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Use tabs to help you navigate between multiple open webpages.

You can open a link in a new tab, view a tab’s history, close tabs, and open a recently closed tab. You can see which webpages you previously visited in a tab, and close all tabs in a Tab Group at the same time. You can also organize your tabs, and view your Safari tabs from another Apple device. With the Compact Tab Bar layout, some menus look a little different.

Note: If you use the Compact Tab Bar layout, the menus and other items might look different from what’s described in this guide. To change the layout, see our article, Change the layout of Safari.

Open a link in a new tab

  1. Go to the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Touch and hold the link. Tap Open in Background.

View a tab’s history

This tab shows which webpages you’ve previously visited.

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Touch and hold the Back button or the Forward button.

Close tabs

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Tabs button. Then tap the Close button in the upper-right corner of a tab to close it.

Quick tip: To close all the tabs in this Tab Group at once, touch and hold the Done button and then tap Close All [number of] Tabs.

Open a recently closed tab

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Touch and hold the New Tab button. Choose from the list of recently closed tabs.

    In Safari, a webpage is open. At the top right of the screen, the New Tab button is selected, and a list of two recently closed tabs is visible.

See also

Tag: Safari

You can view the tabs that are open on your other Apple devices and keep tabs and Tab Groups updated across them. You must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account on all your devices to manage Safari tabs on those devices.

You can even close a tab on another Apple device. To see tabs open on your Mac, too, Safari needs to be on in iCloud on your Mac, with two-factor authentication.

View tabs that are open on your other Apple devices

  1. Go to the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Show Sidebar button, then tap iCloud Tabs.

    To close a tab on another Apple device, touch and hold the link, then choose Close.

Keep tabs and Tab Groups updated across your devices

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Tap See All and then make sure Safari is turned on.

Note: Seeing tabs open on your Mac, too, requires Safari turned on in iCloud settings on your Mac, the same Apple Account on both, and two-factor authentication.

See also

Tags: iCloud, Safari

You can share a Tab Group and collaborate with people who use iCloud. You can add and remove people at any time, and even start a message conversation, phone call, or FaceTime call without leaving Safari.

Collaborators can add and remove tabs from the Tab Group, and everyone sees updates in real time. You also get activity updates in the Messages conversation when someone makes a change, and you can remove someone with Remove Access.

Everyone you collaborate with must be signed in to their Apple Account, have Safari turned on in iCloud settings, and have two-factor authentication turned on.

Share a Tab Group

  1. Go to the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Show Sidebar button, touch and hold a Tab Group, and then tap Share.
  3. Tap Messages and enter the person or group you want to share it with.

    You get activity updates in the Messages conversation when someone makes changes in the Shared Tab Group.

Add and remove people from a Shared Tab Group

  1. Start the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Collaborate button.
  3. Tap Manage Shared Tab Group and then do any of the following:
    • Remove someone: Tap a name, then tap Remove Access.
    • Add someone: Tap Share With More People and tap Messages to invite them.
    • Stop Sharing with everyone: Tap Stop Sharing.

Start a Messages, audio, or video conversation from Safari

Without leaving Safari, you can start a conversation with everyone that shares the Tab Group over Messages, FaceTime audio, or FaceTime video.

  1. Start the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. In Safari, tap the Collaborate button. Tap message, audio, or video to start the conversation.

See also

Tag: Safari

To keep tabs organized and make them easier to find again later, you can have Safari organize tabs into related topics, or create your own Tab Groups.

With Apple Intelligence, your tabs are organized into suggested topics based on your browsing history. You can also rename a Tab Group, reorder tabs, pin a tab at the front of a group, and move a tab to another Tab Group whenever you like.

In Safari, a Tab Group is selected, with previews of its three open tabs visible.

Use Apple Intelligence to organize tabs into topics

Apple Intelligence can automatically organize your tabs into suggested topics based on your browsing history.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

  1. Go to the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. To set whether Safari automatically organizes tabs, tap the Tabs button, tap the More button, tap Organize Tabs, and choose either of the following:

    • Automatically Create Topics: Safari groups related tabs into topics.
    • Show Related Tabs: Manually group related tabs into topics that Safari recommends.
  3. Tap the Tabs button. Then tap the New Tab button to open new tabs as you browse multiple websites.

