Compact Tabs setting missing in macOS Tahoe 26 Safari

As you point out, that feature is gone and only Apple can do restore it. This is a user forum, to communicate your desire to Apple, use this link:

Feedback - Safari - Apple

+1! Compact Tabs were my TOP Safari feature since when introduced – it literally made me convert back from semi-Chrome to Safari full-time. The compactness of the browser frame, fluid tabs combined with a URL/Search omnibar, that was simply stunning.

PLEASE, bring Compact Tabs back. 🙏

We know the code is still there. It works when Safari 26 is installed on Sequoia. 😄

I believe it would even look fantastic now with the more shape-reflecting visual (I used to enable button shapes since Big Sur so that I could bear the flat style), all we need to retain is having the Back/Fwd buttons always shown so that the bar doesn't jump back and forth when navigating. The dismissing Downloads button is…bearable. 👌

Safari's layout (with compact mode) is the best browser UI layout I've found so far for my MacBook Air. I say this as a die-hard Chrome user. The Safari compact mode is good enough to make me switch.

If usage is low it is likely because discoverability is low. I only learned about Safari compact mode because early adopters of Tahoe were complaining about it being gone! I haven't upgraded yet and I would like to switch to using Safari because of how good compact mode is (plus the sidebar for tabs and tab groups which is great).

But I don't want to get attached to a feature that is going to be gone in the next OS upgrade. Please bring Safari compact mode back! (I have left feedback for Apple already).

I have been using Safari mainly because of the compact tabs. The minimalist design of Safari is a killer feature over other browsers. I've switched to Safari and purchased paid extensions. Removing the compact tabs is a breaking change for me. It impacts my trust, from now on I am going to think twice about investing in setup that depends on apple software, since features can be arbitrarily removed...

[Edited by Moderator]

I am a new Macbook user after using Linux and Firefox for 10+ years. I wanted to give apple and all its software a shot and switched to Safari. One of the reasons why I stayed with Safari is because of its unique minimalist UI when the compact mode is enabled. As a person with OCD this was a big relieve. Please bring it back.

+1 on this, upgraded my work MacBook to Tahoe and had to stop using Safari because this is just not it.

Don't want to upgrade my home Mac to Tahoe now because I like running Safari on it, and that would make it annoying. I don't need to see the full URL bar, it's a waste of space. What is this feature reversal about?

And I'm not even going into this arts-and-crafts sidebar thing.

Please, bring compact tabs back!

I used Safari for its minimalist approach. I appreciate how well all the Apple software works together, making my experience seamless and efficient and that was part of the reason I made the full-time jump from Firefox to Safari. Screen space is premium and I don't like having to choose between having the toolbar visible at all times or losing that and having to mouse over the top of the screen to see to make up for the wasted space of having the uncompressed tabs beneath the address bar. Please bring back compact tabs. I would not have upgraded to Tahoe if I'd known that was going to happen. I'll probably be testing out other browsers again. :-/

Thank you for sharing the link, I've shared my feedback. Bring back compact tabs!

The new Safari on mac mini M4 looks pretty bad. The compact bar was a better choice as I could use more screen space. When will apple bring back the compact bar?

Propably as new feature in Safari ~v32

I have shared my feedback :( This is the most used feature in Safari I believe.

Amen to that, it gives me OCD, using safari without compact mode.

Going to fill out the user forum too but just wanted to also add that I am putting off the update because of this feature. Bring back compact tabs!

So disappointing. I want compact tab back!!