Managing Safari Tab Groups in iOS 15

With the release of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple significantly overhauled Safari by introducing Tab Groups alongside enhanced multi-window management capabilities. This update provided users with dedicated tools to categorize browsing sessions, quickly move tabs between separate workspaces, and access persistent collections of links across various multitasking views. Below is a breakdown of the specific tools and features introduced to manage Safari tab groups across multiple windows.

Dedicated Tab Groups and Sidebar Navigation

The centerpiece of the update was the Tab Groups feature itself, accessed via the redesigned Tab Overview grid or the collapsible Safari sidebar. Users could create empty tab groups or bundle currently open tabs into a custom-named folder. On devices supporting split views and multiple instances, selecting a Tab Group in one window instantly opens that specific set of URLs without altering the tabs open in another window.

The iPadOS Multitasking Shelf

To support multi-window workflows, iPadOS 15 introduced the "Shelf"—a system-level interface appearing at the bottom of the display whenever an app is opened. For Safari, the Shelf displays thumbnails of every active window, including windows dedicated to specific Tab Groups. Tapping a thumbnail switches directly to that workspace, while a simple swipe-up gesture closes unwanted windows and their associated sessions.

Drag-and-Drop Between Windows

Apple improved inter-window interactivity by enabling drag-and-drop support for tabs and Tab Groups. Users can hold a tab from one Safari window and drag it across Split View or Slide Over into another window's Tab Group. Entire Tab Groups can also be dragged from the sidebar into a new window to open that group independently, facilitating side-by-side comparisons of different research sessions.

Contextual Tab Moving

iOS 15 added expanded contextual menus across the browser. By long-pressing on a tab thumbnail or the address bar, users can select "Move to Tab Group" and choose either an existing group or create a new one on the fly. This eliminates the need to manually copy and paste URLs across separate windows.

Cross-Device iCloud Synchronization

Any Tab Group created, edited, or closed across different windows automatically syncs across all devices logged into the same Apple ID running iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or macOS Monterey. Changes made in a secondary window on an iPad or iPhone reflect in real time across desktop and mobile sessions, keeping distinct workflows organized regardless of which window or device is active.