    When you have two or more tabs that can be organized together by topic (for example, news), a suggested topic appears in the tab row showing the number of related tabs.

  4. To manage topics in the tab row, do any of the following:

    • Preview tabs in a topic: Tap a topic to see thumbnails of each tab. Tap a thumbnail to open it.
    • Open or close all tabs in a topic: Tap a topic to open all tabs within the topic. Tap the topic again to collapse the tabs back into the topic.
  5. To manage topics on the Tab screen, tap the Tabs button. Do any of the following:

    • Preview tabs in a topic: Tap a topic to see thumbnails of each tab. Tap a thumbnail to open it.
    • Open or close all tabs in a topic: Tap a topic to view all tabs within the topic. Tap the Back button to close the topic.
    • See more options: Tap a topic to view all its tabs and tap the More button. Do any of the following:
      • Copy links: Tap Copy Links.
      • Move tabs to a Tab Group: Tap Move Tabs, then select a Tab Group to move them to.
      • Close all tabs in this topic: Tap Close Tabs.
      • Provide feedback on the suggested topic: Tap Looks Good or Something Isn’t Right.

To turn this feature off, tap the More button, tap Organize Tabs, then choose Never.

Create a new Tab Group

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Show Sidebar button to open the sidebar and tap the New Tab Group button in the top-right corner of the sidebar.
  3. Tap New Empty Tab Group and enter a name. Tap Save.

Rename a Tab Group

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Show Sidebar button to open the sidebar. Touch and hold any Tab Group.
  3. Tap Rename.

Reorder tabs

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Show Sidebar button to open the sidebar and touch and hold any tab in the Tab Group.
  3. In the menu that appears, tap Arrange Tabs By and then choose an option.

    Or touch and hold the tab, then drag it where you want it.

Pin a tab at the front of a Tab Group

You can customize each of your Tab Groups with its own pinned tabs, and a pinned tab stays on the left side of the tab bar.

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Touch and hold the tab you want to pin.
  3. In the menu that appears, tap Pin Tab.

    To unpin the tab, touch and hold it, then tap Unpin Tab.

Move a tab to another Tab Group

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Touch and hold the tab in the tab bar and tap Move to Tab Group.
  3. Choose one of the Tab Groups you created previously, or tap New Tab Group to create a new one.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tag: Safari

When you enter a password for a website, you’re asked if you want the password saved and entered automatically in the future. You can see all the websites for which you’ve chosen to never save the password.

You can also remove a website from the list, or remove them all. The next time you enter your password for that website, you’ll be asked again whether to save it. And you can automatically fill in strong passwords on iPad, too.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and tap Passwords.
  3. Below Save Passwords, tap Show excluded websites.

    The list includes all websites for which you’ve opted not to save your password.

    Tip: You can remove a website from the list. Swipe left on the website, or tap Remove All. The next time you enter your password for the website, you’ll be asked if you want the password saved and automatically entered in the future.

See also

When you create and store your own passwords for websites and apps, iPad automatically identifies common weaknesses (for example, if they’re easily guessed or used multiple times). iPad can also securely monitor your passwords and alert you if any of them appear in known data leaks.

For an account with a weak or compromised password, you’ll see a message that explains the problem. You can hide a security recommendation, too. And if a website allows it, you can switch to a passkey instead.

Change a weak or compromised password

  1. Go to the Passwords app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Security.

    If an account has a weak or compromised password, a message explains the problem.

  3. Tap an account.
  4. Tap the Password field. Tap Copy Password, so you can paste it where it’s requested—for example, when you create a new password and you’re asked to enter your old password.
  5. Tap Change Password. Change your password on the website or in the app.

    If the website or app allows you to use a passkey or to upgrade to Sign in with Apple, you can take advantage of the security and convenience of those features. If you aren’t given the upgrade option when you change your password, many accounts allow iPad to automatically create a strong password that you don’t have to remember.

Note: You can remove the account for a website or app that’s no longer available from your iPad and iCloud Keychain when iPad warns you about its password. Go to the Passwords app on your iPad, tap All, and swipe left on the account.

