Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

On an iPhone, create a new Safari Tab Group from an open tab: open the tabs view, touch and hold the tab, choose Move Tab > New Tab Group, name the group, and tap Done. On an iPad, open Safari’s sidebar, tap New Tab Group > New Empty Tab Group, name it, and tap Save. The interfaces are different, and the iPhone route starts with an existing tab while the iPad route can create an empty group.

iPhone and iPad use different Tab Group controls

Safari Tab Groups organize related tabs so they are easier to find again. Apple’s current iPhone instructions are specifically for iOS 27. The iPad instructions use the iPad Safari sidebar; the referenced iPad guide does not identify an iPadOS release in its page path, so the iPad steps below are described by their controls rather than assigned to a particular release.

Device Where you begin Creation path Name confirmation Can the documented path start empty?
iPhone with iOS 27 Safari’s tabs view and an open tab Touch and hold a tab, then Move Tab > New Tab Group Done No. The documented route moves an existing open tab into the new group.
iPad Safari’s sidebar New Tab Group > New Empty Tab Group Save Yes. You can create an empty group first.

You do not need a separate utility, accessory, or service. The controls are part of Safari on the iPhone or iPad.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Create a new Safari Tab Group on iPhone in iOS 27

1. Open Safari’s tabs view

Open Safari and tap the Tabs button to display your open tabs. This is the starting point in Apple’s iOS 27 procedure.

#1 Best Overall
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
  • Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
  • The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
  • Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.

The exact route to the tabs view depends on Safari’s tab layout. If your interface shows All Tabs inside a More menu, tap More and then All Tabs. With the Bottom or Top tab layouts, tap the Tabs button instead. These are alternate ways to reach the same tabs view, not different Tab Group features.

2. Choose the tab that should enter the group

In the tabs view, find the open tab you want to place in the new group. Touch and hold that tab until its context menu appears. The iPhone creation flow is anchored to a tab that is already open; it does not begin with an empty-group command.

Choosing the tab at this point determines which page is moved into the new group. If you want several pages in the group, create the group with one tab first, then move other tabs into that group using Safari’s tab controls.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

3. Select Move Tab, then New Tab Group

Tap Move Tab in the context menu, then tap New Tab Group. Selecting New Tab Group is important: choosing an existing group would move the tab into that group without creating a new one.

Rank #2
Apple iPhone 16, 128GB, Pink - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 3561mAh Battery
  • 128GB 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
  • Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
  • 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
  • Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.

4. Name the group and finish

Enter a name for the new Tab Group and tap Done. The selected tab is moved into the newly named group. Use a name that describes the set of pages you intend to keep together, such as a project or trip, so the group is recognizable when you return to Safari.

What the iPhone route means

  • It starts with an open tab: the documented sequence is built around touching and holding a tab in the tabs view.
  • It creates and moves in one operation: Move Tab leads directly to New Tab Group, so the chosen tab becomes the first member.
  • It uses Done: on iPhone, tap Done after entering the group name.

Create a new Safari Tab Group on iPad

1. Open Safari’s sidebar

Open Safari on iPad and tap Show Sidebar. The sidebar contains Safari’s group controls and is the starting point for creating a group on iPad.

2. Open the New Tab Group control

At the top-right of the sidebar, tap New Tab Group. This opens the choices for creating a group.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

3. Choose New Empty Tab Group

Tap New Empty Tab Group when you want the group created before adding pages. This is the key difference from the documented iPhone route: iPad can make a group with no tabs in it yet.

Rank #3
Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
  • Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
  • Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
  • Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
  • Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID

4. Name the group and save it

Enter the name for the group and tap Save. The empty Tab Group is created in Safari’s sidebar under that name. You can then open or move tabs into it.

Move an existing iPad tab into a Tab Group

If you already have a page open and do not want to create an empty group first, iPad provides a tab-specific route.

  1. Touch and hold the tab you want to organize.
  2. Tap Move to Tab Group.
  3. Choose an existing Tab Group, or choose the option to create a new one.

