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JMurchie Author

Level 1

49 points

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

Top-ranking reply

Beerstar

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Jan 7, 2022 2:52 PM

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.

So:

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.

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Similar questions

184 replies

Sep 10, 2022 1:07 AM in response to ohal

Same here also. Is Apple not listening?How could they think that the new system was an improvement on a small screen?

An old saying which should be etched into the screens of all software engineers- “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it “.

Sep 14, 2022 5:13 PM in response to Mtndoc53

I agree. I can’t stand the update change on the tabs. Highly highly highly inefficient. I just dread having to go to the tile layout every single time now. Please change it back to the stacked tabs. Those worked beautifully. I’ve read through many of the comments and how depressing that they won’t take notice or change it back to the way it was. I mean we’re not asking for rocket science. They already have the program in hand.

Sep 14, 2022 5:18 PM in response to JMurchie

Apple once you change back to a stacked tab layout please shout it from the rooftops because we all are praying every day to hear our plea!!! Please change it back ASAP. I dread each and every day I have to use the tile layout.

is there a different phone or service that actually uses a stacked layout? Maybe I can switch away from Apple. not my preference but they don’t seem to care.

Soulfil

Level 1

19 points

Nov 23, 2021 2:01 PM in response to JMurchie

I agree I HATE this new imposed tab view, it’s time consuming & annoying. I tried the settings suggested below & It won’t change back to the old way. .

Soulfil

Level 1

19 points

Nov 23, 2021 2:03 PM in response to Chris_C1

This doesn't work, how do I switch back to the stacked tab view. The ‘new’ view is awful, it’s not user friendly, unhelpful for the visually impaired & time consuming

meaghin

Level 1

8 points

Jan 17, 2022 5:40 AM in response to rjd185

I’m defining this as the stacked view, not a tiled view. (Available in landscape view.) It appears we’re using different definitions.

Dec 4, 2021 9:40 PM in response to JMurchie

Not sure why they would change how the tabs are stacked. This is very annoying and makes no sense. Apple needs to fire whoever made this decision. Apple should’ve made this optional.

Soulfil

Level 1

19 points

Dec 6, 2021 12:35 PM in response to Jmac240sx

100% agree this view should be optional

Paul578

Level 1

8 points

Dec 9, 2021 11:45 PM in response to architektus

Agree this new layout is terrible, awful, huge step backwards. Do not have words to fully express how irritating it is.

is there another browser that stacks?

Paul578

Level 1

8 points

Dec 9, 2021 11:59 PM in response to Paul578

Best solution may be to try other browsers as there is no longer any advantage in safari. Edge seems load pages quite a bit faster and has other options.

61markv

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2021 7:26 PM in response to Paul578

Bring back stacked tabs in safari ! What is the matter with the developers there ? at least give that option in settings . What a mess. I will definitely turn off auto updates