Apple Releases Safari 15 Update for macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina With New Safari Design, Tab Groups, and More

Apple today released Safari 15 for macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina devices, with Apple introducing support for features that are going to be coming in the macOS Monterey update set to be released later this year.

safari macos icon banner
Safari 15 introduces a new look for Safari with rounded, more defined tabs and support for transparency, a compact tab bar option that can be toggled on or off, and Tab Groups. Apple's notes for the update are 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 your web page on screen
- HTTPS upgrade automatically switches sites from HTTP to more secure HTTPS when available

safari 15 mac whats new
Safari 15 can be downloaded by opening up the System Preferences interface and selecting the Software Update option. There is no word yet on when macOS Monterey will be released, but it could come in October alongside new Macs as Apple is expected to hold a Mac-centric event this fall to debut new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.

Tag: Safari
Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Two of Apple's Oldest Products Are Finally Getting Updated This Year

Friday February 14, 2025 6:03 am PST by
Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, followed by the AirTag in May 2021, and both still remain first-generation products. Fortunately, rumors suggest that both the HomePod mini and the AirTag will finally be updated at some point this year. Below, we recap rumors about the HomePod mini 2 and AirTag 2. HomePod mini 2 In January 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is ...
macbook air blue

Gurman: M4 MacBook Air Models to Launch by March 'At the Latest'

Monday February 17, 2025 2:30 am PST by
Apple will begin selling new MacBook Air models featuring its latest M4 chip by March "at the latest," mirroring the time frame of the M3 MacBook Air launch last year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple last updated the MacBook Air line in March 2024. Gurman's comments appeared in his latest Power On newsletter, suggesting the reporter is no further forward on learning the exact...
iPhone 17 Air Front Page Tech 2

'iPhone 17 Air' With Ultra-Thin Design Allegedly Revealed in New Video

Monday February 17, 2025 6:53 pm PST by
YouTube channel Front Page Tech today revealed the alleged design of Apple's widely-rumored "iPhone 17 Air" model, set to launch later this year. "iPhone 17 Air" render created by @zellzoi for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech shared renders depicting what it believes is likely the final design of the "iPhone 17 Air." The device is expected to feature an ultra-thin...

Top Rated Comments

edjusted Avatar
45 months ago

My one complaint is...doesn't *dark gray* usually mean something like "inactive"? I'm having trouble figuring out which tab I'm in when I only have 2 or 3 open because I keep thinking the *lighter* colored tab is the active one, not the *darker* one.
Ok, just figured out why I'm so discombobulated.



Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nmeed Avatar
45 months ago
This is a disaster on my 2015 MacBook Pro. Anyone know how I can revert to an earlier version?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bob-K Avatar
45 months ago

Ok, just figured out why I'm so discombobulated.


Yes, this change is absurd, IMO. Whoever decided on it should be fired immediately and banned from anything to do with computers or design.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lobwedgephil Avatar
45 months ago

Guys if you don't like Safari don't use it. Apple is too controlling. Things are beautiful on the other side, using FireFox ('http://www.firefox.com') and Brave ('http://www.brave.com') (Chrome without Google surveillance code) both of which are open source which is so much better for you on the privacy side and they let you do much more than Safari with extensions. Most problems I have with websites are Safari and its webkit engine anyway.

If you are looking for webkit engine and something that gives the same cool and quite performance of Safari, there is a new browser in beta called Orion ('https://browser.kagi.com') , its webkit based, get updates for older MacOS versions unlike Safari, and allows use of Firefox and Chrome extensions! Signup and you will receive an invitation link in some days.



Why what happened?



FOSS FTW!





I have been bitten before.

There are options in the browsers under bookmarks where you can book mark ALL opened tabs in each Window. You can save a copy. There is also an export option under File to user with other browsers too.
I like Safari, I hate this update.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iBluetooth Avatar
45 months ago
Have been using Safari for a while and it has replaced Chrome in daily browsing. Sometimes, also when developing, as I find errors faster, as Chrome is more error forgiving which tends to bite you in the end.
Safari is generally faster and no noice from the fans.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuchal Avatar
45 months ago

Ugh, maybe I'll get used to it but right now I'm finding this "chameleon" toolbar very awful to look at -- it's different on every site I visit and calls so much attention to itself. If you switch tabs a lot, it's very distracting. Maybe someone will write a plugin that stabilizes its appearance. Not a fan!
You could always... turn it off
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)