Ivory, the increasingly popular Mastodon client developed by Tapbots, has launched version 2.3, bringing a collection of significant improvements and refinements to its user experience. The update is now available across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, solidifying Ivory’s position as one of the most polished third-party applications designed for navigating the decentralized world of Mastodon and the broader Fediverse.

With v2.3, Tapbots introduces a mixture of interface updates, backend improvements, and compatibility features that not only respond to user feedback but also extend Ivory’s functionality across a growing number of platforms and use cases. The focus of this release lies in streamlining interactions, expanding service compatibility, and improving accessibility—all while maintaining the app’s signature elegance and responsiveness.

Expanded Notification Handling with Unified Tab

One of the most visible enhancements in Ivory v2.3 is the merging of the previously separate Mentions and Notifications tabs. This interface change reflects a broader effort to streamline how users receive and manage interactions on Mastodon. With these tabs now unified, Ivory simplifies engagement by grouping replies, mentions, favorites, boosts, and other alerts into a single consolidated view.

This unified system reduces the cognitive load on users by providing one place to review all activity. For users active on multiple instances or involved in many conversations, the new design creates a faster, more cohesive way to keep track of social engagement. It aligns Ivory more closely with the design standards of modern social media clients, without compromising the lightweight and efficient feel that defines the app.

By reducing the need to switch between tabs, the updated notifications layout also improves usability on smaller screens, such as those found on iPhones, while retaining clarity on larger displays like iPads and Macs.

Support for Alphanumeric Post IDs Enhances Compatibility

Ivory v2.3 also introduces support for alphanumeric post IDs, a technical feature that opens the door to broader instance support within the Mastodon ecosystem. This is particularly relevant for services such as GoToSocial, a lightweight Fediverse server implementation that relies on non-numeric post identifiers.

Prior to this update, users attempting to connect Ivory with these services may have faced login or post interaction issues due to incompatible ID structures. With v2.3, these barriers have been removed. The app can now seamlessly interact with Mastodon-compatible services using extended ID formats, improving its versatility across a decentralized and increasingly diverse Fediverse.

This enhancement reflects a growing awareness of Mastodon's expanding infrastructure. As new implementations emerge to meet different technical and community needs, client applications like Ivory must adapt. By accommodating non-standard formats, Ivory not only becomes more inclusive but also reinforces its commitment to supporting the entire federated network, not just its mainstream instances.

Accessibility Improvements Expand User Inclusivity

Tapbots continues to invest in accessibility, and Ivory v2.3 includes several refinements aimed at making the app more usable for people with disabilities. Although the update does not detail every change, users have reported improvements in VoiceOver support, clearer labeling of interactive elements, and better keyboard navigation across all supported platforms.

Accessibility is a critical component of user experience, particularly on Apple platforms, where inclusive design is a foundational expectation. With this update, Ivory strengthens its alignment with accessibility standards across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The improvements ensure that users who rely on assistive technologies can fully interact with all core features, including timeline navigation, post creation, and account settings.

These changes also future-proof the app, allowing it to better accommodate updates to Apple’s accessibility APIs and ensuring that its UI remains responsive to a wide range of physical and cognitive needs.

Refinements to Stability and Performance

In addition to front-end changes, Ivory v2.3 includes a suite of bug fixes and backend performance enhancements designed to stabilize the user experience. While not every fix is publicly documented, such updates often target issues such as notification delays, animation glitches, and syncing errors—especially those reported by users interacting with multiple accounts or large data streams.

The update also benefits from increased code optimization, which may result in faster loading times and smoother transitions across various app screens. These refinements are especially noticeable when switching between timelines, opening detailed post views, or refreshing notifications.

Performance tuning remains an ongoing focus for Tapbots, whose developers have a long history of building efficient, well-optimized software on Apple platforms. With each new version, Ivory becomes more responsive and consistent, keeping pace with the underlying operating systems while expanding its features.

A Consistent Experience Across All Apple Devices

Ivory v2.3 maintains its cross-platform consistency by launching simultaneously across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. This release model ensures that users experience the same interface design and feature set, regardless of the device they use. It also simplifies the learning curve and minimizes confusion when switching between devices throughout the day.

This level of platform harmony is particularly important for users who rely on multiple Apple products in their daily workflow. Ivory supports universal syncing through iCloud and respects system settings such as dark mode, dynamic type, and system gestures. This integration creates an experience that feels native, polished, and fully embedded in the Apple ecosystem.

Consistency is also a key driver of user trust, particularly as new users explore Mastodon and seek dependable tools that match the quality of the platforms they’re migrating from. Ivory delivers on this expectation with every update, and version 2.3 is no exception.

Conclusion

Ivory v2.3 marks an important step forward for Tapbots’ Mastodon client, delivering a suite of meaningful updates that enhance usability, accessibility, and interoperability. The unified notifications tab simplifies user engagement, while the support for alphanumeric post IDs expands the app’s reach across the growing Fediverse.

By rolling out these changes in a unified release across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, Tapbots reaffirms its commitment to quality, consistency, and user-centered design. Ivory v2.3 is more than just an update—it’s a reinforcement of the app’s role as a premier Mastodon client, built to meet the evolving needs of a decentralized social media landscape.