Mobile versions of websites often make significant compromises to facilitate smoother navigation on our smartphone screens. This means you'll likely end up loading certain websites in desktop mode for instances when you want to access web elements not available on their mobile counterparts.
If you update iPhone Your to iOS 13 , it will not be displayed safari The option to run websites in desktop mode is now in its usual location. This isn't surprising considering the various features it has moved to. Apple In other native apps too – the missing updates tab in the App Store comes to mind.
But instead of just moving its “Request Desktop Site” option, it became safari It's also much more flexible. You can now configure a site, or all sites in general, to always run in desktop mode, which should be very useful.
So, without further ado, let's find out how to do all of this – starting with where the missing option is now located.
Note: If you're using iPadOS, desktop mode is enabled by default for all sites in Safari.
1. Temporarily enable desktop mode for a tab.
Instead of using Share Sheet or long-pressing the Refresh icon to access the option to launch a site in desktop mode, simply press the icon aA located in the upper left corner of the screen instead.
In the menu that appears, click Request Desktop Site, and Safari will immediately load. This setting only applies to the currently active tab. However, any links within the tab that you choose to open in new tabs will also load in desktop mode.
The tab will continue to load sites in desktop mode unless you close the tab or select it to load mobile versions of the websites again.
Tip: To make a tab again to load the mobile version of a site again, tap the aA icon, and then tap Request Mobile Website.
2. Enable desktop mode for a permanent site
If you prefer to load a specific website in desktop mode at all times, you no longer need to do this manually. Instead, iOS 13 now lets you easily configure Safari to automatically present the desktop version of any website.
Visit the site you want to load in desktop mode. Next, click the aA icon, then click Site Settings. In the menu that appears, turn on the switch next to "Request Desktop Site."
Click Done, and that's it. The site will now load in desktop mode at all times, regardless of which tab you're using. If you want to prevent this from happening in the future, open the Website Settings pane while the site is loading, then turn off the switch next to "Request Desktop Site."
3. Permanently enable desktop mode for all sites.
To make matters even better, Safari in iOS 13 can load all websites in desktop mode by default. Previously, you had to install and use a third-party web browser to access this functionality. Therefore, it's great that Apple is finally bringing native desktop mode support everywhere.
Note: Apple's iOS 13 beta is an incomplete software release and is subject to numerous bugs and flaws. Proceed with caution and install only after assessing the risks involved.
However, you can't enable desktop mode for all websites through Safari itself. Instead, you need to dive into your iPhone's Settings app to do so.
Step 1: Tap the Settings icon on the Home screen. After the Settings app appears, scroll down and tap Safari.
Step 2: In the Settings screen safari Scroll down and click Request Desktop Site. Then, turn on the switch next to Request on all sites.
Exit the Settings app, then launch Safari. All websites will now load in desktop mode until you decide to turn it off in the Settings app.
If you want to exclude some sites from loading in desktop mode, bring up the aA menu, click Website Settings, and then turn off the toggle next to Request Desktop Site.
Desktop experience on mobile
As you just discovered, you can load a tab in desktop mode while using Safari, and you can also configure specific sites or all websites to do so. Desktop sites don't look as good on the iPhone, and there are also interactive challenges. However, the added flexibility the browser now offers means you can enable desktop mode only for the sites you visit most often. Kudos, Apple!
