How Safari Shared with You Organizes Links in iOS 15

With the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced the "Shared with You" feature, seamlessly integrating Safari with the Messages app to help users effortlessly keep track of shared web content. This article explains how Safari organizes links sent to you through Messages, detailing where they appear, how sender information is displayed, and how you can interact with or manage these links directly from your mobile browser.

Placement on the Safari Start Page

Shared links automatically populate in a dedicated "Shared with You" section located directly on the Safari Start Page. When you open a new tab or launch Safari, scrolling past your Favorites and Reading List brings you to this section. If it does not appear, it can be enabled by tapping the "Edit" button at the bottom of the Start Page and toggling on the "Shared with You" switch.

Visual Organization and Sender Attribution

Safari organizes these links into a scrollable horizontal or grid-based feed of rich preview cards. Instead of displaying plain URLs, the browser formats them to provide immediate context:

  • Rich Previews: Each item includes a preview image, page title, and the base domain of the website.
  • Sender Badges: Beneath each link preview, Safari displays the contact name and profile photo (or initials) of the person who sent the link in Messages.
  • Chronological Flow: Links are typically arranged chronologically based on when they were received, ensuring the most recent recommendations appear first.

Direct Integration with Messages

Organization extends beyond passive viewing. Tapping the sender's name badge underneath any link opens an inline Messages overlay. This allows you to view the original conversation thread, read the context in which the link was sent, and send a reply without leaving Safari. Once finished, dismissing the overlay returns you directly to your web page.

If a sender or recipient "pins" a link inside the Messages conversation (by long-pressing the link in Messages and selecting "Pin"), Safari prioritizes that item. Pinned links are given prominent placement in the Shared with You section, making important recommendations easier to find among casual link shares.

Safari allows you to declutter the Shared with You section without deleting the corresponding text messages. Long-pressing any link card reveals a contextual menu with several organizational options:

  • Open in Background / Open in New Tab Group: Allows you to read the content immediately without altering the Start Page.
  • Remove Link: Removes the specific preview card from Safari while preserving the message in your chat history.
  • Hide: Hides content from specific senders if you do not want their shared items to appear in your browser.