Using 6th Gen iPads, iOS 16.6.1. Trying to get links to in open in new tabs in Safari. Every forum page keeps saying to go to Settings > Safari > Tabs > enable Open New Tabs in Background. But no matter what I do with this setting, the results are the same: clicking a link replaces the current tab instead of opening a new tab. What do we need to do?
iPad (6th generation)
brynna208,
Turning off iCloud would have nothing to do with how links open when you click on them, Set up iCloud for Safari on all your devices.
To open a link in a new tab, you need to do so from the menu by touching and holding the link and selecting "Open in New Tab" when the menu pops up.
The options in Settings > Safari, is if you want these new tabs to open in front of the current page (In New Tab) or behind it (In Background).
Take care.
brynna208,
Turning off iCloud would have nothing to do with how links open when you click on them, Set up iCloud for Safari on all your devices.
To open a link in a new tab, you need to do so from the menu by touching and holding the link and selecting "Open in New Tab" when the menu pops up.
The options in Settings > Safari, is if you want these new tabs to open in front of the current page (In New Tab) or behind it (In Background).
Take care.
Hello brynna208,
Let's use the steps below to get your iPad updated to the latest iPadOS 16.7.1:
1. Back up your device using iCloud or your computer.
2. Plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi.
3. Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.
4. If you see more than one software update option available, choose the one that you want to install.
5. Tap Install Now. If you see Download and Install instead, tap it to download the update, enter your passcode, then tap Install Now. If you don't know your passcode, learn what to do.
You can also find those steps in this resource: Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support Updating should help to further isolate a potential software conflict.
Should that still persist, does this happen with all websites or only certain ones?
Do you sync your Safari browsing history with any other devices? If so, are they exhibiting the same behavior?
Let us know, and we'll keep moving forward from there.
Thanks for the info!
Guess I was just confused by older articles like this one that seem to incidate that the Open Tabs in Background setting was the answer I wanted:
Looks like there's no answer that will work for us, since we can tell preschool children to press and hold, but they can't read to know which option is Open in a New Tab. Thanks anyway!
Thanks for replying, brynna208, and that additional info, it really helps! To let Apple know your thoughts on the changes of this feature, please do that here:
Have a great day and thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!
I updated to 16.7.1 but it's still the same: enabling Open Tabs in Background in Settings has no effect whatsoever.
Happening on every website I thought to test. Our main concern is accessing the Clever portal via Safari, and young students being able to click on a link in Clever, then easily navigate back to the first Clever tab to click another link.
Also happening on Google, the Weather Channel, Amazon, and BBC News.
We have many iPads set up the same way, linked to the same Apple ID, and they're all having the same issue. It looks like they're sharing browsing data via iCloud...would turning that off help?
Thanks!
Can't Open Link in New Tab on iPad
