Safari Bookmarks view on iPhone bugs

[guitarguy316]

When I open the bookmarks list in Safari, the settings don’t seem to do anything if I switch between Compact or Large and Show On Top.

I’m stuck with the Compact view and the folders are at the bottom underneath Reading List.

Is this a bug?

 

[Puonti]

Can you share screenshots? I ask because Reading List is its own tab so it's unclear where you're seeing them listed together with Bookmarks.

 

[guitarguy316]

Can you share screenshots? I ask because Reading List is its own tab so it's unclear where you're seeing them listed together with Bookmarks.

I have it set to folders on top and large but that giant section of recently saved stays at the top.

 

[Puonti]

Thanks, now I understand. The Recently Saved section is indeed a permanent fixture in that view. The folder and icon scale options are for the Bookmarks list below it.

It does look like the scale option is not working for you as it should ("Large" should make the bookmark fav icons large). Since it works on my iPhone I suggest restarting the phone to see if that fixes it.

Right now "Show Folders on Top" makes more sense if you're also using an iPad; on an iPad you can reorder your bookmarks as you like, but for whatever reason that's not possible on the iPhone (at least on mine, with iOS 26). I suspect not being able to reorder bookmarks on an iPhone is a bug.

If you use an iPad to mix your bookmarks and folders together on the top level, then have them sync to your iPhone, you can better see the difference the folder option makes. If you have just folders at the top level it doesn't do anything useful.

 

[guitarguy316]

Thanks, now I understand. The Recently Saved section is indeed a permanent fixture in that view. The folder and icon scale options are for the Bookmarks list below it.

It does look like the scale option is not working for you as it should ("Large" should make the bookmark fav icons large). Since it works on my iPhone I suggest restarting the phone to see if that fixes it.

Right now "Show Folders on Top" makes more sense if you're also using an iPad; on an iPad you can reorder your bookmarks as you like, but for whatever reason that's not possible on the iPhone (at least on mine, with iOS 26). I suspect not being able to reorder bookmarks on an iPhone is a bug.

If you use an iPad to mix your bookmarks and folders together on the top level, then have them sync to your iPhone, you can better see the difference the folder option makes. If you have just folders at the top level it doesn't do anything useful.

Yes the sizing is definitely not working. It didn’t work on my iPhone 15 Pro either when I updated to iOS 26. The design choice to have recently saved above the folders is dumb and creates extra scrolling to get down to them.

 

[BigBlur]

When you have 'Show Folders on Top' enabled, 'Large' only applies to the Bookmarks section, not Folders. This is when you have bookmarks and folders saved at the same level. (Whether this is a bug or as designed...who knows.)

If you disable 'Show Folders On Top', then the folders will appear in the Bookmarks section and be large. (If you don't save bookmarks at the same level as other folders, then there's really no need to have 'Show Folders on Top' enabled.)

Right now "Show Folders on Top" makes more sense if you're also using an iPad; on an iPad you can reorder your bookmarks as you like, but for whatever reason that's not possible on the iPhone (at least on mine, with iOS 26). I suspect not being able to reorder bookmarks on an iPhone is a bug.

You're not able to tap and drag your bookmarks to reorder them?

 

[Puonti]

You're not able to tap and drag your bookmarks to reorder them?

Tap and drag yes, but only to drop them into folders, not reorder. The folders won't part to make room for placing bookmarks between them (as said, this is on an iPhone; on my iPad I can do it).

 

[guitarguy316]

When you have 'Show Folders on Top' enabled, 'Large' only applies to the Bookmarks section, not Folders. This is when you have bookmarks and folders saved at the same level. (Whether this is a bug or as designed...who knows.)

View attachment 2560427

If you disable 'Show Folders On Top', then the folders will appear in the Bookmarks section and be large. (If you don't save bookmarks at the same level as other folders, then there's really no need to have 'Show Folders on Top' enabled.)

View attachment 2560430


You're not able to tap and drag your bookmarks to reorder them?

How did you make the recently saved smaller?

 

[BigBlur]

How did you make the recently saved smaller?

It's just empty. I haven't saved anything recently.

 

[HouseLannister]

Resorting the bookmarks manually doesn’t work. They just organize themselves in new and interesting patterns each time I try. I can reorganize Favorites fine, but Bookmarks do not stick. Strange.