Recent developments have made Safari a strong contender to replace Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge as the iPhone and iPad’s default browser. It now supports extensions, has a modified tab bar, lets you customise the start page, consumes fewer resources, and is incredibly well-integrated to function flawlessly if you maintain your iPhone and Mac in sync. However, some users have been complaining that their Safari tabs have been unexpectedly disappearing. Don’t worry if you’re having the same problem; we have a solution. Here are 7 ways to fix Safari tabs on iPhone and iPad that are vanishing.
7 Ways to Fix the Disappearing Safari Tabs on iPhone or iPad (2022)
1. Show All Safari Windows (iPad only)
For increased productivity and window management on the iPad, you can launch several windows of the same app. This, however, also prevents you from viewing Safari tabs that are open in other windows. This may make you believe that your iPad’s Safari tabs are no longer present.
- To ensure that this isn t the issue in your case, simply press and hold the Safari icon on the home screen, or in the Dock. You will see an option to Show All Windows
- Tap on the option and iPadOS will reveal all open Safari windows for you.
- You can then switch between these windows and see if your disappeared Safari tabs are open in any other window.
2. Merge All Windows to Reveal Hidden Safari Tabs (iPad only)
On your iPad, you can merge all of the open Safari windows into one if you don’t want to have to switch back and forth between them in order to access any Safari tabs that are hidden.
- Touch and hold the Show Tab Overview (that looks like four squares in a quadrant) icon and hit Merge All Windows.
- Now, all of your open tabs will show up in the current window, including the ones that might not be visible in the Tab Overview screen.
3. Access the Recently Closed Safari Tabs (iPhone and iPad)
You’ll be relieved to learn that on the iPad and iPhone, you can figuratively use command + shift + T to reopen closed tabs if you’ve inadvertently closed crucial tabs in Safari. This is how to go about it.
- Just open the tab view in Safari and then long-press the + button. This will open up a list of the recently closed tabs in Safari.
- You can scroll through this list and tap on any tabs you want to re-open.
When you mistakenly close a tab (or a group of tabs) on your browser, this is a terrific way to reopen the closed Safari tabs.
4. Bookmark All Open Safari Tabs (iPhone and iPad)
Even while it’s not really a solution, bookmarking all of your open tabs can make it easier for you to access them later. If you believe that bookmarking many open tabs would be a time-consuming process, let me assure you that newer iOS versions (starting with iOS 13) have made it really simple.
Bookmark All Open Safari Tabs on iPhone
- Ensure that there are a few tabs open in Safari. Now, choose one of the tabs and then long-press the Bookmark icon.
- Next, choose Add Bookmarks for X Tabs in the popup.
- Next up, give a suitable name to your tabs folder and save it to the desired folder.
Bookmark All Open Safari Tabs on iPad
- Long-press the address bar in Safari and choose Add Bookmarks for X Tabs.
- Then, enter a suitable name and save it to a preferred location.
Hit the Bookmarks icon in the sidebar or the main browser interface to access all of your saved favourites and folders whenever you need to access your bookmarks in Safari.
Next, hold down a bookmark folder while selecting Open in New Tabs or Open in Tab Group.
5. Disable Auto-Close Safari Tabs (iPhone and iPad)
You may set Safari tabs to automatically close after one day, one week, and one month on both iOS and iPadOS. Therefore, if the Apple browser is set to automatically dismiss tabs, select to do it manually.
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and then choose Safari.
- Under the Tabs section, tap Close Tabs and then select Manually.
6. Hard Reset Your iPhone or iPad
It would be worthwhile to try this troubleshooter since hard resets, also known as force restarts, are well renowned for fixing frequent iOS problems. No media or data will be deleted, so don’t be concerned.
Hard Reset iPhone 8 or Later and iPad Without Home Button
- Press and quickly release the volume up button. Then, press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Now, hold down the side/top button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
Hard Reset iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
- Press and hold the volume down button and then the side button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Hard Reset iPhone 6s Or Earlier or iPad With Home Button
- Press and hold the home button and side/top button at once until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears on the screen.
After your iPhone has restarted, open a few tabs in Safari and spend some time browsing the web to see if the problem has been resolved.
7. Update Your iPhone or iPad
If Safari tabs continue to vanish on your iPhone, a software flaw may be to blame. Try updating your device to the most recent iOS or iPadOS version. The majority of software updates that Apple provides include a number of bug fixes in order to improve overall performance. Consequently, there is a significant likelihood that the software update will solve the tabs that keep disappearing.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and choose General.
- Now, tap Software Update and then download and install the latest version of iOS/iPadOS as usual.
Disappearing Safari Tabs on iPhone and iPad Fixed!
That very much covers the entire issue of Safari tabs on iPhone and iPad disappearing. More often than not, disappeared tabs are just open in another window, but if it s a nefarious bug that s making things difficult, hopefully you were able to solve your issue. So, which solution was able to fix the missing Safari tabs on your iPhone or iPad? Please tell us in the comments.