How do I switch to non mobile sites?

As mobile devices become more popular for accessing the internet, many websites have created dedicated mobile versions that are optimized for smaller screens. However, sometimes you may prefer to view the full desktop version of a website on your phone or tablet for a better experience. Luckily, it’s usually pretty easy to switch from the mobile to desktop view of most websites.

What are mobile and desktop sites?

A mobile version of a website is designed specifically for smartphones and tablets. The layout is simplified and streamlined to fit smaller screens, text and buttons are bigger for touch screens, and mobile-friendly formatting is used. Mobile sites are great when you need quick access on the go.

Desktop sites have traditional wide layouts optimized for large monitors, more options and features, and more robust functionality overall. The desktop site may allow you to access more content and capabilities.

Reasons to use desktop site on a mobile device

There are a few common reasons you may want to use the desktop version of a website on your mobile device:

• The desktop site has more features and functionality.
• The mobile site is missing information or options available on the desktop version.
• You find the desktop site easier to navigate and read on your device.
• The mobile site has display issues or other glitches.
• You want access to editing capabilities and tools not available on the mobile version.
• The desktop site allows you to customize options to your preferences.

How to switch to desktop site

The process for switching to the desktop site will vary a bit depending on the device and browser you are using, but here are the general methods:

On an iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the website in Safari.
2. Tap the “Aa” icon at the left side of the address bar.
3. Select “Request Desktop Site”.

The page will reload in desktop view. The address bar will show “Desktop Site” when viewing the desktop version.

On Android devices:

The steps can vary by which browser you use on your Android device.

In the Chrome app:

1. Open the website in the Chrome app.
2. Tap the three vertical dots menu icon at top right.
3. Select “Desktop site” or “Request desktop site”.

In the Samsung Internet app:

1. Open the website in the Samsung Internet app.
2. Tap the three horizontal line menu icon.
3. Select “Desktop site” or “Request desktop site”.

The desktop version will load. You may need to zoom and pan around to view content.

On tablets

Tablets like iPads and Android tablets work similarly to their smartphone counterparts:

• On an iPad, use the “Aa” button in Safari.
• On Android tablets, use the menu in your chosen browser app such as Chrome.

Following the same steps outlined above, select “Request Desktop Site” or similar to load the full desktop version.

Within individual apps

Some apps will also give you a way to switch between mobile and desktop sites within the app itself:

• In the Facebook app, tap the three line menu and select “Request Desktop Site”.
• In the Twitter app, go to Settings – Display and Sound – Browser and select “Desktop” instead of “Mobile”.
• In the LinkedIn app, go to your profile, open the menu, and turn on “Full website”.
• In the WordPress app, change to the desktop version in “App Settings”.

For specific sites

A few websites make it a bit tricky to switch from mobile to desktop, but there are special techniques you can use:

Google Search:

1. Type a search into Google on your mobile device.
2. At the bottom left, tap the version dropdown box.
3. Select “Desktop” to load search results in desktop mode.

YouTube:

1. In the YouTube app, tap your profile icon.
2. Select “Desktop site” in the options.

Amazon:

1. In your mobile browser, navigate to www.amazon.com.
2. At the bottom of the screen, click “Full Site”.

Wikipedia:

1. Type en.m.wikipedia.org into your mobile browser.
2. At the bottom of the article, select “Desktop”

How to refresh back to mobile site

Once you’ve switched over to the desktop view, you may eventually want to get back to the mobile version. Here is how to refresh back to the mobile site:

• On iPhone/iPad, reopen Safari and tap the “Aa” icon, then choose “Request Mobile Site”.
• On Android Chrome, reopen the site and tap the three dots menu, then choose “Mobile site”.
• On apps like Facebook and Twitter, return to the settings and toggle the view back to Mobile.
• Refreshing the page or closing and reopening the browser should also reset you back to mobile view.

Set browser to always use desktop sites

If you prefer the desktop viewing experience, you can set your browser to always request desktop sites by default when browsing on your phone or tablet.

On iPhone/iPad:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Safari.
3. Under “General”, turn on “Request Desktop Website”.

This will make Safari load the desktop version of sites when available. You can still toggle to mobile view on a page-by-page basis using the “Aa” button.

On Android/Chrome:

1. Open Chrome and tap the three dots menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap “Site settings.”
4. Under “Desktop site,” turn on “Request desktop site.”

Chrome will now default to desktop view when you open sites. You can still request mobile site on individual pages.

Conclusion

With mobile internet usage on the rise, most major websites now serve up tailored mobile experiences. But you still have the option to view the desktop versions of sites on your smartphones and tablets for full functionality. Just use the browser controls to request desktop view. Remember you can refresh back to mobile when needed.

Setting your browser to always request desktop mode is also an option if you prefer that experience. Toggling between mobile and desktop views allows you flexibility in how you access and interact with your favorite sites on mobile devices.