Have you ever found yourself struggling with a website that just doesn’t look right on your iPad?
Want to know how to switch to the desktop version? Luckily for you, I have had the same issue, and I decided to write a how-to article about it.
Let me show you how to enable desktop mode on Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Brave.
Safari
Apple’s default browser and the most popular browser is Safari and it makes it incredibly easy to request the desktop version of a website. Just follow my steps:
- Open Safari on your iPad and navigate to the website you want to view in desktop mode.
- Tap on the ‘aA’ icon located in the top-left corner of the address bar.
- In the menu that appears, select ‘Request Desktop Site.’
- The website will reload and display the desktop version. To switch back to the mobile version, simply repeat the steps and tap on ‘Request Mobile Site.’
This allows you to view websites as if you were accessing them from a desktop computer rather than the mobile version. I know the struggle when you open up a website and it’s not optimized for iPad. It looks off and you can’t get things done. That’s when this feature comes in handy.
Google Chrome
Do you prefer using Google Chrome? No problem! Here’s how you can request a desktop site using Chrome on your iPad, follow my steps:
- Open Chrome and visit the website you want to view in desktop mode.
- Tap on the three-dot menu icon located in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Scroll down the menu and select ‘Request Desktop Site.’
- Chrome will reload the page and display the desktop version of the website.
Mozilla Firefox
Last but not least, here’s how to request a desktop site using Firefox on your iPad:
- Open Firefox and visit the website you want to view in desktop mode.
- Tap on the three-line menu icon in the screen’s top-right corner.
- Select ‘Request Desktop Site’ from the menu.
- Firefox will reload the page and display the desktop version of the website.
Brave
Brave browser has gained some popularity, figured I would also add it to the list and show you how you can request desktop mode on it. Follow my steps:
- Open Brave and visit the website you want to view in desktop mode.
- Tap on the three-dot menu icon located in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Scroll down the menu and select ‘Request Desktop Site.’
- Brave will reload the page and display the desktop version of the website.
Why Can’t I Request Desktop Site On My iPad?
Some websites are designed to be viewed only in desktop mode, meaning in a horizontal mode. If you can’t load the website, try to flip your iPad horizontally(landscape mode). Refresh the website and see if that solves your problem.
If that doesn’t work, I suggest you try another browser on your iPad.
Final Thoughts
You won’t see a difference on all websites when you request a desktop version.
Many modern websites use responsive design, adapting to different screen sizes, eliminating the need for distinct versions.
In other cases, certain browsers will not fully support requesting the desktop version.
Fun fact: did you know that Safari is the most popular browser on iOS devices, and Google Chrome is a close second?
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I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.
