Compact Tabs setting missing in macOS Tahoe 26 Safari

The compact tab that use to display the tabs next to the search bar is no longer a setting in safari preferences on macOS Tahoe 26.

If you have 1 tab open, compact mode works. However when you open more tabs in the same window it makes the separate.

1 Tab:

2 Tabs:

The iPhone still has this feature.

However the help topics still has this feature listed in the "tips" app on Mac.

Will this be added back? (I hope so)

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 1:07 PM

Similar questions

36 replies

Sep 19, 2025 12:06 AM in response to GreatGFX

Amen to that, it gives me OCD, using safari without compact mode.

diesto

Level 1

14 points

Oct 23, 2025 2:29 PM in response to illyS1217

The compact mode would have been KILLER if Apple just made the address bar static.

Nov 12, 2025 9:09 PM in response to GreatGFX

No plans to update to Tahoe till this is fixed

Varen

Level 1

13 points

Dec 14, 2025 10:53 AM in response to GreatGFX

I cannot stress more strongly how much I dislike the new tabs in Safari. It has ruined my productivity as a web developer and it's also visually unattractive and unsophisticated design.

Dec 16, 2025 6:27 PM in response to GreatGFX

Good job Apple! This was the push I (and probably many others) needed to try a different browser 😉

Dec 26, 2025 6:51 AM in response to GreatGFX

Cmon Apple, the vertical height of screen on my 13in macbook pro isn't enough to browse web via Safari. Pls give people a compact mode back!

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Compact Tabs setting missing in macOS Tahoe 26 Safari