iOS 16: This is all what’s new in Safari

We’ll have to wait until September, but then iOS 16 will finally be on the iPhone. One of the important parts is of course Safari. We tell you which novelties you can expect in the browser.

If you have an iPhone, you probably use Safari to browse the web. Of course there are plenty of alternatives on the market such as DuckDuckGo and Chrome, but Apple’s browser remains a favorite for many. With the annual update of iOS, Safari also gets a new lick of paint. This is what you can expect.

Tap Groups in Safari

We know Tap Groups from the most recent version of iOS, but they are immediately taken care of. This feature should make it even easier to organize your tabs. In iOS 16, each Tab Group now has its own home page. This way you can open the groups even faster. Moreover, you can now easily share those Tab Groups with friends and family. Handy if, for example, you are planning an outing and want to list different accommodations for your travel companions.

Pinned tabs will also be added. This function ensures that certain tabs remain open. You use this by pressing longer on the url bar.

Sync

It now becomes easier in Safari to sync extensions. For this you have to go to the settings and then to extensions. If you have downloaded an extension on another device, it will automatically appear in the list. You then only need to download them.

But from iOS 15 it is not only possible to sync extensions, this will also apply to your website settings. Think of things like zooming in on pages and the automatic reader.

Passwords

One of the features we are most looking forward to is Passkey. This feature in iOS 16 that works through iCloud is of course also applied to Safari. Passkey aims to ensure that your data on the internet is even more secure. One key is stored on the website server while the other is stored on your device. The latter are secured by means of Face ID or Touch ID. It is only possible to log in to a site if the two keys match. Because the second key can never be stolen, it is more secure.

Passkey works on any Apple device, of course, but it’s also in talks with other companies like Google and Microsoft so it can be used on non-Apple devices as well.

Password suggestions are also adjusted. For example, some sites may not always allow you to use a strong password recommended by Apple. Now you can adjust it manually.

Push notifications

You may know push notifications from Safari on your Mac, but from iOS 16 they are also available on your iPhone and iPad. That way you never miss the latest news.

Photos in Safari

Finally, a function that may not be of much use to you, but something that can be fun. You can copy the subject on photos in Safari. This way you copy the image without including the background.