safari desktop site ipad

How to Access Desktop Websites in Safari

Parth Shah is an evergreen freelance writer covering how-tos, app guides, comparisons, listicles, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and smart TV platforms. He has over five years of experience and has covered 1,500+ articles on GuidingTech and Android Police. In his free time, you will see him binge-watching Netflix shows, reading books, and traveling.

Paurush dabbles around iOS and Mac while his close encounters are with Android and Windows. Before becoming a writer, he produced videos for brands like Mr. Phone and Digit. On weekends, he is a full-time cinephile trying to reduce his never-ending watchlist, often making it longer.

• You can choose Request Desktop Website in Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
• You can also open all websites in desktop mode on your iPhone or iPad.

Method 1: On iPhone

Note : Modern websites have responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes, making it challenging to force a desktop view. This can lead to websites displaying their mobile/tablet view even when the feature to access a desktop website is enabled in Safari.

Step 1: Launch the Safari browser and visit a webpage.

Step 2: Once you load the webpage, find the extension icon in the address bar and tap on it.

Step 3: Select Request Desktop Website , and Safari will reload the webpage in desktop mode.

Method 2: On iPad

While we don’t recommend using a desktop mode in Safari for iPhone, we argue against the same on the Safari iPad app. Most iPad users use the device in horizontal mode and with iPad screen size reaching almost 13-inch, it makes sense to use the Safari browser in desktop mode only.

That’s the reason Apple has set the desktop mode as the default view on Safari for iPad.

Enable All Websites to Open in Desktop Mode

You can return to the same extensions menu and request a mobile website to browse on your iPhone. If you wish to open all the tabs in the future in desktop mode only, you must tweak the Safari settings menu.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone and tap on Safari .

Step 2: Find the Settings for the websites menu and select Request Desktop Website . Enable the toggle for all websites from the following menu.

From now on, every web query will load in desktop mode in Safari for iPhone. However, the desktop mode experience can be below-average on a small screen.

If you don’t see the websites loading in desktop mode, you must make a similar setting tweak on your iPad.

Step 1: Open iPad Settings > go to Safari .

Step 2: Select the Request Desktop Website option and enable the toggle for the same.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 02 May, 2024

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

DID YOU KNOW

More in iOS

4 Ways to Fix Google Maps Draining Battery on Android and iPhone

2 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Keeps Crashing or Won’t Open on iPhone

Join the newsletter.

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

• Accessories
• Meet the team
• Advertise with us

Apple has changed the way we request desktop site in Safari on the iPhone and iPad. Earlier in iOS, this option was buried deep in the Share Sheet . But now, it is visible just by a single tap. Let’s learn how you can request a desktop site in Safari on the iPhone or iPad.

How to Request Desktop Site in Safari on iPhone in iOS 14 or 13

How to set specific site to always open in desktop mode in safari, how to permanently set all sites to always open in desktop mode in safari.

• How to Request Desktop Site in Safari
• Open Safari on your iPhone and visit the website whose desktop version you wish to view
• Tap on A A from the top left

The page will automatically reload in the desktop version.

To return to the mobile version , tap on AA and then tap on ‘Request Mobile Website.’

• Open Safari on your iPhone, and load the website you wish to always view in desktop mode
• Tap on Website Settings.

From now onwards, this website will always open in a desktop view. You may have to force quit Safari and reopen it (or restart iPhone) for these changes to take place.

To stop it from always loading the desktop version in Safari, follow the above steps, and turn off the toggle for Request Desktop Website.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone
• Tap on Safari.

From now onwards, all the websites you visit in Safari will load the desktop version.

• Do not see All Websites in step 3 above? Turn on the toggle for ‘Other Websites’ or tap on ‘Edit’ from top right and then tap on ‘Clear All Settings.’ Now you will see the option named ‘All Websites.’
• To stop all websites from loading the Desktop version , follow the above steps and turn off the toggle for ‘Request Desktop Website.’

How to Request Desktop Site in Safari on iPhone

To view desktop version for a site on iPhone, tap on share icon from the bottom bar and then tap on Request Desktop Site.

Conclusion…

Please understand that you might not see much changes with all websites in the desktop version before you go. For sites like Wikipedia, you can see a complete revamp of the layout. But if you enable Desktop mode for many sites, including ours (go ahead and try), you won’t see much difference. However, when you scroll to the end, you might see our fixed right sidebar ad on mobile only available on the desktop version.

So, we can conclude that you may not see any significant visual changes in the desktop version for many websites, but your browser does load the resources of a desktop version when you enable it.

