Move iPhone search bar to top after iOS 26 update

I’m part of the disabled community and I have to hold my phone in the palm of my hands and my thumbs don’t work. So to move the phone down to access the search bar, etc will inevitably my phone will fall out of my hands. And I assume the ppl who don’t have a issue with these changes are probably much younger and can adapt to changes that seem simple and not a big deal…and the rest of us who are probably in the older generation (me 61) I never thought age would matter when I’ve been doing things for many years, but our reaction and movement is much slower and gets slower by the day. Idk if the younger generation have ever heard this phrase before ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’

I also HATE HATE HATE this glass effect. I want the old way back.

id also like to know how and why my passcode now requires 6 digit when it’s been 4 digit. I can only get into my watch by opening my phone. I hope Apple comes out with an update to fix these issues!

The only place currently you can move the Search Bar is in Safari, the rest of your apps have it to the bottom. I actually find it helpful as you no longer have to scroll all the way back to the top of the page to search for something and can now do it anywhere on the page.

You do understand you're only communicating with other Apple users here on this user to user only forum. If you're not pleased with the change (I actually think it's a great change), tell Apple by using this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

It doesn't matter here whether you like or don't like the change. No one here had anything to do with where Apple chose to move the search bar, so no one here can change anything built into iOS.

Anekdoteles wrote:

Just a short comment to what mlasaga wrote:

Your statement is not warmhearted. Please think about people like me autistic with ADHD. I have severe dificulties with distractions and environment changes.

So why is it not possible to make the searchfield adjust- and moveable.

From a development perspective it is indeed possible. An the effort is a a company with maybe two or three hundret people involved in creating such a solution. In real live we have millions of users with differen disabilities who will benefit from the work of a few hundret. I think this is a way to think about that's wort it. Wit thith attitude, we make the world a better place for all.

Warm regards

No one on this forum is in any way associated with Apple, nor had anything to do with the design of iOS 26 or where Apple chose to put the search bar. My comment was honest and realistic based on the fact that we can't speak for Apple nor can we change anything Apple has chosen to do with iOS. Could Apple change it? I'm sure they could if they wanted to. But complaining about it here on a user to user only forum, which no one from Apple participates, nor reads for user feedback is a waste of effort.

Please keep in mind that as users only on this user to user only forum, we can't do anything for people with disabilities. I'm sure for someone with autism, for example, change can be very hard. But most people who are complaining here aren't people with a severe disability. They just don't like change. And I get that, but again, we users didn't change anything, nor can we change it back.

Throughout this 6 page thread, the feedback link has been provided if anyone wants to share their feedback on this with Apple, but if you've missed it, you can use this to communicate with Apple --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

anfo42 wrote:

I prefer the search bar on the top in all my apps as well. When I observed you couldn’t change that feature, it was very disappointing. I would rather go back to the previous iOS than deal with the “new design.” I’d I prefer the search bar on top, please help.

If you had read the entire thread, you would know that what you want is not possible. You would also know that Apple doesn't read here for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

lexigirl08 wrote:

I’m part of the disabled community and I have to hold my phone in the palm of my hands and my thumbs don’t work. So to move the phone down to access the search bar, etc will inevitably my phone will fall out of my hands. And I assume the ppl who don’t have a issue with these changes are probably much younger and can adapt to changes that seem simple and not a big deal…and the rest of us who are probably in the older generation (me 61) I never thought age would matter when I’ve been doing things for many years, but our reaction and movement is much slower and gets slower by the day. Idk if the younger generation have ever heard this phrase before ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’

I also HATE HATE HATE this glass effect. I want the old way back.

id also like to know how and why my passcode now requires 6 digit when it’s been 4 digit. I can only get into my watch by opening my phone. I hope Apple comes out with an update to fix these issues!

