Tips and Tricks: Open a Safari Link in a New Page With a Gesture

Tips and Tricks: Open a Safari Link in a New Page With a Gesture

Did you know that you could do a two-finger tap on a link in Safari to launch it into a new browser window? If you didn’t, you aren’t alone. I may have heard about this gesture at some point, but like some many little Apple details, it was long gone from my brain before I was reminded of it and its usefulness today.

There really isn’t any need for detailed instructions for this tip. If you have a link that you want to follow in Safari, say for a Google search, then just simultaneously tap with two fingers to launch it in a new browser window. Opening each link in a new tab is my go-to for Internet research so I can easily keep up with and refer back to the original search page.

The only drawback to this handy gesture is that some links, especially on an iPhone, will be difficult to press with two fingers, especially if you have larger fingers like I do. Also, it can be easy to get your fingertips off a bit when pressing, which will just take you straight to the link in question. As long as your fingers hit the link at the same time, you should be good.

Why am I bringing this tip up now, as it has evidently been around since iOS 11? Because the option to Open In Background or a New Tab that has been around for a few years with 3D Touch, and was still available in the first three Developer Betas of iOS 13, has now disappeared. It was there a couple of weeks ago and then poof, it was gone in Dev Beta 4.

This was a feature I used on a daily basis, so I was not happy about it’s sudden removal. I’m still hoping this was just an oversight and that the feature will re-appear in the context menu when you long press a link in Safari in the next beta release.

If you agree and are using the Dev or Public Betas, I highly recommend going to the Feedback app and filing a report on this. In the meantime, the two-finger two is the best alternative for opening links in a new tab.