You may also like to read…

• Steps to Check Digital Certificates in Safari
• 8 Techniques to Open (t.co) Short Links from Twitter

Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com, who has a keen eye for news, rumors, and all the unusual stuff around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting content on social media.

🗣️ Our site is supported by our readers like you. When you purchase through our links, we earn a small commission. Read Disclaimer .

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Articles

How to scan documents on iphone with notes and files app, how to tell if your iphone is unlocked (2024 guide), how to remove camera from iphone lock screen in ios 18 and ios 17, iphone os 1 to ios 18 – a brief history of the iphone software.

How to force your iPhone or iPad to load the desktop version of a website

Most of the time using a mobile-friendly website is just fine -- until it's not, and you need the full desktop version of a site.

One drawback to relying on an iPhone or iPad for your web browsing needs is that you're almost always using the mobile version of a website. And for the most part, mobile websites are fully capable versions of the same experience you would have using a full desktop-class browser.

However, there are times when the mobile version of a website lacks a feature or capability that the full website offers. If you find yourself in need of the full desktop version of a website, you can force mobile Safari to request and load the full version of a website with just a couple of taps.

When viewing a webpage in Safari, long-press on the Refresh button. A small prompt will show up just below the button, giving you the option to Request Desktop Site . Tap on the drop-down, which will prompt Safari to reload the current page, but this time it should reflect the same experience you would have on a Mac or PC.

Mobile Guides

• Best iPhone
• Best Galaxy S24 Deals
• Best iPhone Deals
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Review
• Best Android Phones
• Best Samsung Galaxy Phone
• Pixel 8 Pro Review
• iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max Review
• Best iPhone 15 Deals
• Best Foldable Phones
• Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review
• OnePlus Open Review
• Best Galaxy Z Flip Deals
• Best Wireless Earbuds
• Best Noise Canceling Headphones
• Best Headphones
• Best Over Ear Headphones
• Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for Making Calls
• Best Headphones for Work at Home
• Best Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds
• Best Sounding Wireless Earbuds
• Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds
• Best Wireless Headphones
• Best iPhone 15 Cases
• Best iPhone 14 Cases
• Best Power Bank for iPhone
• Best Airpods Pro Accessories
• Best Magsafe iPhone Accessories
• Best Speakerphone
• Best Wireless Car Charger and Mount
• Best iPhone Fast Charger
• Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for Android
• Apple Watch Series 8 vs Series 7
• Best Apple Watch Bands
• Best Android Smartwatch
• Apple Watch Ultra Review
• Best Smartwatch
• Best Prepaid Phone Plans
• Best Cheap Phone Plans
• Best Unlimited Data Plans
• Best Phone Plans
• Best Phone Plan Deals
• Best Senior Phone Plans
• Best Family Phone Plans
• Best Travel Phone Plans
• Best Verizon Plans

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• Backchannel
• Newsletters
• WIRED Insider
• WIRED Consulting

How to Switch to the Desktop Versions of Your Favorite Mobile Sites

Reading articles on a phone in the 2020s is almost impossible—mobile designers seem intent on hiding the article you want to read. First there's the banner at the top of the site, which follows you as you scroll. That's bad enough, but some sites add another banner that follows you at the bottom of the screen, generally with an ad, a newsletter signup form, and a reminder that the app "works better" than the website. Keep scrolling and the text of the article will be interrupted several times between the top and bottom bars.

It's a mess. And there's a workaround, of sorts: requesting the desktop version of a site.

It's hard to remember now, but in the early days of smartphones most websites were built with desktop computers in mind. Browsing the web on an iPhone in 2009 meant doing a lot of scrolling, panning, and zooming to see the section of the page you were interested in. It was annoying, granted, but far less annoying than browsing a typical mobile page in 2023. Desktop sites, meanwhile, have gotten a lot better about rescaling themselves. This is called “ responsive design .” Go ahead, if you're on a computer: Make this window more narrow and watch as the site changes on the fly to fit the space you give it.

This has all been true for a long time. The main difference between the "mobile" version of a site and the "desktop" one are the annoyances that follow you as you scroll. That means that, generally, all you have to lose by requesting the desktop version of a site are the mobile-specific annoyances. It's not a trick that will work on every site, granted, but it works on many.

Requesting the desktop version of a site isn't hard. On the iPhone and iPad's Safari browser you need to tap the " aA " icon in the bottom-right corner, then click Request Desktop Website .

This will request the desktop version of the site for this session. You can also change the settings to automatically ask for the desktop version—just tap Website Settings in the same menu and you'll see the option to request the desktop website automatically for that domain.

On an Android device running the Chrome browser you need to tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, then tap the Desktop Site checkmark.