I'm in the older generation as in over 70 and I love Liquid Glass. But for those who don't, I wrote this user tip, which might actually help you --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

You can't move the search bar back to the top anywhere except in Safari. This is a user to user only forum, so we didn't change things, nor can we bring anything back as it was before. But you are welcome to share your thoughts with Apple here --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Apple did not make a change to require you to use a 6 digit passcode. You have the option to choose a 4 digit passcode as you have always had the option to do. When you go to set up a Passcode, it will default to 6 digit, but you can tap below to choose a 4 digit code if you want. See how to change your passcode here --> Use a passcode with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

I hate this too and I told Apple. Everyone else who wants to have the option to switch search bar to the top should do the same. Feedback - iPhone - Apple

It makes no sense that one can switch the search bar to the top for safari and chrome but not in iMessages and elsewhere in iOS 26.

It is one thing to remove things like the audio jack and the Home button —I was not happy about that but I get there isn’t much customization possible. but there is absolutely no reason that half of iPhone users should have to change behavior for such an easily customizable feature. Not to mention laptop/desktop search is almost always at the top.

maybe that the whole point. they want to remind us at every moment that we’re using an iPhone even if we’re irritated doing it.

mlasaga wrote:

You clearly do not have arthritis! On the bottom is much harder because you have to bend the fingers and thumbs. Anyway, what does that matter? Why not provide some flexibility for users to do what is comfortable or preferable for them?

Because this is a user to user only forum, which no one from Apple participates nor reads for user feedback. We can't change anything at all with iOS including where the search bar is.

Tell Apple what you want --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Ps: I'm in my 70s. I do have arthritis like many older people. But I fail to see what difference it makes where the search is. I still use it and type there regardless of where it is on my iPhone screen.

Whydoihavetohaveacommunityname wrote:

Sick to death of the updates messing around with settings, for 20 years the search bar has been at the top of a page but now we move it to the bottom for people too lazy to use both hands, fine but I want my search option at the top of the page where it’s been since the internet was made available

Sorry, you can't have that. At least not from Apple right now.

You can let Apple know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Staying open to change and learning new things helps your mind stay young.

Starfish130 wrote:

I HATE this … you took away the home button so the home access is at the bottom and now this is at the bottom too!? At least give the option to change it.

No one participating in this forum took away anything from you. And no one here can give you back what you want.

Tell Apple what you'd like to see:

Product Feedback - Apple

Pacmanrules wrote:

If apple DO NOT look at this forum then I would say that's a big mistake, and they should (Im absolutely sure they do). With your influence maybe you could get them to invest some time on reading some of our posts. I think we all know the apple owns it, that's not the debate, we know that Steve Jobs would have still cared about the users feelings as Apple evolves the product. Without customers apple would not exist, its a 2 way relationship. We love apple, Steve Jobs, and want to continue to, which is why we waste our time in the middle of the night writing these posts, we are giving free of charge consultancy!

Hi, I can probably answer a little more definitively your questions about these communities. I’ve been on them over 25 years. But more importantly I’m a former Apple employee. We were actually forbidden to go to these communities and if caught, the punishment was being fired.

Why would Apple not collect all this valuable data you may be thinking. Good question. It’s simple. The information can’t be verified. Many of these posts are made by bots and individuals or companies and written about nonexistent problems they’re having. I’ve actually met people who were hired to do that. They write fake reviews, fake posts about fake problems. They would have multiple fake identities and do it for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week on multiple sites.

Even the real posts contain almost zero information that can tested and repeated. When I worked for Apple we had entirely different methods. We’d “capture” a device malfunctioning at a store, send it to engineering and they’d duplicate the issue and determine if it was hardware, software or both. A service bulletin might be released or findings would go over to the software team. Vague verbal descriptions from anonymous posters are pretty useless. Now your issue is a little different. You want a user interface change. Again, bots and malicious actors are involved. It’s easy to fill up threads creating confusion and igniting passions and frustration. The poor guy with a solvable issue gets lost in the shuffle and gets frustrated and goes off to suffer somewhere else.

How do you get your point across? Go through the official channel for feedback. The link has been provided and I’ll include it at the bottom. Apple reads every submission received. They are compiled, categorized and carefully analyzed. Change may happen. But not through these meaningless threads full of rants. That’s what bots do.

