Apple Releases Safari 15 Update for macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina With New Safari Design, Tab Groups, and More

Apple today released Safari 15 for macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina devices, with Apple introducing support for features that are going to be coming in the macOS Monterey update set to be released later this year.

safari macos icon banner
Safari 15 introduces a new look for Safari with rounded, more defined tabs and support for transparency, a compact tab bar option that can be toggled on or off, and Tab Groups. Apple's notes for the update are below:

Safari 15 delivers faster performance, improved security, and the following new features:
- Tab Groups help you save and organize your tabs and easily access them across devices
- Redesigned tabs have a rounder and more defined appearance and take on the color of the webpage
- Compact tab bar option shows more of your web page on screen
- HTTPS upgrade automatically switches sites from HTTP to more secure HTTPS when available

safari 15 mac whats new
Safari 15 can be downloaded by opening up the System Preferences interface and selecting the Software Update option. There is no word yet on when macOS Monterey will be released, but it could come in October alongside new Macs as Apple is expected to hold a Mac-centric event this fall to debut new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.

Tag: Safari
Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

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Top Rated Comments

edjusted Avatar
50 months ago

My one complaint is...doesn't *dark gray* usually mean something like "inactive"? I'm having trouble figuring out which tab I'm in when I only have 2 or 3 open because I keep thinking the *lighter* colored tab is the active one, not the *darker* one.
Ok, just figured out why I'm so discombobulated.



Attachment Image

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Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nmeed Avatar
50 months ago
This is a disaster on my 2015 MacBook Pro. Anyone know how I can revert to an earlier version?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bob-K Avatar
50 months ago

Ok, just figured out why I'm so discombobulated.


Yes, this change is absurd, IMO. Whoever decided on it should be fired immediately and banned from anything to do with computers or design.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lobwedgephil Avatar
50 months ago

Guys if you don't like Safari don't use it. Apple is too controlling. Things are beautiful on the other side, using FireFox ('http://www.firefox.com') and Brave ('http://www.brave.com') (Chrome without Google surveillance code) both of which are open source which is so much better for you on the privacy side and they let you do much more than Safari with extensions. Most problems I have with websites are Safari and its webkit engine anyway.

If you are looking for webkit engine and something that gives the same cool and quite performance of Safari, there is a new browser in beta called Orion ('https://browser.kagi.com') , its webkit based, get updates for older MacOS versions unlike Safari, and allows use of Firefox and Chrome extensions! Signup and you will receive an invitation link in some days.



Why what happened?



FOSS FTW!





I have been bitten before.

There are options in the browsers under bookmarks where you can book mark ALL opened tabs in each Window. You can save a copy. There is also an export option under File to user with other browsers too.
I like Safari, I hate this update.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iBluetooth Avatar
50 months ago
Have been using Safari for a while and it has replaced Chrome in daily browsing. Sometimes, also when developing, as I find errors faster, as Chrome is more error forgiving which tends to bite you in the end.
Safari is generally faster and no noice from the fans.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuchal Avatar
50 months ago

Ugh, maybe I'll get used to it but right now I'm finding this "chameleon" toolbar very awful to look at -- it's different on every site I visit and calls so much attention to itself. If you switch tabs a lot, it's very distracting. Maybe someone will write a plugin that stabilizes its appearance. Not a fan!
You could always... turn it off
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)