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You can organize Safari tabs in a vertical sidebar using Safari’s built-in sidebar and Tab Groups, or try a third-party extension designed to display tabs vertically. But seeing tabs in a sidebar is not the same as replacing Safari’s top tab strip: Apple’s extension documentation does not promise that extensions can remove or replace Safari’s native browser controls.

What “Arc-style tabs” can mean in Safari

People use “Arc-style tabs” to describe different things: a vertical list of open tabs, a sidebar for switching between tabs and groups, or a browser interface that no longer relies on a row of tabs at the top. Safari’s built-in organization features address the sidebar and tab-management needs. They do not, based on Apple’s documentation, guarantee a fully substitutive Arc-like interface.

It helps to check which result you want before choosing an approach:

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  • Organize tabs vertically: Start with Safari’s sidebar and Tab Groups.
  • Display open tabs in a vertical list: A third-party extension may offer this, subject to its current availability and compatibility.
  • Remove Safari’s native top tab strip: Do not assume an extension can do this. Verify the behavior in current product documentation before installing anything.

Use Safari’s sidebar and Tab Groups first

Apple describes Tab Groups as a way to organize tabs, and its Mac Safari materials point to the sidebar for working with groups. This is the built-in option for readers who want to stay in Safari and manage tabs from a sidebar rather than treat the top row as their only navigation tool.

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In Safari, look for the sidebar control in the toolbar and the Tab Groups controls in the sidebar or tab interface. The exact labels and arrangement can vary with macOS and Safari versions, so use the guidance for the version installed on your Mac. Apple’s support article “Organize your tabs in Safari on iPhone” also explains Tab Groups, but its cited guide is versioned for a future OS path; do not assume its version-specific directions match a Mac.

Tab Groups help separate tabs into named collections; they are not evidence that Safari’s sidebar always behaves as a persistent vertical tab bar or replaces the native top strip. Apple’s Safari product information also describes Tab Groups and extensions, but does not establish an identical Arc interface.

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Can a Safari extension replace the top tabs?

Apple supports Safari extensions that add functionality to Safari. Its developer documentation describes Web Extensions built with web technologies and distributed through the App Store. That establishes that extensions can extend the browser; it does not establish that they can redesign Safari’s own browser chrome, replace window controls, or eliminate the native tab strip.

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Accordingly, distinguish between an extension that presents tabs in a vertical sidebar and one that actually removes Safari’s top tabs. A product description promising vertical navigation is not, by itself, proof of interface replacement. Check the developer’s current description and support information for the specific behavior you need.

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What third-party vertical-tab options have been described?

A public GitHub project titled “Vertical Tabs: Safari extension” describes an extension that displays open tabs in a vertical sidebar and lists macOS 11.0 or later as its minimum. Those are claims in the project description, not confirmation that the extension is currently maintained, available in the App Store, compatible with your exact Safari version, or able to hide Safari’s native top tabs.

Before installing any third-party option, verify these details on its current listing or project page:

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  • Whether it is currently distributed and who publishes it.
  • Its latest update and stated support for your macOS and Safari versions.
  • Whether it supplements Safari’s tabs or claims to hide or replace them.
  • Its permissions, privacy disclosures, and current price.

Apple’s App Store editorial page “Get Started With Safari Extensions” is an additional starting point for learning how to discover and install extensions. Availability and compatibility can change, so confirm them for your own setup rather than relying on an older project description.

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Which approach should you choose?

  • Choose Safari’s built-in sidebar and Tab Groups if you mainly want to keep related tabs organized and accessible through Safari’s own interface.
  • Investigate a vertical-tabs extension if you specifically want a list of open tabs in a sidebar and are comfortable verifying its publisher, update history, compatibility, privacy disclosures, and cost.
  • Do not switch on the assumption of a complete Arc clone if your requirement is to remove Safari’s native top tab strip. Confirm that exact behavior first; the cited Apple materials do not guarantee it.

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