Hide a security recommendation

If you’re unable to address a security recommendation, hide it so that you don’t have to continue reviewing it.

  1. Open the Passwords app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Security.
  3. Tap an account, then tap Hide.

To show a security recommendation you’ve hidden, tap Security, tap the Show Hidden Recommendations button at the top of the screen, tap the account, then tap Unhide.

Turn detection of compromised passwords on or off

iPad can monitor your passwords and alert you if they appear in known data leaks.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and tap Passwords.
  3. Turn Detect Compromised Passwords on or off.

See also

Signing up for services on websites and in apps? iPad can create strong passwords for many of your accounts, and supported websites and apps show you a unique, complex password suggestion.

iPad stores the passwords in the Passwords app or your chosen password manager, and fills them in for you automatically, so you don’t have to memorize them. You can turn Password AutoFill on or off, too.

Note: If you use a third-party password manager, you can accept the strong passwords suggested by the password manager or enter your own. Your passwords are saved in the password manager.

Participating websites and apps also support these alternatives to signing in with passwords:

Create a strong password for a new account

Depending on the website or app, creating a strong password and saving it to the Passwords app usually consists of steps similar to these.

  1. On the new account screen for the website or app, enter a new account name.

    For supported websites and apps, iPad suggests a unique, complex password.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Choose the suggested password: Tap Use Strong Password.
    • Edit the suggested password: Tap Other Options, tap Edit Strong Password, tap the password text field, and make your changes.
    • Get a different strong password: Tap Other Options and tap Edit Strong Password. Tap the suggested password.
    • Get a strong password consisting of only numbers and letters: Tap Other Options and tap No Special Characters.
    • Get a strong password that’s easy to type: Tap Other Options and tap Easy to Type.
    • Make up your own password: Tap Other Options and then tap Choose My Own Password.
  3. To copy the password so you can paste it into a Confirm Password field if asked, tap Other Options. Tap Copy Strong Password.
  4. To securely add and keep notes about recovery key information, security questions, PIN numbers, and similar details, enter them in the Notes field.

    To view the notes later, go to the Passwords app on your iPad, tap All, then tap the account.

  5. To later allow iPad to automatically fill in the password for you, tap Yes when you’re asked if you want to save the password.

Automatically fill in a saved password

Depending on the website or app, signing in with your saved password usually consists of steps similar to these.

  1. On the sign-in screen for the website or app, tap the account name field.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Tap the account suggested at the bottom of the screen or near the top of the keyboard.
    • Tap the Password AutoFill button, tap Other Passwords, then tap an account.

    The password is filled in. To see the password, tap the Show Password Text button.

To enter an account or password that isn’t saved, tap the Keyboard button on the sign-in screen.

Turn Password AutoFill on or off

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General and tap AutoFill & Passwords.
  3. Turn AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys on or off.

You can automatically fill passwords from up to three passwords apps.

See also

You can choose the tab bar layout that works best for you in the Safari app. You can pick either Separate Tab Bar or Compact Tab Bar, and moving between layouts as much as you want won’t close the tabs you have open.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
  3. Scroll down to Tabs and then select either Separate Tab Bar or Compact Tab Bar.

    You can move between layouts as much as you want without losing the tabs you have open.

    Note: If you’re using the Compact Tab Bar layout, the menus and layout may look different from what’s described in this guide.

See also

Tag: Safari

You can customize your start page, change the text size on websites, and change display and privacy settings. Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple Account on multiple devices, and your open tabs, bookmarks, browsing history, and Reading List stay up to date across them.

Every new tab begins on your start page, which you can customize with new background images and options.

Here’s how to customize your Safari settings on iPad.

Customize your start page

When you open a new tab, you start on your start page. To customize it, add new background images and options.

  1. Go to the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. To open a new tab, tap the New Tab button at the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and then tap Edit.
  4. Choose options for your start page.
    • Use Start Page on All Devices: Use these settings on all your Apple devices where you have Use Start Page on All Devices turned on and you’re signed in to the same Apple Account using two-factor authentication.
    • Tab Group Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites in the current Tab Group. See Create a new Tab Group.
    • Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites. See Add a website to Favorites.
    • Suggestions: See websites you visit most, websites shared in other apps (such as Calendar and Maps), and links shared with you in Messages, Mail, and more. See Find links shared with you.
    • Privacy Report: Stay updated on how many trackers and websites Safari blocked from tracking you. See View the Privacy Report.
    • Reading List: Show webpages currently in your Reading List. See Add the current webpage to your Reading List.
    • Recently Closed Tabs: Go back to tabs you previously closed.
    • iCloud Tabs: Show open tabs from other Apple devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account and Safari is turned on in iCloud settings or preferences. See Organize your tabs with Tab Groups.
    • Background Image: Choose the image you want to appear in the background each time you open a new start page. To use a photo as your background, tap Select Image from Library.

Customize the Page menu

You can add your favorite Page and Tab Actions to the Page menu.

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Page Menu button on the left side of the search field. Then tap Customize Menu.
  3. Tap the Insert button to add Page or Tab Actions to the Page menu.

    Tap the Remove button to remove an action.

  4. Tap the Done button. Tap the Done button again.

Make the content larger or smaller for a website

Use the Page Menu button to zoom in or out on a webpage.

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Page Menu button on the left side of the search field and tap Page Zoom.
  3. Tap Zoom In or Zoom Out. Tap Actual Size to return to the default size.

Change the display controls for a website

You can hide the search field, switch to Reader, and more.

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Page Menu button and then do any of the following:

    • Hide the search field: Tap Hide Toolbar (tap the top of the window to get it back).
    • See a streamlined view of the webpage: Tap Show Reader (if available).

      To return to the normal view, tap the Page Menu button, then tap Hide Reader.

    • See what the webpage looks like on a desktop computer: Tap Request Desktop Website (if available).
    • See a summary of the webpage (with Apple Intelligence): Tap Summarize. See Summarize a webpage.

      Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

You can also adjust Safari settings in Accessibility settings. Go to the Settings app, tap Accessibility, then tap Per-App Settings. Tap Safari to adjust settings. If Safari isn’t listed, tap Add App, then tap Safari to add it.

Choose where to save downloads

When you download a file in Safari, you can choose whether to save it to iCloud or on your iPad.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
  3. Tap Downloads and then choose one of the following:
    • iCloud Drive: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive. This allows you to access the downloaded file on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.
    • On My iPad: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder on your iPad.
    • Other: Select this option to save downloads in a location other than a Downloads folder.

Share website passwords with a group

Create a group of trusted contacts to share a set of passwords with. Everyone in the group gets up-to-date passwords, and you’re able to remove someone at any time.

For how that works, see our article, Share passwords or passkeys with people you trust.

Adjust privacy settings

You can choose what privacy settings you want across Safari, and create individual exceptions for websites. See Browse privately.

Use keyboard shortcuts

If you have an Apple external keyboard connected to your iPad, you can navigate in Safari with keyboard shortcuts.

To view available keyboard shortcuts, connect your keyboard, then touch and hold the Command key.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tag: Safari

The Podcasts app plays both video and audio podcasts. You can change the playback speed, see what’s playing next, watch or listen to an episode when you’re offline, and set a sleep timer to stop playback later.

You can also navigate episodes by chapter, discover content mentioned in an episode, and access links shared by podcast creators. Video episodes open directly in the Now Playing screen, where you’ll find full-screen video controls.

Play a podcast

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPad.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Find a podcast: Search or browse for an episode.
    • Choose a recently played podcast: Tap Home, then scroll to the Recently Played section.
  3. Tap the Play button below the episode title.

