**Safari’s Compact Tab Bar Makes a Comeback in macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4**
With the launch of macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26 last fall, the optional Safari layout known as the compact tab bar was eliminated. Now, this feature is back in macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4.
Have you found yourself longing for the compact tab bar on your Mac or iPad? It’s not common for Apple to completely remove a long-standing Safari feature, but that occurred with macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26. Perhaps because of the Liquid Glass redesign and the focus on other functionalities, the compact tab bar was absent in the initial releases of macOS and iPadOS 26. Fortunately, it appears that Apple’s attention has been drawn to the concerns from dissatisfied users.
This week’s updates for macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 restore the option for the compact tab bar. Now accessible through the System Settings app on Mac and the Settings on iPad, users can opt to compress the Safari tab bar into a single line that includes the address bar, current tabs, and additional features.
Although some users might favor the ‘Separate Tab Bar’ option, many are pleased to have the compact appearance back for Mac and iPad users. Did you miss the compact tab bar in Safari? Share your thoughts in the comments.