The plus button in Safari on iPhone can slip out of sight when the tab bar is set to Compact. Nothing is broken. Switch the layout back to Bottom or Top and the button returns to the bar.
Open Settings, tap Apps > Safari > Tabs, and pick Bottom or Top. If you’d rather keep Compact, open the tab overview and use the New Tab button at the bottom left.
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Why Safari’s Plus Button Goes Missing on iPhone
Safari’s plus button is part of the tab controls, so it can drop out of view when the tab bar uses the Compact layout. Compact squeezes the tab bar and parks extra controls on either side of it. On a narrow iPhone screen, the new-tab control doesn’t always survive that squeeze.
The button hasn’t been removed from Safari. You have two routes to a new tab: switch to an expanded tab bar and the plus 
button comes back, or stay on Compact and start tabs from the tab overview grid.
Restore the Plus Button With the Safari Layout Setting
Changing the tab layout is the quickest fix, and it’s the one we usually suggest first. It widens the tab bar and puts the plus button back where you expect to find it.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and select Apps.
- Select Safari.
- Scroll down and select Tabs.
- Select Bottom or Top instead of Compact.
- Open Safari and check the tab bar for the plus button.
The Bottom and Top options expand the tab bar so its controls have room, instead of being compressed into one tight row. Apple’s guide to changing Safari’s layout explains the differences between the options.
Apple does not document the exact position of the plus button in the Compact layout. If you keep Compact, the button may appear as a separate control or in the tab overview rather than beside the address bar.
Open a New Tab From the Safari Tab Overview
Prefer to keep Compact? You don’t need the plus button in the browsing view at all. The tab overview carries its own New Tab control.
- Open Safari.
- Tap the tabs
button to open the tab overview grid. - Tap the New Tab button at the bottom left of the screen.
A new start page opens, ready for a search or an address. Touch and hold New Tab in the tab overview to see recently closed tabs instead.
Apple’s iPhone guide to getting started with Safari covers both: the add button opens a new start page, and the New Tab button sits at the bottom left of the tab overview.
What to Do If the Button Is Still Missing
You’ve switched the layout and the plus button still isn’t there. Work through these in order, and check the tab bar after each one.
Go back into Settings and confirm Safari is really set to Bottom or Top. If it already is, pick the other expanded option and reopen Safari so the tab bar redraws.
Next, open the tab overview and look at the bottom-left corner. If the New Tab button is there, the new-tab feature works. Safari just isn’t showing it in the browsing view.
On iPhones where Compact isn’t offered at all, Bottom or Top are your expanded choices. If the whole Tabs setting is missing, your version of Safari may not include the newer layout controls.
Still stuck? One predictable last resort: clear Safari’s history, cookies, and cache on your iPhone and launch Safari again. It won’t change your layout, but it rules out saved page state before you look any further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new tab button in Safari on iPhone?
It sits at the bottom left of the tab overview grid. Tap it to open a new start page, or touch and hold it to pick a recently closed tab.
Why is the plus button missing from the Safari address bar?
Compact compresses the tab bar and moves extra controls to its sides. Change Tabs from Compact to Bottom or Top, and the expanded bar comes back with the plus button in it.
Do I need to reinstall Safari to restore the plus button?
No. Change the tab layout first, then check the tab overview. Reinstalling Safari isn’t needed to reach the new-tab function.
Can I keep the Compact layout and still open new tabs?
Yes. Open the tab overview and tap New Tab at the bottom left of the grid. Where that control appears in the browsing view can differ once the tab bar is compressed.
Either way, you’ll know it worked when a fresh start page opens without you hunting for the control. If it doesn’t, the layout setting is still the first place to look.
