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Table of Contents

Use tabs in Safari on iPad

In the Safari app , use tabs to help you navigate between multiple open webpages.

Note: If you’re using the Compact Tab Bar layout, the menus and other items may look different from what’s described in this guide. See Change the layout in Safari on iPad.

Open a link in a new tab

Touch and hold the link, then tap Open in Background. Or, tap the link with two fingers.

To automatically switch to the new tab whenever you open a link in a new tab, go to Settings > Safari, then turn off Open New Tabs in Background.

Browse open tabs

To look through the webpages you have open, tap in the top-right corner, or pinch closed with three fingers. Do any of the following:

Close a tab: Tap in the upper-right corner, or swipe left on the tab.
View a single tab again: Tap a tab, or tap Done, or pinch open with three fingers.

Tip: To see a tab’s history, touch and hold or .

Reopen a recently closed tab

Touch and hold , then choose from the list of recently closed tabs.

View tabs that are open on your other devices

Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all your devices.
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then turn on Safari.
Note: To also see tabs open on your Mac, you must have Safari selected in iCloud preferences on your Mac and be signed in with the same Apple ID.
Tap , then scroll to see the tabs open on your other devices at the bottom of the start page. Or, tap , then scroll through the Tab Groups listed in the sidebar.
To remove a tab from the list, touch and hold the link, then choose Close. This removes the link from your start page without closing the tab on your other device.
Note: To view tabs open on your other devices, you must have iCloud Tabs turned on for your start page. See Customize your start page.

To change which device displays iCloud tabs on your start page, tap From [Device name] and choose from the dropdown menu.

Organize your tabs

Create a Tab Group to keep tabs organized and make them easier to return to later.

The Safari sidebar on the left side of the Safari window. At the top right is the New Tab Group button. In the sidebar, from top to bottom, are the open Tabs, Private, Tab Groups, Shared with You, Bookmarks, Reading List, and History options.

Tap to open the sidebar.
Tap in the top-right corner of the sidebar.
Choose an option, then name your new Tab Group.

Move a tab to another group

Touch and hold the tab you want to move.
Tap Move to Tab Group, then choose one of the Tab Groups you created previously or tap New Tab Group.

Keep tabs and Tab Groups updated across your devices

Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then turn on Safari.

Note: To also see tabs open on your Mac, you must have Safari selected in iCloud preferences on your Mac, be signed in with the same Apple ID, and have two-factor authentication turned on for iCloud. See Set up iCloud on all your devices in the iCloud User Guide and the Apple Support article Two-factor authentication for Apple ID.

Close all your tabs

On any open page, touch and hold , then tap Close All Tabs.

You can also close tabs from the Tab Overview Screen. Touch and hold Done, then tap Close All Tabs.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide