Navigating Bookmarks in Safari on iOS 26: A VoiceOver-Friendly Guide

Disclaimer: the following guide is currently for iOS 26.0.

With each iOS update, Apple continues to refine the Safari experience. For VoiceOver users, these changes can feel subtle but meaningful. If you’ve recently upgraded to iOS 26 and want to manage your bookmarks with confidence, this guide will walk you through the updated process and highlight what’s new.

Step-by-Step Bookmark Navigation

1. Open Safari and Access Bookmarks —— Launch Safari and double tap on the bookmarks tab. This tab may appear at the top or bottom of your toolbar. The location doesn’t affect functionality, so choose whichever position is more comfortable for you. If you happen to find a “More” button instead, double tap on that, and then double tap on “Bookmarks”. This will be the case if you have your toolbar set to “Compact” view, an new feature in iOS 26.

2. Explore the Bookmarks Screen —— On the bookmarks screen, you’ll encounter several buttons. The “Bookmarks” tab should be selected by default. If you swipe all the way to the right, you’ll hear “Favorites,” followed by a number. This number represents how many bookmarks you currently have saved.

3. View Your Saved Bookmarks —— Double tap the number next to “Favorites” to open your full list of bookmarks. The layout is very similar to what you may remember from iOS 18, so the experience should feel familiar.

4. Navigate Back if Needed —— Swiping all the way to the left will reveal a “Back” button. This is useful if you want to access your history or reading list. If you don’t need those features, you can skip this step.

5. Reopen Bookmarks Easily —— If you choose not to press “Back” and instead double tap on a favorite or select “Cancel,” Safari will remember your preference. The next time you open Safari and double tap the bookmarks tab, your list of bookmarks will appear immediately, just like in step 3.

Managing Multiple Bookmark Folders with VoiceOver

Safari on iOS 26 allows users to organize bookmarks into folders, which is especially helpful for separating work, personal, or frequently visited sites. Here’s how to manage multiple bookmark directories using VoiceOver:

1. Create a New Folder:

• Open Safari and double tap the bookmarks tab.

• On the bookmarks screen, swipe to find the “More” button and double tap.

• Swipe to the bottom left and double tap “New Folder.”

• Enter a name for the folder using the onscreen keyboard or dictation, then double tap “Done.”

2. Move a Bookmark into a Folder:

• Navigate to the bookmark you want to move and then swipe up, then double tap on “Edit”.

• Swipe to “Location” and double tap.

• Swipe through the list of folders and double tap the one you want to move the bookmark into. You can also create a new folder from this point, and move the bookmark there.

• Double tap “Back” to return to your bookmarks list.

3. Rename or Delete a Folder:

• In the bookmarks list, swipe to the folder name you wish to edit. Note you can only rename custom folders you have created yourself.

• Swipe up on the folder name, then double tap on “Edit”.

• Type or Dictate the new name, then double tap “Done” in the lower-right corner.

• Alternatively swipe down on the folder name, then double tap on “Delete” to permanently delete a folder. You can do this on individual bookmarks as well.

4. Reorder Bookmarks Within a Folder:

• In the Bookmarks list, double tap on “More”. Then double tap on “Select Bookmarks”.

• Use the “Reorder” control (usually announced as “Reorder button, draggable”) and double tap and hold.

• Drag the bookmark to the desired position using swipe gestures, then release.

These steps ensure that VoiceOver users can organize their bookmarks efficiently, keeping Safari tidy and tailored to their browsing habits.

Changes from iOS 18 to iOS 26

While Safari’s layout hasn’t changed drastically, iOS 26 introduces a few refinements that improve accessibility and ease of use. The bookmarks interface now responds more consistently to swipe gestures, and the “Favorites” section provides clearer auditory feedback, including a spoken count of saved items. The behavior of the “Back” and “Cancel” buttons has also been streamlined, allowing Safari to remember your last view and reopen bookmarks more predictably. These updates help reduce friction and make browsing more intuitive for VoiceOver users.

Adapting to the New Experience

If you’re transitioning from iOS 18, the changes in Safari may feel unfamiliar at first. However, they are not overwhelming. With a little patience and practice, VoiceOver users will find the new behaviors easy to navigate and incorporate into daily use. Apple’s refinements are designed to support smoother, more predictable interactions, making Safari a more accessible tool for everyone.

Editted to revise terminology.