iOS: You Don’t Need the Settings App to Restore Safari’s Top Address Bar

iOS 15 safari

When Apple moved Safari’s address bar to the bottom of the screen, it caused quite a stir. Complaints about the change filled the internet, so Apple made it possible to choose your preferred location for the address bar. Here’s how you can restore Safari’s top address bar, without even launching Settings.

Safari’s Somewhat Hidden Preferences Icon

When you look at the address bar in Safari, you’ll notice an icon with a capital ‘A’ and a lower-case ‘a’ to the left. That icon, mainly used for zooming in and out of a page, also allows you to quickly get to some of Safari’s preferences. For example, you can check the Privacy Report, or request a web page’s desktop or mobile site.

Other options allow you to manage Safari extensions, show the Reader view, or configure settings for a particular web page. You can also use this menu to change your Safari layout.

Putting Back Safari’s Top Address Bar

Restore Safaris Top Address Bar

After you tap the zoom icon in the address bar, look at the top of the menu. Tap on “Show Top Address Bar,” and hey presto! Safari’s back the way you like it.

If you want to resume bottom-bar browsing, just follow the same steps. At the bottom of the menu, tap “Show Bottom Tab Bar”. It’s quick, it’s easy, and you don’t even have to navigate the Settings app to do it.

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