Apple releases Safari 15 for macOS Big Sur and Catalina with Tab Groups, new design, and more

Earlier today, Apple released iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 to the public. We’re still waiting for the other big update, though. macOS 12 Monterey is still waiting in the wings, which will bring with it plenty of new features to the desktop OS. But today, Apple’s dangling a carrot for all of us waiting for that new software.

Today, Apple released Safari 15.0 to the public — for those running macOS 11 Big Sur and macOS Catalina. With this new software update, Apple is bringing the majority of new features to Safari it introduced alongside macOS Monterey (and iOS 15/iPadOS 15), without having to bring macOS Monterey to the fore quite yet.

As far as what’s new, Safari itself has a new design. This should make it easier to get around, to navigate from one website to another. There are new tabs, too. Including brand new Tab Groups, making them easy to access across devices, and organize tabs more easily.

Illustration showing an Apple Safari logo set against a blue gradient background

Here is the official changelog for Safari 15.0:

Safari

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

For detailed information on the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222.

To update to Safari 15.0, simply open System Preferences on your eligible Mac and then choose Software Update and follow the onscreen instructions. Safari 15.0 is a free upgrade to the web browser.