PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

When you visit a website on your iPhone, your browser will often display a streamlined version designed for mobile viewing. But in some cases, you might prefer to view the full desktop version of the site. By changing a few settings , you can easily switch to desktop mode in iPhone’s built-in browser, Safari. You can also view the desktop version of a website in the iOS version of Chrome. In this article, we’ll talk you through a few simple methods for switching to desktop mode on iPhone.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Temporary Desktop Mode for a Single Webpage (Safari)

PDF download Download Article
  1. Open the Safari browser app on your iPhone and type the URL of the website you want to visit into the address bar. Then, tap go to load the site. [1]
    • Depending on the preferences you’ve set for the app, the address bar may be located at either the top or bottom of the screen.
  2. Look for this button to the left of the address bar. Tap it to open a popup menu. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. About halfway down the popup menu, you’ll see the option to Request Desktop Website . Tap this button to switch from the mobile version of the site you’re viewing to the desktop version. [3]
    • This setting only applies to the current tab and won’t affect any other websites that are currently open in Safari.
  4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Permanent Desktop Mode for a Single Website (Safari)

PDF download Download Article
  1. If there’s a website you visit frequently that you prefer to use in desktop mode, you can permanently change the settings for that website in Safari. To start, enter the URL of the website you want to visit in the address bar of the Safari app, then tap go .
  2. This button is located to the left of the address bar. Depending on your Safari settings, you might find the address bar at the bottom of the screen instead of the top. [4]
  3. When the menu pops up, tap Website Settings , which should appear just below Request Desktop Website . This will open a new menu screen. [5]
  4. At the top of the Website Settings menu, locate the Request Desktop Website option. Toggle the
    iPhone Switch On Icon
    button to the On position. [6]
  5. Once you’ve turned on the desktop mode, tap Done in the upper right corner of the screen to apply the change. From now on, you should see this website in desktop mode every time you visit it in Safari.
    • You can always undo the change by going back into the Website Settings menu next time you visit the site.
  6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Permanent Desktop Mode for All Websites (Safari)

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you prefer to view all websites in desktop mode on your iPhone, you can change Safari’s settings to do this by default. To get started, go to your home screen and open
    iPhone Settings App Icon
    Settings . [7]
  2. In the main Settings menu, scroll down until you find Safari . Tap it to open a new menu screen. [8]
  3. Scroll down to the Settings for Websites section of the Safari Settings menu. Then, select Request Desktop Website . [9]
  4. When the new menu screen pops up, toggle on All Websites under Request Desktop Website On . From now on, Safari should display all websites in desktop mode unless you go back into settings and turn this option off. [10]
  5. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Desktop Mode in Chrome

PDF download Download Article
  1. Open the website you want to visit in Chrome . Launch the Chrome app on your iPhone and type the URL of the website into the address bar at the top. Then, tap go to navigate to the site. [11]
  2. This button is located at the bottom right side of the screen in Chrome. Tap it to open a popup menu. [12]
  3. Once the popup appears, scroll down until you find Request Desktop Site . This option appears close to the bottom of the menu. After you tap it, the website should display in desktop mode. [13]
    • If you visit other pages that are part of the same website during your current browsing session, they may also appear in desktop mode. To convert back to the mobile version, open the ••• menu again and tap Request Mobile Site .
    • You can also switch to desktop mode by tapping the
      iPhone Share
      Share icon to the right of the address bar, then scrolling down and tapping Request Mobile Site . [14]
  4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Another option is to download a browser app that is designed to automatically show websites in desktop mode, such as Desktop Browser or Zoomable. You can find these apps by searching for “desktop browser” in the App Store .
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 92,291 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement