select either the Tab Bar or Single Tab layout.
  3. You can move between layouts without losing the tabs you have open."


As discussed here: Customize your Safari settings on iPhone


Cheers!

184 replies

Feb 15, 2022 10:46 PM in response to JMurchie

After 3 months I noticed the stacking and option to close tabs quick has vanished.

In meanwhile I have managed to create zillion little screens floating on bottom of the page, and no way to close them all at same time, every time I open safari I manage to click couple more tiny rolling tabs, was already looking for Samsung tablet.

I remember being able to see a number of windows open in top corner, and then close them, now nothing, for a total computer illiterate granny this technical revolution is too much, the split windows which appear when ever they want and now these hundreds of open tabs. Tried to find out if there is an option to turn off all this grand design, nothing, every time a refer to look in the corner where should be a tab to close all, that gone too! Thanks for the little fun in my life gone with this new updates!


Feb 16, 2022 7:50 AM in response to Ulde71

Thank you ULDE71, very elegant opinion,

Looks like they have gone to over-engineering mode… too many engineers without enough justification for their jobs, possibly/probably too many middle layers from the supervisory brass, they will never notice, it will cost some people their jobs, they might possibly turn a blind eye to the created snaffu… if the organization is too fat, “they” will never notice… it happens in most organizations, entropy, loss of vision, loss of goals

Feb 16, 2022 11:51 AM in response to JMurchie

Yes I’m with everyone here on this! Change it back! I hate this tabs view! Why would we want it to take longer to close tabs?! One reason why I delayed updating. Seems every time Iphone rolls out an update they “fix” things that aren’t broken. And you still haven’t addressed the question! Clearly, it’s widely hated. So please change, or provide an option to switch back to the previous view.

Feb 23, 2022 12:46 PM in response to JMurchie

Just updated to ios15 last night. Horrible pit in my stomach when I saw the new safari tab tile layout and realized I can’t work with this confusing mess! I rushed to find the settings option to change it back. Nothing. Came here. I’m angry Apple is radio silent about addressing this- it looks like they are arrogant and could not care less. will find another browser to use, meantime, but I and my family will NOT choose Apple products going forward. My iphone will hit the garbage can within the next few months. I’m also spreading the word to my friends using IPhones to “stay away from Apple”.

Mar 1, 2022 7:12 PM in response to Theorist1

One question:

My stacked files tab view changed to the inopperative tiled tab view when my phone automatically updated to IOS 15.2.1, and now I am being offered to update to IOS 15.3.1, but obviously I am now leery of what undesirable & unwanted features this update will bring along, none-the-less, as hope is the last thing to be lost, mayhaps, even as I hold no high optimism, this update might (???) bring a option for restoration of the stacked file tab view, so has anyone updated to IOS 15.3.1, to offer a testimony of what it brings?


Mar 4, 2022 2:31 AM in response to JMurchie

I'm having the same issue! How can I re-stack the tabs after the update?


I don't want to have each page on full display and spend time searching. It was so much easier to flick through the stacked tabs with the websites names at the top. This new method is time consuming and not functional. Please can we have a way to revert back.

Mar 10, 2022 11:07 AM in response to Chris_C1

If one more person from Apple, (like Chris C. above), pastes that **** auto-reply into someone’s to someone’s comment about NEEDING STACKED TABS BACK, every single person who’s been replying on this thread and who is LIVID about this new tab layout — and them replacing the incredibly efficient “stacked tabs” with this extremely unhelpful and inefficient layout — should CALL APPLE AND COMPLAIN OVER THE PHONE. Let’s tie up their “help” lines until they actually provide the stacked tabs option!!! Because clearly, despite this thread, they are not taking this matter seriously enough. I, too, will be leaving Apple and switching if they don’t provide this resolution in the NEXT UPDATE, and I’m an Apple lifer and full Apple household, as well.

Mar 10, 2022 6:57 PM in response to Chris_C1

Chris C1 - As the official Apple flak-catcher on this question, your response is illustrative of Apple’s response to most user problems: you correctly re-stated the question (“you’d like to change the way Safari displays tabs in iOS 15”), and then you provided an irrelevant answer to a different problem.

Why bother to have an “Apple Community” if it is only a hollow sounding board for complaints, and not a site where users will find helpful information?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to change Safari tabs back to stacked iOS 15

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