How to Use Safari Desktop Mode on iPhone, iPad and MacOS – 6 Easy Steps

Learn how you can turn on Safari Desktop Mode on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which in turn will present to you the full desktop version of any site you visit. Also, you will see improved navigation and access to all features, which in turn will give you a much better and complete browsing experience.

How to Use Safari Desktop Mode

When you are out and about and using your mobile device to browse the web, the mobile version of sites usually does not give you the full experience. Reduced content, simple layouts, and left-out features make mobile browsing a frustrating experience. In Safari’s case, we have Desktop Mode, which changes that by allowing you to see sites as they appear on a desktop and get full functionality out of it without having to use a computer.

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What is Safari Desktop Mode?

In Safari Desktop Mode, you can view the desktop version of websites on mobile devices. Usually, when you browse the internet on a mobile device, sites are optimized to present a simplified version that works best on a small screen. In Safari Desktop Mode, we are presented with the full-scale version of the site as it is on a desktop computer, which in turn gives you a more in-depth experience with all the site’s features, menus, and interactivity.

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Why Use Safari Desktop Mode?

There are a range of reasons why you may wish to switch to Safari Desktop Mode:

• Full Website Experience: Some sites present a different, reduced set of features and content for mobile users. With Desktop Mode, you can access a full desktop site experience, which includes all the features and functions.
• Improved Navigation: Many sites are better navigated in Desktop Mode, which is a result of optimized layout and design for larger screens and precise clicks. Also, this may help you to avoid frustrating touch interface issues.
• Access Desktop Features: In fact, some in-depth features, and also what we call our tools and settings, may only be present in the desktop version of a site. With Safari Desktop Mode, we bring those tools to your mobile device.
• Bypass Mobile Restrictions: Some sites provide fewer features or quality for mobile users (for instance, streaming or downloads). Going to Desktop Mode may, in some cases, get you a better, more complete experience.

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How to Enable Safari Desktop Mode on iPhone and iPad

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can enable Safari Desktop Mode in a few simple steps. How to do it:

• Open Safari: Open the Safari app on your device.
• Visit the Website: Go to the site you want to view in Desktop Mode.
• Request Desktop Site:
  On your iPhone X or any newer model, tap the AA icon, which is on the left-hand side of the address bar.
  On older iPhone models like 8 and before, press and hold the refresh icon on the right side of the address bar.
• Select “Request Desktop Site”: From the list that appears, choose the “Request Desktop Site” option.
• Enjoy the Desktop View: The site will refresh, and what you will see is the desktop version. You may interact with it as in the computer version.
• Switch Back to Mobile Mode: To get back to the mobile version, do the same process and select “Request Mobile Site” from the menu.

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How to Enable Safari Desktop Mode on macOS

On your Mac, Safari will, by default, display the desktop version of sites. But if you are browsing a mobile-optimized site and want to see the desktop version, this is how you do it:

• Open Safari: Open Safari on your Mac.
• Visit a Website: Visit the site of the web page you wish to see.
• Request Desktop Site: Click any area of the webpage and go to “Request Desktop Site” in the drop-down menu.
• Enjoy Full Desktop Features: The site will refresh to the desktop version.

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Tips for Using Safari Desktop Mode

• Reloading Pages: If your desktop version is not loading right, try hitting the refresh button after turning on Desktop Mode.
• Clear Cache and Cookies: Sometimes, to fix issues with sites that aren’t displaying right in Safari Desktop Mode, try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.
• Use a Larger Screen: On iPad, you may switch to landscape orientation, which in turn provides a better and more comfortable viewing experience while using Desktop Mode.

Conclusion

Safari Desktop Mode gives you access to a full version of a site’s features, which you may not have on the mobile versions. Use this on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to improve your browser experience, which includes full desktop features, better navigation, and all the content. Also, you can easily switch between mobile and desktop views for the best results.