When you open Safari on the iPhone the web pages load in a format adapted to the dimensions and characteristics of the small screen, but it is also possible to force a display that is not mobile. It is known as ‘desktop mode’, a function that allows you to view the web as it was done for a computer. It is a very useful way to use the page to its full extent.
Generally, when you browse from the iPhone using Safari (and other web browsers) the pages load on the phone adapting to the dimensions of the screen. This is what is known as the mobile version of the browser: the developers adapt the menus, links, images and the rest of the interface of the page so that we can access all the elements with the touch of our fingers. The problem is that with this adaptation to the screen size of mobile phones information can be lost along the way.
Different ways to activate the desktop version
Enable desktop mode for one page (left and center) and for all pages in the domain (right)
The iPhone’s default browser, Safari, offers complete, fast, efficient and safe browsing. It allows a multitude of settings, including ad blocking. In addition, and as the objective of this article, Apple includes a desktop mode to prevent web pages from adapting their content to the mobile screen. This mode can be activated in different ways: punctual for a page, for an entire URL and permanently.
Here we explain all the ways you have to activate desktop mode on iPhone if you use Safari:
Load the page you want. By default it should show the mobile version.
Click on the top ‘AA’, to the left of the address bar.
Press on ‘Desktop version website‘. The page will reload to offer the extended mode.
If you want all the pages of that website to load by default in desktop mode, you just have to click on the ‘AA’, click on ‘Website settings’ and mark ‘Desktop version’ for the entire domain. From that moment all the pages of that web will load in the extended version of the screen by default; being able to eliminate the adjustment just by reversing the steps.
So far we have seen the ways to activate the desktop mode on time: only for a page and for a specific website. But maybe you wish have it active by default in Safari (It is not recommended because it reduces the speed and simplicity of use on the phone). To do this, you must force the display as follows:
Enter your iPhone settings and look for the Safari settings.
Descend to ‘Desktop version website‘.
You will see the sites where you bookmarked the desktop URL, you can leave it like that or disable them. And if you want all the pages to load by default on an enlarged screen, just check ‘Other websites‘.
In this way, everything you browse with Safari on your iPhone will load on its desktop version. We reiterate our impression: it is not the most comfortable, but there are always tastes for everything. And the best thing is that browsing on the desktop can have certain advantages.
What are the advantages of desktop mode?
Developers usually adapt the display of their pages so that they are seen correctly in the different resolutions, screen sizes and ratios: from a computer to a mobile; going through a tablet. Since the design requires sacrifices, browsing on the desktop from the mobile usually brings certain advantages:
The desktop version can be more complete. Links and buttons are often removed so that the entire interface works properly on touchscreens.
Shopping in many stores can be more convenient in desktop version than in mobile.
Not all pages are well adapted to mobile; hence, browsing on the desktop may involve fewer errors.
Multimedia content tends to be loaded smaller on mobiles. For example, if you want to save an image in its largest size, ideally you should load the desktop version and save it from there.
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