In either Android or iOS the website you're reading should refresh, after which you will get the desktop version of the site. The page may not even look different, and in some cases won't behave differently, but in my testing most websites are at least a little easier to use this way. In particular, requesting the desktop website tends to reduce the number of bars of nonsense that follow you as you scroll.

Requesting the desktop version of a site removes some annoyances, but it's not perfect. If you want to see the article you're currently reading, and only that article, you'll have to go one stop further: reading mode. This is a feature offered on all major smartphones that can extract the text of an article from any website and show you only that.

Safari has this feature built-in: just tap the " aA " button in the left-side of the address bar and tap Show Reader . You will then see only the article text. You can optionally set any domain to automatically load articles with reading mode, if you like—I recommend doing this if you notice a particular website is consistently annoying.

Android doesn't come with reading mode, sadly, but you can add one by installing Reading Mode , an official Google tool you can download from the Google Play Store . This application adds a systemwide button that you can use in any app, including the Chrome browser. It will extract all text and show it to you alone. It can also read the text to you out loud, if you like.

The web is only getting more and more cluttered, but at least you can fight back. It's just a matter of using the right tools.

By Adrienne So

By Simon Hill

By Andrew Williams

By Christopher Solomon

You Might Also Like …

In your inbox: Will Knight's Fast Forward explores advances in AI

Inside the biggest FBI sting operation in history

The WIRED AI Elections Project : Tracking more than 60 global elections

Ecuador is literally powerless in the face of drought

Rest assured: Here are the best mattresses you can buy online

Reece Rogers

Julian Chokkattu

Boone Ashworth

Lauren Goode

WIRED COUPONS

Dyson Promo Code: Up To $100 Off Select Hair Care

Get Up To An Extra 45% Off June Sale

Vista Print Coupon Code: 20% Off Select Signage

Newegg Coupon 10% Off

$49.99/Year Only For Peacock Premium ($4/Month)

Explore DJI's Student Discounts & Educational Offers For 2024

How-To Geek

How to view desktop sites on iphone and android.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for June 18 (#373)

Stop giving companies your real email—do this instead, this is tiktok’s instagram clone, quick links, how to request desktop site on iphone, how to view desktop site on android, how to switch back to mobile site on iphone, how to turn off desktop mode on android, key takeaways.

In Safari on iPhone, tap the "Aa" icon and select "Request Desktop Website."

In Chrome for Android, tap the three-dot menu icon and select "Desktop Site" from the menu.

Most websites have mobile versions that are optimized for smartphone screens. Sometimes, you might need to see the full desktop version of the site. iPhone and Android devices allow you to switch between desktop and mobile mode.

On the iPhone and iPad, tap the "Aa" icon in the Safari URL bar and select "Request Desktop Website" from the menu. It's really that simple. If you have a device running iOS 12 or older, for some reason, viewing a desktop site in Safari  is a bit different.

The same thing applies to most browsers on the iPhone and iPad. For example, with Google Chrome, simply tap the three-dot menu icon in the bottom right and select "Request Desktop Website" from the menu.

To view a website in desktop mode with Chrome for Android, tap the three-dot menu icon in the rop right and select "Desktop Site."

There are many browsers available for Android, and you can enable desktop websites in them in a similar way.

If you're viewing a website in desktop mode on an iPhone or iPad, simply tap the "Aa" button in the Safari URL bar and select "Request Mobile Website." Now you're back in the mobile-optimized website layout.

To switch back to the mobile version of a website in Chrome for Android, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right and uncheck the box for "Desktop Site." Other Android browsers have this option in a similar place.

That's all there is to it. Switching between desktop and mobile versions is no big deal on iPhone, iPad, and Android. Thankfully, most modern websites work perfectly fine in their mobile-optimized layouts, but you still may need the full version once in a while. Now, if you want to browse an old version of a website , that's a different story.

• Web Browsers

Press ESC to close

How To Request Desktop Site in Safari iOS 15

• How To , iPhone , Phones
• November 12, 2021

Using a website on Safari browser is the easy way to access the net. However, sometimes, some features are available only when we access the site with our desktop . So if you are missing those features and want to force your Safari browser to show you the desktop version even when you are using iPhone or iPad you can still do it.

Table of Contents

Forcing Desktop View of the site in Safari on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

• For those using iPadOS, Safari defaults to desktop versions, so you don’t have to change anything.
• Those with iPhone or iPod running on iOS 13+, can change the view by going to AA icon next to the website address and choosing Request Desktop Site .
• If you want to change sites to desktop mode permanently in iOS 15+ , tap the AA icon and choose Website Settings–toggle on Request Desktop Site.
• To change all sites by default to show desktop mode, go to Settings > Safari > Request Desktop Website .
• For those with iOS 12 or below, you can change desktop mode by going to the refresh symbol next to the web address and choosing Request Desktop Website or tap the share button and choose the Request Desktop Website from the sheet.