    Video episodes open directly in the Now Playing screen, unless you’ve turned video off in the player. For audio episodes, the episode appears in the MiniPlayer, where you can do any of the following:

    • Pause playback: Tap the Pause button.
    • Change the playback speed: Tap the Playback Speed button (or the current playback speed). Then select a speed.
    • Hear voices more clearly: Tap the Playback Speed button (or the current playback speed), then tap Enhance Dialogue.
    • Skip back or forward: Tap the Skip Back button to jump back 15 seconds or the Skip Forward button to jump ahead 30 seconds.
    • Jump to a chapter: When chapters are available, tap the Playing Next button and tap the Down arrow next to the name of the current chapter. Then choose the chapter you want to play. You can also drag the slider above the playback controls to navigate between chapters, or open the transcript and tap the chapter.
    • Show or hide the episode transcript: If the View Transcript button or the Hide Transcript button appears, tap the button.
    • Show or hide the queue: Tap the Playing Next button.
    • Set a sleep timer: Tap the Sleep Timer button and then choose an option.

Open the Now Playing screen

The Now Playing screen in the Podcasts app, showing the podcast artwork, the episode title, the playback controls, and the volume slider. At the right of the screen is a list of chapters. At the bottom of the screen is the AirPlay icon, the View Transcript button, and the Playing Next button.

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPad.
  2. Play a podcast.
  3. If you’re playing an audio podcast, tap the MiniPlayer at the bottom of the screen to open the Now Playing screen, where additional controls are available.
  4. Do any of the following:
    • Jump to a specific time: Drag the slider below the episode information.
    • Adjust the volume: Touch and hold the volume bar and then slide your finger left or right.
    • Jump to a chapter: When chapters are available, tap the Playing Next button and tap the Down arrow next to the name of the current chapter. Then choose the chapter you want to play.
    • Explore other media mentioned in an episode: When a podcast mentions content that’s available in apps such as Music, Apple TV, Books, News, or Podcasts, tap the mentioned item in the player or transcript to view details or access the content.
    • Play the video or audio on another device: Tap the AirPlay button.
    • Show or hide the episode transcript: If the View Transcript button or the Hide Transcript button appears, tap the button.
    • Show or hide the queue: Tap the Playing Next button.
    • Access more options: Tap the More button.

Use controls in full-screen video mode

For an immersive viewing experience, expand a video podcast to fill the entire screen while you watch.

A video podcast in the Podcasts app expanded to full-screen video mode. At the top of the screen are display options and the volume control. The Skip Back, Pause, and Skip Forward buttons appear in the center of the screen. Episode details, the progress bar, and controls for playback speed, enhanced dialogue, and subtitles appear at the bottom of the screen.

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPad.
  2. Play a video podcast.
  3. Tap the video thumbnail to expand the video to full screen.
  4. Do any of the following:
    • Change the playback speed: Touch and hold the Playback Speed button and then slide your finger up or down to choose a speed.
    • Hear voices more clearly: Touch and hold the Playback Speed button and tap Enhance Dialogue. Then choose Enhance More or Enhance.
    • Choose options for subtitles: If you see the Captions button, tap it and choose an option.
    • Play the audio on another device: Tap the AirPlay button.
    • Highlight or copy text that appears in the video: Tap the More button, then tap Show Text. Optionally, tap Copy All to copy the text to the Clipboard.
    • Switch to picture-in-picture view: Tap the Picture-in-Picture Start button.
    • Exit full-screen video mode: Tap the Close button.

Access episode links

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPad.
  2. Search or browse for an episode.
  3. On the episode page, tap a highlighted link to open the content.

Choose what to play next

Episodes you add to your queue are there to watch or listen to later.

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPad.
  2. Search or browse to find an episode.
  3. Tap the More button near an episode and then choose Play Next or Add to Queue.
  4. Tap the Playing Next button.

    If you don’t see the Playing Next button, tap the MiniPlayer at the bottom of the screen to open the Now Playing screen.

  5. In the Queue section, do any of the following:

    • Play an episode: Tap the episode. The next episode in the queue plays immediately after the previous episode finishes.
    • Reorder episodes: Drag the Reorder button to move an episode up or down in the list.
    • Remove an episode from the queue: Swipe left on the episode, then tap Remove.
    • Remove all episodes from the queue: Tap Clear.

If you watch or listen to multiple episodes of a show in a row, additional episodes appear in the Continue Playing section of the Now Playing screen. These episodes play after the ones you added to the Queue section, so you can easily pick up where you left off in a show. You can also tap an episode in Continue Playing to start watching or listening right away.

See also