How not to gain sympathy and continue to alienate people? Keep mentioning Mr Jobs. I worked for the man, he was an inspirational leader. But he’s not a part of this conversation. It’s inconsiderate and disrespectful to bring him into this issue. It doesn’t involve him.

Now fill out the feedback form and wait for change.

Product Feedback - Apple

Good luck

TimmyPig wrote:

so was searching on how to move the search bar back up to top, and if you hold the phone in the typical position and try to type with both hands holding the phone, you will find the bar is almost always directly JUST above your finger which is very awkward to read.

This is ODD and NOT comfortable to use.

When you type & read, Your line of sight will typically JUST be inline with the TOP of the phone which where the older search bar was.

I seriously starting to doubt Apple has actually properly tested how ergonomically feasible of their newer product design is now.

search bar for one of the major one, and the "extra multi-function button" is can now accidently goes from silence to ring due to how your hand is holding it...this is another gripe for another thread.

Apple doesn't read here for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

The problem is that some apps have it at the top, others at the bottom above keyboard, others at the very bottom. Even Apple apps are not consistent. So, now, we spend half the time looking around the screen for the search function. Nevermind Mail on iPad now moves search to the top left, floating illogically above messages instead of at the top of the email list where it used to be.

And, yes, I have sent a feature request to Apple, so the annoying participants in Apple discussions can move on and not waste their time telling me this forum doesn’t get read my Apple.

Mac Jim ID wrote:

Pacmanrules wrote:

I am complaining because I am a user, regardless if I am 1 of 30,000,000,000 users, and for Steve jobs, this was important... If any apple people read this please make those type of borderline important GUI changes optional. I have already posted this to apple via the link you highlighted.

Nope, none of us are Apple employees and for Apple to read your input, then you did the right thing by sending them Feedback directly. That is where your voice will be heard and has also worked in the past with the changes found in iOS 26.1. We cannot comment on the changes found in iOS 26.2 because it is still in beta, but you may have to wait and see if you find that helpful.

The points or being new to this support site is irrelevant when it comes to your views you want to express to Apple through the feedback link. The only relevance of the points is that it means they have helped other posters resolve an issue and others had also found it helpful by upvoting the post. It really means nothing more than that. I user with more points does not have any more influence on the Feedback sent to Apple, and it also does not mean they have any special or direct contacts with Apple.

I do find it odd when people bring up Steve Jobs when making some kind of claim that this would never happen under his leadership. You may not remember his famous quote that seems to apply to what you are saying. It was also just a year ago that iOS 18 was released and you can go back on this Support Site and find the same posts where people hated it and can't believe there were changes, and now, that is the one they liked the most. In fact, that is pretty typical of every update.

“Some people say, "Give the customers what they want." But that's not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they're going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, "If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, 'A faster horse!'" People don't know what they want until you show it to them. That's why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”

--Steve Jobs

I really like this post! I too find it amazing when people channel Steve Jobs here. Steve didn't honestly care what people thought and it has been Apple's design philosophy to give us what Apple thinks we need. That's never going to change. It's the inability of some people who simply cannot adapt to change, which is amazing to me.

I just upgraded my iPad Pro 11 M1 to the new iPad Pro 11 M5. I not only had to buy a new Apple Pencil for it as it requires the new Apple Pencil Pro, but I also had to get a new Keyboard Case for it as what worked just fine with my M1 iPad Pro isn't compatible with the M5 iPad Pro. Things change and as human's who want to embrace the digital world, we too must adapt.

Whydoihavetohaveacommunityname wrote:

Sick to death of the updates messing around with settings, for 20 years the search bar has been at the top of a page but now we move it to the bottom for people too lazy to use both hands, fine but I want my search option at the top of the page where it’s been since the internet was made available

Why are you even telling your fellow users on this user to user only forum what you're sick to death of? We didn't move the search bar. We can't move it back. Other than being cathartic and disparaging to people who do use one hand (there are reasons they may need to do so), you've accomplished nothing by complaining here.

Use the feedback link IdrisSeabright linked above.