How do I request a desktop site in Safari iOS 15?

Step 1: Open Safari browser

Step 2: Locate a site that you want to view in desktop mode

Step 4: Now choose Request Desktop Website from the Quick Action menu. The site will now switch to the desktop version if available.

Step 5: Tap the AA icon again to return to the mobile version or you can simply close the tab.

Step 1: Open Safari

Step 2: Find the site you want to view in desktop mode

Step 4: Then choose Website Settings from the Quick Action menu .

Step 5: Now toggle on Request Desktop Website .

Step 7: You can also use this opportunity to set other preferences for this particular site for access to the camera, microphone, and location or set the website to always show up in reader mode.

Step 8: This site now will always show up on the desktop version only.

Step 10: Finally, tap Done to save your preference.

Review Site Set On Desktop View in Safari

Step 1: On your device, open Settings > Safari .

Step 3: Tap Request Desktop Website .

Step 4: Now review the list of sites.

Step 6: To go back to default for multiple sites, Select the sites and delete the site from the list.

Step 7: To remove all sites from showing desktop mode, choose Clear All Settings and confirm.

Change Safari’s default to desktop versions for all sites

Step 2: Scroll down and look for Settings for Websites.

Step 3: From there, choose Request Desktop Website

How To Force desktop site in Safari with iOS 12 and lower.

If you can’t update your device to iOS 13, here is the option to view the desktop version of the site on your device.

Step 3: Now press and hold the refresh button and choose Request Desktop Site .

Step 4: Or tap the Share button, scroll the bottom row, and choose the Request Desktop Site button from the Share.

Desktop View On iPadOS

Features Of iOS 15 Safari Browser

Apart from the easy accessibility of the desktop site version on iOS safari, Apple has also equipped the browser with new features that you will love to have. They are as follows…

2. Jump to open tab from Smart Search field: When you type an address on a site, Safari will direct you to that site without opening a new tab.

3. Photo upload resizes: Before you upload any photo, Safari gives you the option to resize your photos to small, medium, large, or actual size.

5. Bookmarks: It’s now easy on the go. You can save a particular tab on your bookmark and open them later even on other devices using iCloud. (features found on Google Chrome).

6. Email sharing options: You can share a webpage as a link, PDF of a reader view through email via your Safari share sheet.

Related Posts:

• how to get imessage Windows PC With or Without Mac
• How to Sync iPhone or iPad to Your Mac in macOS Catalina
• How to Fix Face ID Not Working on iPhone 11 Pro
• How to Download Apps Larger than 200MB without WiFi on iPhone

James, a distinguished alumnus of MIT, where he specialized in Computer Science and Communications Technology, has an impressive academic foundation that underpins his expertise. With over a decade in the industry, he deciphers complex technology into easy how-tos. Known for his keen insights, James is dedicated to helping readers navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Update your iPhone and iPad to iOS 15.1.3 and iPadOS 15.1.3 to fix bugs

How to change csc code of samsung phones, comments (1), leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