This route is separate from the sidebar’s New Empty Tab Group command. Use the sidebar when you want an empty container; use Move to Tab Group when the starting point is an existing tab.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Choose the right workflow

Your starting point iPhone iPad
You already have a page open and want it to become the first tab in a new group Use the tabs view, touch and hold the tab, then Move Tab > New Tab Group. Touch and hold the tab, tap Move to Tab Group, and choose the create-new option.
You want a named group before adding any pages The documented iOS 27 creation sequence begins with an existing tab. Use Show Sidebar > New Tab Group > New Empty Tab Group.

On iPhone, the practical choice is which existing tab should start the group. On iPad, you can choose between an empty group from the sidebar and a tab-based move.

Rank #4
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | Unlocked
  • This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
  • There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
  • This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
  • Product may come in generic Box.

Understand the labels you should see

Several labels look similar but perform different actions:

  • Tabs: opens the iPhone tabs view when that button is available.
  • More > All Tabs: an alternate path to the iPhone tabs view in layouts where All Tabs appears under More.
  • Move Tab: the iPhone command shown after touching and holding a tab.
  • New Tab Group: the iPhone destination for creating a group from that tab, and the iPad sidebar control that opens group-creation choices.
  • New Empty Tab Group: the iPad choice for creating a group without a tab in it.
  • Move to Tab Group: the iPad command for placing an existing tab in a group.
  • Done: confirms the group name on iPhone.
  • Save: confirms the group name when creating an empty group on iPad.

If you are following the iPhone steps but expect Save, or following the iPad empty-group steps but expect Done, you are applying the confirmation label from the other device’s workflow.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Troubleshoot the common points of failure

You cannot find the Tabs button on iPhone

Look at Safari’s current tab layout. When All Tabs is exposed through a More menu, use More > All Tabs. When Safari is using the Bottom or Top tab layout, tap the Tabs button. The goal is to reach the page that displays your open tabs; the group command is available after you are there.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Touching a tab does not show Move Tab

Make sure you are touching and holding the tab itself in the tabs view, rather than tapping the page preview once. The iPhone procedure requires a touch-and-hold before Move Tab appears. On iPad, the equivalent command is named Move to Tab Group.

Best Value
Apple iPhone 16e, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
  • 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
  • Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
  • Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
  • Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.

You want an empty group on iPhone

The documented iOS 27 iPhone sequence does not provide an empty-group starting point. It creates the group while moving an existing open tab. Select the tab you want to use as the group’s first member, complete the creation sequence, and then organize additional tabs afterward.

You cannot find New Empty Tab Group on iPad

Open the sidebar first by tapping Show Sidebar. The New Empty Tab Group choice is reached from New Tab Group at the top-right of that sidebar, not from the ordinary page view.

You created a group but used the wrong name-confirmation button

On iPhone, finish naming the group with Done. In the iPad empty-group flow, finish with Save. These labels reflect the two documented interfaces.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

You are looking for a profile setting

A Safari profile is a separate concept from a Tab Group. Profiles keep their own Tab Groups, but a profile is not required to create the group with either procedure in this guide. Stay in Safari’s tab controls unless you specifically intend to manage profiles.

Tab Groups and Safari profiles are not the same thing

A Tab Group is an organization feature for related tabs. Apple describes Tab Groups as a way to keep tabs organized and make them easier to find again later. A Safari profile is a separate container that keeps its own Tab Groups. Creating a Tab Group does not require creating or switching to a profile.

For the task covered here, decide first whether you simply need a named collection of tabs. If so, follow the iPhone or iPad Tab Group steps. Use profile controls only when you need the distinct profile behavior; they are outside the creation sequence described above.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed)
Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.; Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
$300.00
Bestseller No. 3
Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU; Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
$405.00
Bestseller No. 4
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | Unlocked
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | Unlocked
There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.; Product may come in generic Box.
$262.00

Quick completion checklist

  • iPhone: Safari > tabs view > touch and hold a tab > Move Tab > New Tab Group > enter a name > Done.
  • iPhone tabs-view alternative: if your layout exposes it, More > All Tabs; with Bottom or Top layouts, use the Tabs button.
  • iPad empty group: Safari > Show Sidebar > New Tab Group > New Empty Tab Group > enter a name > Save.
  • iPad existing tab: touch and hold the tab > Move to Tab Group > choose an existing group or create a new one.