Safari in iOS 26: What’s New From Design to Privacy

by Emily Clarke June 30, 2025

Safari gets a significant update in iOS 26, with a fresh design, better tab management, new web features, and stronger privacy tools. Here’s everything new coming to Safari when iOS 26 launches this fall.

Liquid Glass Design

Safari now features Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic—translucent buttons, rounded corners, and a sleeker, more compact tab bar. Scrolling down collapses the bar to maximize web content space, while scrolling back up reveals it again.

Updated Layout Options

There’s a new Compact layout that hides tab tools behind a three-dot menu, ideal for a minimalist look. You can still switch back to the Top or Bottom tab bar styles from earlier iOS versions—now redesigned with Liquid Glass.

Tab management has been refined too:

A slider shows how many tabs are open in each tab group
Swipe to switch tab groups
Dropdown menu to switch profiles
Tools and settings tucked behind the three-dot icon

Web Apps Always Open as Apps

Now, any website you add to your Home Screen opens as a standalone web app, even if the developer hasn’t configured it. You can toggle this off if you prefer opening links in Safari.

Smarter Tracking Prevention

Safari’s advanced fingerprinting protection now applies to all browsing, not just private mode. It blocks scripts from collecting device data, reading URL parameters, or setting persistent cookies.

HDR and SVG Support

Safari now supports:

HDR images for vibrant, high-contrast visuals on XDR displays
SVG icons, which scale better than PNGs and improve visual clarity in tabs and menus

WebGPU for Faster Web Graphics

Safari now supports WebGPU, which boosts performance for web-based games, photo editors, and 3D apps—especially on iPhone 15 Pro or later. Expect better graphics and lower battery use.

Digital Credentials API: Verify with Wallet

Websites can now use Verify with Wallet, powered by the Digital Credentials API, to request age or ID info from your Apple Wallet—securely authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID. Supported by partners like Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank.

New Website Issue Reporting

Having trouble with a page? There’s now a “Report a Website Issue” option in Safari’s Page menu to send feedback directly to Apple.

When Will You Get It?

Developer beta: Available now
Public beta: Coming in July
Final release: Launching with new iPhones in September 2025