iPad User Guide

• iPad models compatible with iPadOS 17
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad (8th generation)
• iPad (9th generation)
• iPad (10th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation)
• iPad Air (5th generation)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• Setup basics
• Make your iPad your own
• Keep in touch with friends and family
• Customize your workspace
• Do more with Apple Pencil
• Customize iPad for your child
• What’s new in iPadOS 17
• Turn on and set up iPad
• Wake, unlock, and lock
• Set up cellular service
• Connect to the internet
• Sign in with Apple ID
• Subscribe to iCloud+
• Find settings
• Set up mail, contacts, and calendar accounts
• Learn the meaning of the status icons
• Charge the battery
• Show the battery percentage
• Check battery usage
• Use Low Power Mode to save battery life
• Read and bookmark the user guide
• Adjust the volume
• Learn basic gestures
• Learn advanced gestures
• Find your apps in App Library
• Switch between apps
• Zoom an app to fill the screen
• Quit and reopen an app
• Drag and drop
• Open two items in Split View
• Switch an app window to Slide Over
• View an app’s windows and workspaces
• Multitask with Picture in Picture
• Move, resize, and organize windows
• Access features from the Lock Screen
• Perform quick actions
• Search on iPad
• Get information about your iPad
• View or change cellular data settings
• Travel with iPad
• Change or turn off sounds
• Create a custom Lock Screen
• Change the wallpaper
• Adjust the screen brightness and color balance
• Customize the text size and zoom setting
• Change the name of your iPad
• Change the date and time
• Change the language and region
• Organize your apps in folders
• Add, edit, and remove widgets
• Move apps and widgets on the Home Screen
• Remove or delete apps
• Use and customize Control Center
• Change or lock the screen orientation
• View and respond to notifications
• Change notification settings
• Set up a focus
• Allow or silence notifications for a Focus
• Turn a Focus on or off
• Customize sharing options
• Type with the onscreen keyboard
• Dictate text
• Move the onscreen keyboard
• Select and edit text
• Use predictive text
• Use text replacements
• Add or change keyboards
• Add emoji and stickers
• Take a screenshot
• Take a screen recording
• Write and draw in documents
• Add text, shapes, signatures, and more
• Fill out forms and sign documents
• Use Live Text to interact with content in a photo or video
• Use Visual Look Up to identify objects in your photos and videos
• Lift a subject from the photo background
• Subscribe to Apple Arcade
• Play with friends in Game Center
• Connect a game controller
• Use App Clips
• Update apps
• View or cancel subscriptions
• Manage purchases, settings, and restrictions
• Install and manage fonts
• Buy books and audiobooks
• Annotate books
• Access books on other Apple devices
• Listen to audiobooks
• Set reading goals
• Organize books
• Create and edit events in Calendar
• Send invitations
• Reply to invitations
• Change how you view events
• Search for events
• Change calendar and event settings
• Schedule or display events in a different time zone
• Keep track of events
• Use multiple calendars
• Use the Holidays calendar
• Share iCloud calendars
• Take photos
• Take Live Photos
• Take a selfie
• Take a Portrait mode selfie
• Take videos
• Change advanced camera settings
• Adjust HDR camera settings
• View, share, and print photos
• Use Live Text
• Scan a QR code
• Scan documents
• See the world clock
• Set an alarm
• Use the stopwatch
• Use multiple timers
• Add and use contact information
• Edit contacts
• Add your contact info
• Send Contacts on iPad
• Use other contact accounts
• Hide duplicate contacts
• Export contacts
• Get started with FaceTime
• Make FaceTime calls
• Receive FaceTime calls
• Create a FaceTime link
• Take a Live Photo
• Turn on Live Captions
• Use other apps during a call
• Make a Group FaceTime call
• View participants in a grid
• Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together
• Share your screen in a FaceTime call
• Collaborate on a document in a FaceTime call
• Use video conferencing features
• Hand off a FaceTime call to another Apple device
• Change the FaceTime video settings
• Change the FaceTime audio settings
• Change your appearance
• Leave a call or switch to Messages
• Block unwanted callers
• Report a call as spam
• Connect external devices or servers
• Modify files, folders, and downloads
• Search for files and folders
• Organize files and folders
• Set up iCloud Drive
• Share files and folders in iCloud Drive
• Use an external storage device, a file server, or a cloud storage service
• Share your location
• Add or remove a friend
• Locate a friend
• Get notified when friends change their location
• Notify a friend when your location changes
• Turn off Find My
• Add your iPad
• Get notified if you leave a device behind
• Locate a device
• Mark a device as lost
• Erase a device
• Remove a device
• Add an AirTag
• Share an AirTag or other item in Find My on iPad
• Add a third-party item
• Get notified if you leave an item behind
• Locate an item
• Mark an item as lost
• Remove an item
• Adjust map settings
• Get started with Freeform
• Create a Freeform board
• Draw or handwrite
• Apply consistent styles
• Position items on a board
• Search Freeform boards
• Share and collaborate
• Delete and recover boards
• Get started with Health
• Fill out your Health Details
• Intro to Health data
• View your health data
• Share your health data
• View health data shared by others
• Download health records
• View health records
• Log menstrual cycle information
• View menstrual cycle predictions and history
• Track your medications
• Learn more about your medications
• Log your state of mind
• Take a mental health assessment
• Customize your Sleep Focus
• Turn Sleep Focus on or off
• View your sleep history
• Check your headphone audio levels
• Use audiogram data
• Back up your Health data
• Intro to Home
• Upgrade to the new Home architecture
• Set up accessories
• Control accessories
• Control your home using Siri
• Use Grid Forecast to plan your energy usage
• Set up HomePod
• Control your home remotely
• Create and use scenes
