Compact Tabs setting missing in macOS Tahoe 26 Safari

As you point out, that feature is gone and only Apple can do restore it. This is a user forum, to communicate your desire to Apple, use this link:

Feedback - Safari - Apple

Safari Compact mode is back on macOS Tahoe 26.4

Highly suggest Orion Browser. All of the benefits from Safari (WebKit-based, similar UI, etc), while maintaining Compact Tabs. Plus it has all tracking features removed and supports Firefox and Chrome extensions!

https://orionbrowser.com

Currently, Apple is mandating an update to macOS Tahoe. I remain on macOS Sequoia as I am opposed to upgrading to Tahoe due to the absence of the Compact Tab layout in Safari. I desire they to revert to the Compact Tab layout first, and I propose that we collectively request from Apple to reintroduce this feature. It's a highly beneficial feature.

+1! Compact Tabs were my TOP Safari feature since when introduced – it literally made me convert back from semi-Chrome to Safari full-time. The compactness of the browser frame, fluid tabs combined with a URL/Search omnibar, that was simply stunning.

PLEASE, bring Compact Tabs back. 🙏

We know the code is still there. It works when Safari 26 is installed on Sequoia. 😄

I believe it would even look fantastic now with the more shape-reflecting visual (I used to enable button shapes since Big Sur so that I could bear the flat style), all we need to retain is having the Back/Fwd buttons always shown so that the bar doesn't jump back and forth when navigating. The dismissing Downloads button is…bearable. 👌

Quoting Twitter:

“We're so back!”

https://x.com/1000kilobytes/status/2023488606934102246

Thanks everyone for the feedback here! 😄

Safari's layout (with compact mode) is the best browser UI layout I've found so far for my MacBook Air. I say this as a die-hard Chrome user. The Safari compact mode is good enough to make me switch.

If usage is low it is likely because discoverability is low. I only learned about Safari compact mode because early adopters of Tahoe were complaining about it being gone! I haven't upgraded yet and I would like to switch to using Safari because of how good compact mode is (plus the sidebar for tabs and tab groups which is great).

But I don't want to get attached to a feature that is going to be gone in the next OS upgrade. Please bring Safari compact mode back! (I have left feedback for Apple already).

I have been using Safari mainly because of the compact tabs. The minimalist design of Safari is a killer feature over other browsers. I've switched to Safari and purchased paid extensions. Removing the compact tabs is a breaking change for me. It impacts my trust, from now on I am going to think twice about investing in setup that depends on apple software, since features can be arbitrarily removed...

[Edited by Moderator]

I am a new Macbook user after using Linux and Firefox for 10+ years. I wanted to give apple and all its software a shot and switched to Safari. One of the reasons why I stayed with Safari is because of its unique minimalist UI when the compact mode is enabled. As a person with OCD this was a big relieve. Please bring it back.

+1 on this, upgraded my work MacBook to Tahoe and had to stop using Safari because this is just not it.

Don't want to upgrade my home Mac to Tahoe now because I like running Safari on it, and that would make it annoying. I don't need to see the full URL bar, it's a waste of space. What is this feature reversal about?

And I'm not even going into this arts-and-crafts sidebar thing.

Please, bring compact tabs back!

It was a killer feature for me. The compact tabs saved me precious space on my tiny 13 inch MacBook Air. I just don't get it why it was removed. They could just give us the option to whether use it or not. Please bring it back.

Thank you for sharing the link, I've shared my feedback. Bring back compact tabs!

The new Safari on mac mini M4 looks pretty bad. The compact bar was a better choice as I could use more screen space. When will apple bring back the compact bar?

Propably as new feature in Safari ~v32