How to Use Shared Tab Groups in iOS 16 Safari

Shared Tab Groups in iOS 16 allow multiple users to collaborate on a curated set of web pages directly within Safari. This feature enables friends, family members, or coworkers to view, add, and remove tabs simultaneously, with updates syncing across all participants' devices in real time. This guide breaks down how Shared Tab Groups function, how to set them up, and how collaboration works during an active session.

What Are Shared Tab Groups?

A Tab Group is a collection of open Safari tabs saved under a specific name for organization. With iOS 16, Apple expanded this capability by letting users share these groups through Messages. When you share a Tab Group, everyone invited can see the open web pages, navigate between them, and add new pages to the collection.

How Collaboration Works in Real Time

Shared Tab Groups synchronize instantly via iCloud:

  • Live Updates: When one participant opens a new tab or closes an existing one, the change is instantly reflected on everyone else's screen.
  • Participant Avatars: Each tab displays the profile avatar of the participant currently viewing that specific page, making it easy to see where others are browsing.
  • Pinned Tabs: Participants can pin important links inside the group so they remain at the top of the tab overview for quick access.
  • Built-in Communication: Tapping the collaboration icon at the top of Safari reveals options to send a Message, start a FaceTime audio call, or begin a FaceTime video call with the group members.

How to Create and Share a Tab Group

To set up a Shared Tab Group on an iPhone running iOS 16:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Tap the Tabs icon (two overlapping squares) in the bottom-right corner.
  3. Tap the center button showing the current tab count or page group to open the Tab Groups menu.
  4. Select New Empty Tab Group or New Tab Group from [X] Tabs, enter a name, and tap Save.
  5. Tap the Share icon (a square with an upward arrow) next to the new Tab Group name.
  6. Choose Messages, select the contacts you want to invite, and send the invitation.

Once the recipients accept the invitation through Messages, the Tab Group automatically appears in their Safari app.

Requirements and Managing Access

To access and collaborate on a Shared Tab Group, all participants must have an Apple device running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, or later, with Safari enabled in their iCloud settings.

The creator of the Tab Group can manage access at any time by tapping the collaboration icon in Safari. From this menu, the owner can invite additional participants, remove existing members, or stop sharing entirely to revert the collection back into a private Tab Group.