• Use automations
• Set up security cameras
• Use Face Recognition
• Configure a router
• Invite others to control accessories
• Add more homes
• Get music, movies, and TV shows
• Get ringtones
• Manage purchases and settings
• Magnify nearby objects
• Change settings
• Detect people around you
• Detect doors around you
• Receive image descriptions of your surroundings
• Read aloud text and labels around you
• Set up shortcuts for Detection Mode
• Add and remove email accounts
• Set up a custom email domain
• Check your email
• Unsend email with Undo send
• Reply to and forward emails
• Save an email draft
• Add email attachments
• Download email attachments
• Annotate email attachments
• Set email notifications
• Search for email
• Organize your email in mailboxes
• Flag or block emails
• Filter emails
• Use Hide My Email
• Use Mail Privacy Protection
• Change email settings
• Delete and recover emails
• Add a Mail widget to your Home Screen
• Print emails
• Use keyboard shortcuts
• Get travel directions
• Select other route options
• Find stops along your route
• View a route overview or a list of turns
• Change settings for spoken directions
• Get driving directions
• Report traffic incidents
• Get cycling directions
• Get walking directions
• Get transit directions
• Delete recent directions
• Get traffic and weather info
• Predict travel time and ETA
• Download offline maps
• Search for places
• Find nearby attractions, restaurants, and services
• Get information about places
• Mark places
• Share places
• Rate places
• Save favorite places
• Explore new places with Guides
• Organize places in My Guides
• Clear location history
• Look around places
• Take Flyover tours
• Find your Maps settings
• Measure dimensions
• View and save measurements
• Measure a person’s height
• Set up Messages
• About iMessage
• Send and reply to messages
• Unsend and edit messages
• Keep track of messages
• Forward and share messages
• Group conversations
• Watch, listen, or play together using SharePlay
• Collaborate on projects
• Use iMessage apps
• Take and edit photos or videos
• Share photos, links, and more
• Send stickers
• Request, send, and receive payments
• Send and receive audio messages
• Animate messages
• Send and save GIFs
• Turn read receipts on or off
• Change notifications
• Block, filter, and report messages
• Delete messages and attachments
• Recover deleted messages
• View albums, playlists, and more
• Show song credits and lyrics
• Queue up your music
• Listen to broadcast radio
• Subscribe to Apple Music
• Listen to lossless music
• Listen to Dolby Atmos music
• Apple Music Sing
• Find new music
• Add music and listen offline
• Get personalized recommendations
• Listen to radio
• Search for music
• Create playlists
• See what your friends are listening to
• Use Siri to play music
• Change the way music sounds
• Get started with News
• Use News widgets
• See news stories chosen just for you
• Read stories
• Follow your favorite teams with My Sports
• Subscribe to Apple News+
• Browse and read Apple News+ stories and issues
• Use Offline Mode to read downloaded stories
• Manually download Apple News+ issues
• Solve puzzles in Apple News
• Solve crossword and crossword mini puzzles on iPad
• Solve Quartiles puzzles
• Search for news stories
• Save stories in News for later
• Subscribe to individual news channels
• Get started with Notes
• Add or remove accounts
• Create and format notes
• Draw or write
• Add photos, videos, and more
• Scan text and documents
• Work with PDFs
• Create Quick Notes
• Search notes
• Organize in folders
• Organize with tags
• Use Smart Folders
• Export or print notes
• Change Notes settings
• Delete, share, or copy a photo
• View and edit Photo Booth photos in the Photos app
• View photos and videos
• Play videos and slideshows
• Delete or hide photos and videos
• Edit photos and videos
• Trim video length and adjust slow motion
• Edit Live Photos
• Edit Cinematic videos
• Edit portraits
• Use photo albums
• Edit, share, and organize albums
• Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
• Make stickers from your photos
• Duplicate and copy photos and videos
• Merge duplicate photos
• Search for photos
• Identify people and pets
• Browse photos by location
• Share photos and videos
• Share long videos
• View photos and videos shared with you
• Watch memories
• Personalize your memories
• Manage memories and featured photos
• Use iCloud Photos
• Create shared albums
• Add and remove people in a shared album
• Add and delete photos and videos in a shared album
• Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Import and export photos and videos
• Print photos
• Find podcasts
• Listen to podcasts
• Follow your favorite podcasts
• Use the Podcasts widget
• Organize your podcast library
• Download, save, and share podcasts
• Subscribe to podcasts
• Listen to subscriber-only content
• Change download settings
• Make a grocery list
• Add items to a list
• Edit and manage a list
• Search and organize lists
• Work with templates
• Use Smart Lists
• Print reminders
• Use the Reminders widget
• Change Reminders settings
• Browse the web
• Search for websites
• Customize your Safari settings
• Change the layout
• Use Safari profiles
• Open and close tabs
• Organize your tabs with Tab Groups
• View your tabs from another device
• Share Tab Groups
• Use Siri to listen to a webpage
• Bookmark a website
• Bookmark a website as a favorite
• Save pages to a Reading List
• Find links shared with you
• Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
• Automatically fill in forms
• Get extensions
• Hide ads and distractions
• Clear your cache and cookies
• Browse the web privately
• Use passkeys in Safari
• Check stocks
• Manage multiple watchlists
• Read business news
• Add earnings reports to your calendar
• Use a Stocks widget
• Translate text, voice, and conversations
• Translate text in apps
• Translate with the camera view
• Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or an Apple TV channel
• Add your TV provider
• Get shows, movies, and more
• Watch sports
• Watch Major League Soccer with MLS Season Pass
• Watch multiple live sports streams
• Control playback
• Manage your library
• Change the settings
• Make a recording
