How to Organize Safari Tab Groups in iOS 15

Apple’s iOS 15 introduced a major redesign to the Safari browser, highlighted by the addition of Tab Groups and several dedicated layout tools designed to streamline navigation. These updates replaced the legacy vertical card stack with a modern grid layout, integrated a dedicated Tab Group management menu, and added gestural controls that make sorting, switching, and storing open webpages more efficient.

The Two-Column Tab Grid Layout

iOS 15 replaced the longstanding, cascading 3D card interface with a flat, two-column grid layout.

  • Visual Previews: Tabs appear as distinct thumbnail tiles arranged side by side, making it easier to scan webpage contents without scrolling through an overlapping deck.
  • In-Grid Reordering: Users can press, hold, and drag tab tiles to reposition them anywhere within the current group.
  • Direct Deletion: Each tile features an accessible "X" button in the upper-right corner for quick closure, or users can swipe a tile left to dismiss it.

The Central Tab Group Menu

The primary hub for organizing tab groups is built directly into the bottom toolbar within the tab overview screen.

  • Menu Access: Tapping the center indicator at the bottom of the grid view (which displays "X Tabs" or the name of the active group) opens the Tab Groups menu.
  • Group Creation: Users can select New Empty Tab Group to build a group from scratch or New Tab Group from [X] Tabs to bundle currently open pages instantly.
  • Switching and Renaming: The menu lists all saved groups, allowing one-tap switching, custom naming, and quick deletion via a swipe-left action.
  • Shortcut Access: Long-pressing the overlapping-squares tab button from any active webpage opens a quick-action menu to move the current tab directly into an existing or new group.

The Redesigned Bottom Tab Bar and Swipe Navigation

Safari in iOS 15 moved the default address bar to the bottom of the screen, doubling as an interactive layout control for active tab collections.

  • Horizontal Swiping: Users can swipe left or right along the bottom address bar to switch between adjacent tabs inside the active group without opening the grid view.
  • Quick Overview Access: Swiping up on the bottom address bar opens the tab overview grid directly.

Drag-and-Drop Between Groups

Tabs can be moved fluidly using iOS 15 drag-and-drop mechanics. By opening the tab grid and long-pressing a tab thumbnail, users can drag the tile onto the Tab Group menu button at the bottom of the screen to move that specific page into an alternate group.

Custom Start Pages for Individual Groups

Each Tab Group supports an independent Start Page layout. Within any group, opening a new tab presents a customizable page where users can toggle separate sections—such as Favorites, Reading List, and Siri Suggestions—and assign unique background images to visually distinguish personal, work, or project-based tab sets.