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Safari 15 with new tab design now available for macOS Big Sur and Catalina users

While macOS Monterey will not be released until later this year, Apple has decided to make Safari 15 available to all Mac users running macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina. The update brings the controversial new tab design, which was criticized by multiple users during the beta period.

Safari 15 introduces a new browsing experience that unifies the address bar with the tab bar. To achieve this, multiple buttons have been hidden from the main interface and tab management has changed significantly, which has upset many users since the first beta release of macOS Monterey was announced in June.

After several complaints, Apple has brought back the old Safari interface, which is now available as an optional layout for users who didn’t like the new unified design. In addition to the new design, Safari 15 also comes with tab groups, synchronized home page settings, and security updates related to the HTTPS protocol.

You can check the full release notes 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 vour web page on screen
• HTTPS upgrade automatically switches sites from HTTP to more secure HTTPS when
available

It’s worth noting that some Safari 15 features like built-in translator still require macOS Monterey, so you won’t be able to use them with macOS Big Sur or macOS Catalina.

Users can update to Safari 15 by going to the Software Update menu in the System Preferences app. So far, Apple has not given a word on when macOS Monterey will be available to the public.

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Avatar for Filipe Espósito Filipe Espósito

Filipe Espósito is a Brazilian tech Journalist who started covering Apple news on iHelp BR with some exclusive scoops — including the reveal of the new Apple Watch Series 5 models in titanium and ceramic. He joined 9to5Mac to share even more tech news around the world.

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