• Play it back
• Edit or delete a recording
• Keep recordings up to date
• Organize recordings
• Search for or rename a recording
• Share a recording
• Duplicate a recording
• Check the weather
• Check the weather in other locations
• View weather maps
• Manage weather notifications
• Use Weather widgets
• Learn the weather icons
• Find out what Siri can do
• Tell Siri about yourself
• Have Siri announce calls and notifications
• Add Siri Shortcuts
• About Siri Suggestions
• Change Siri settings
• Set up Family Sharing
• Add Family Sharing members
• Remove Family Sharing members
• Share subscriptions
• Share purchases
• Share locations with family and locate lost devices
• Set up Apple Cash Family and Apple Card Family
• Set up parental controls
• Set up a child’s device
• Get started with Screen Time
• Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
• Set up Screen Time
• Set communication and safety limits and block inappropriate content
• Set up Screen Time for a family member
• Set up Apple Pay
• Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
• Track your orders
• Use Apple Cash
• Use Apple Card
• Use Savings
• Manage payment cards and activity
• Power adapter and charge cable
• Use AirPods
• Use EarPods
• Use headphone audio-level features
• Apple Pencil compatibility
• Pair and charge Apple Pencil (1st generation)
• Pair and charge Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
• Pair and charge Apple Pencil (USB-C)
• Pair and charge Apple Pencil Pro
• Enter text with Scribble
• Draw with Apple Pencil
• Take and mark up a screenshot with Apple Pencil
• Quickly write notes
• Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
• Connect to a display with a cable
• HomePod and other wireless speakers
• iPad keyboards
• Switch between keyboards
• Enter characters with diacritical marks
• Use shortcuts
• Choose an alternative keyboard layout
• Change typing assistance options
• Connect Magic Trackpad
• Trackpad gestures
• Change trackpad settings
• Connect a mouse
• Mouse actions and gestures
• Change mouse settings
• External storage devices
• Bluetooth accessories
• Apple Watch with Fitness+
• Polishing cloth
• Share your internet connection
• Make and receive phone calls
• Use iPad as a second display for Mac
• Use iPad as a webcam
• Use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad across your Mac and iPad
• Hand off tasks between devices
• Cut, copy, and paste between iPad and other devices
• Stream video or mirror the screen of your iPad
• Use AirDrop to send items
• Connect iPad and your computer with a cable
• Transfer files between devices
• Transfer files with email, messages, or AirDrop
• Transfer files or sync content with the Finder or iTunes
• Automatically keep files up to date with iCloud
• Get started with accessibility features
• Turn on accessibility features for setup
• Change Siri accessibility settings
• Open features with Accessibility Shortcut
• Enlarge text by hovering
• Change color and brightness
• Make text easier to read
• Reduce onscreen motion
• Customize per-app visual settings
• Hear what’s on the screen or typed
• Hear audio descriptions
• Turn on and practice VoiceOver
• Change your VoiceOver settings
• Use VoiceOver gestures
• Operate iPad when VoiceOver is on
• Control VoiceOver using the rotor
• Use the onscreen keyboard
• Write with your finger
• Keep the screen off
• Use VoiceOver with an Apple external keyboard
• Use a braille display
• Type braille on the screen
• Customize gestures and keyboard shortcuts
• Use VoiceOver with a pointer device
• Use VoiceOver for images and videos
• Use VoiceOver in apps
• Use AssistiveTouch
• Use an eye-tracking device
• Adjust how iPad responds to your touch
• Auto-answer calls
• Change Face ID and attention settings
• Use Voice Control
• Adjust the top or Home button
• Use Apple TV Remote buttons
• Adjust pointer settings
• Adjust keyboard settings
• Control iPad with an external keyboard
• Adjust AirPods settings
• Adjust double tap and squeeze settings for Apple Pencil
• Intro to Switch Control
• Set up and turn on Switch Control
• Select items, perform actions, and more
• Control several devices with one switch
• Use hearing devices
• Use Live Listen
• Use sound recognition
• Set up and use RTT
• Flash the indicator light for notifications
• Adjust audio settings
• Play background sounds
• Display subtitles and captions
• Show transcriptions for Intercom messages
• Get live captions of spoken audio
• Type to speak
• Record a Personal Voice
• Lock iPad to one app with Guided Access
• Use built-in privacy and security protections
• Set a passcode
• Set up Face ID
• Set up Touch ID
• Control access to information on the Lock Screen
• Keep your Apple ID secure
• Use passkeys to sign in to apps and websites
• Sign in with Apple
• Share passwords
• Automatically fill in strong passwords
• Change weak or compromised passwords
• View your passwords and related information
• Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop
• Make your passkeys and passwords available on all your devices
• Automatically fill in verification codes
• Sign in with fewer CAPTCHA challenges
• Two-factor authentication
• Use security keys
• Control app tracking permissions
• Control the location information you share
• Control access to information in apps
• Control how Apple delivers advertising to you
• Control access to hardware features
• Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
• Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
• Use a private network address
• Use Advanced Data Protection
• Use Lockdown Mode
• Receive warnings about sensitive content
• Use Contact Key Verification
• Turn iPad on or off
• Force restart iPad
• Update iPadOS
• Back up iPad
• Reset iPad settings
• Restore all content from a backup
• Restore purchased and deleted items
• Sell, give away, or trade in your iPad
• Install or remove configuration profiles
• Important safety information
• Important handling information
• Find more resources for software and service
• FCC compliance statement
• ISED Canada compliance statement
• Apple and the environment
• Class 1 Laser information
• Disposal and recycling information
• Unauthorized modification of iPadOS
• ENERGY STAR compliance statement

