
Safari’s address bar is a very important part of the user interface. It’s where you type in websites and search terms, so it needs to be customizable. This article will show you how to customize your Safari address bar on iOS 15.
The redesigned address bar in Safari has been a subject of debate since the beta version of iOS 15. Over the course of many months, Apple has worked hard to appease the bulk of opposing views on the modifications to Safari while ensuring that a new look for the application is released in a stable state. So, what features do you have access to? What customization options do you have in Safari for the address bar? Let’s have a look at it.
Remember that to utilize the following Safari modifications, you’ll need iOS 15.0 or later.
To upgrade an eligible device, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
7 Ways to Customize Safari’s Address Bar
In iOS 15, here’s how to modify Safari’s address bar and more.
1. Move it to the top or bottom of the stack.
You may relocate the Safari address bar to the top of your screen. If you do this, you’ll lose the tab bar view and the ability to move between open tabs. When you’re on a site, touch the ‘Aa’ sign and then choose ‘Show Top Address Bar.’
2. Turn on tinting
You may also enable website tinting in Safari. This will dim the lights depending on the automatic brightness of your website, making it easier to see your screen in low-light conditions. Go to Settings > Safari > Allow Website Tinting to enable website tinting. Turn on the toggle to enable tinting in Safari.
3. Change the way new links are opened.
Do you want new links to open in a new tab as soon as possible? Do you want them to appear in the background or in the front when they open? You may change how Safari behaves when opening new tabs by using the Settings app. Go to Safari > Settings > Safari > Open Links. Now, from the list below, choose the one that best suits your workflow.
- In a New Tab: The link will open in a new tab right away.
- In the background: The link will open in the background while you continue to browse the current website.
4. Set your tabs to shut automatically.
You may make your tabs shut automatically when you leave Safari. This option may be able to help you free up some RAM and improve speed somewhat if you have an older device.
This is particularly recommended for iPhone 6S or SE first-generation users, however for optimal performance, you should dismiss any unnecessary tabs manually after leaving Safari. Choose one of the appropriate options under Settings > Safari > Close Tabs.
- Manually
- One Day Later
- One Week Later
- One month later
5. Put a background picture to the page.
You can now add a custom background picture to your Safari UI for a more customized browsing experience. A high contrast backdrop may assist you visually identify items on your computer if you have trouble doing so. Follow the steps below to create a custom background picture in Safari. Touch ‘Edit’ at the bottom of Safari’s screen.
Enable the ‘Background Image’ toggle.
You’ll now be presented with a selection of pre-installed backdrops. Select the picture you want to use as your background image by tapping it and selecting it.
Tap ‘+’ if you want to use a custom picture as your backdrop.
Now, from your library, touch and choose the picture you want to use as a backdrop image.
After you’ve chosen your background picture, you may go back to browsing normally in Safari.
6. Choose which recommendations appear in your browser’s address bar.
Depending on your preferences, you may also modify and turn off recommendations in your address bar. Go to Options > Safari and switch off the toggles for the following settings to prevent recommendations from showing in your address bar. You may switch it on to receive customized recommendations in your address bar if it’s turned off.
- Suggestions from Search Engines
- Ideas for Safari
- Website Search in a Flash
7. In iOS 15, you may improve your privacy in Safari (link to the same post)
Safari also has a few privacy-related tools to assist you in maintaining your privacy. A Private Relay is a new feature in iOS 15 that may be used to hide your IP address. We suggest reading our full guide if you want to enhance your Safari private browsing experience. On your iOS 15 device, you may disable tracking, change your personalization preferences, and utilize Private Relay for complete surfing privacy.
FAQs
Some of the most commonly asked questions regarding setting Safari in iOS 15 are included below. Some of your questions should be answered right away with these.
Is it true that if I change the address bar, I’ll lose features?
You won’t be able to move between open tabs if you place the address bar at the top of your screen. Tab groups and the option to copy all open URLs on your device at once will remain available.
Do website recommendations jeopardize your privacy?
Website and search engine recommendations in your address bar compromise your privacy to some extent by sharing and storing customized data based on your past searches and website visits. This helps you get more accurate predictions about your browsing experience, but it also has the disadvantage of sharing and keeping your personal information.
Will using a background picture in Safari on iOS 15 slow it down?
This is a valid question that only applies to older devices like the iPhone 7 and before. Setting a custom background picture uses more RAM, which isn’t an issue on newer iOS devices but is on older devices with low RAM, such as those with 2GB or less. We suggest forcing Safari to shut anytime you are not using it on such devices, particularly if you are using a custom background picture. Safari may also be configured to discard tabs immediately when you leave the program, which should help older devices conserve RAM.
In Safari, I’m unable to see Shared tabs: Give this a go!
If you’re experiencing difficulty seeing Shared tabs in Safari, check out our comprehensive tutorial. Many users have been having the same problem after upgrading to the stable version of iOS 15, and the solutions in the tutorial above should help you cure the problem on your device as well.
We hope you were able to change Safari’s address bar with the help of this article. Please let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you customize Safari on iPhone?
To customize Safari for iPhone, you can open up the settings app and go to Safari. From there, you can change the settings by clicking on Safari in the left hand side of the screen.
How do you change the background on Safari iOS 15?
You can change the background on Safari by going to Settings -> Safari -> Background.
How do I move my address bar in Safari?
You can move your address bar in Safari by holding down the Control key and dragging it to the left or right.