The Unwanted Organization
Apple frequently updates Safari with features designed to help users manage dozens of open websites. One such feature is automatic Tab Grouping or intelligent tab organization. Depending on your version of macOS, Safari might attempt to automatically organize your tabs based on the website domain, search topics, or your browsing history, collapsing them into specific groups in the sidebar or changing how they are displayed in the tab bar.
While some users appreciate the AI-driven assistance, many find it highly disruptive. If you have a specific, manual workflow—for example, keeping your email on the far left, your research articles in the middle, and your music player on the far right—Safari’s automated grouping can instantly destroy your carefully curated layout, hiding tabs you need behind menus you didn’t ask for. You should disable automatic grouping to retain manual control.
How to Stop Automatic Tab Grouping
You can turn off automatic tab arrangement in the Safari settings.
- Open Safari on your Mac.
- Click on Safari in the top menu bar (next to the Apple Logo).
- Select Settings… (or Preferences on older macOS versions).
- In the Settings window, click on the Tabs icon at the top.
- Look for a setting related to tab layout or automatic grouping (the exact wording changes based on your macOS version, such as “Automatically group related tabs” or “Compact tab bar layout”).
- Uncheck the box next to the automatic grouping feature, or ensure the layout is set to Separate rather than Compact.
Safari will immediately stop trying to intelligently organize your workspace. Your tabs will behave predictably, staying exactly where you placed them in a standard, horizontal row across the top of your browser window.