Browse the web using Safari on iPad

View websites with Safari

You can easily navigate a webpage with a few taps.

Get back to the top: Double-tap the top edge of the screen to quickly return to the top of a long page.

See more of the page: Turn iPad to landscape orientation.

Refresh the page: Pull down from the top of the page.

View two pages side-by-side in Split View

Use Split View to open two Safari pages side-by side.

Open a link in Split View: Touch and hold the link, then tap Open in New Window.

Leave Split View: Drag the divider over the window you want to close.

Preview website links

Touch and hold a link in Safari to see a preview of the link without opening the page. To open the link, tap the preview, or tap Open.

To close the preview and stay on the current page, tap anywhere outside the preview.

Translate a webpage

When you view a webpage that’s in another language, you can use Safari to translate it (not available in all languages or regions).

Manage downloads

To download a file, touch and hold the file or link you want to download, then tap Download Linked File.

Tip: You can download files in the background while you continue to use Safari.

Add Safari back to your Home Screen

If you don’t see Safari on your Home Screen, you can find it in App Library and add it back.

On the Home Screen, swipe left until you see the App Library.

Enter “Safari” in the search field.

How to request a desktop site in Safari on your iPhone running iOS 13

• To request a desktop site on the iOS 13 Safari app, you'll need to use a menu hidden in the search bar.
• Not all webpages will allow you to load a desktop site in Safari.
• Once you request a desktop site, Safari will automatically default to that setup whenever you load the page.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Back before mobile phones were all tiny computers, trying to see a website on your phone was difficult, and sometimes even impossible.

Today, that's not an issue. Most people browse the internet via their phones, and as a result, almost every website has two separate versions: a mobile version and a desktop version.

When you open a website on your iPhone , the site knows this, and will automatically show you the mobile site. This is usually convenient — until you find a website that has a bad mobile version.

Maybe it doesn't have all the features that the desktop site does, or is just ugly. Because of this, it's occasionally still necessary to view a desktop site on your phone.

On an iPhone running iOS 13 , you can still request and load the desktop version of any site. Here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Iphone 11 (from $699.99 at apple), how to request a desktop site on ios 13 in safari.

1. On your iPhone running iOS 13, open Safari and head to the website you'd like to see the desktop version of.

2. Wait a few moments for the page to fully load. Once it's loaded, scroll up so that you can see the search bar, and then tap the "Aa" button.

3. From the pop-up menu that appears, select "Request Desktop Site."

Note that while all sites will let you request a desktop site, not all sites will actually give you one — some will just refresh the page but keep displaying the mobile site.

You should also note that when you do this, Safari will remember your preferences, so the next time you go to this site, it will display the desktop version. 

If at any point you want to switch back to the mobile version, just repeat this process — the button in step three will have changed to "Request Mobile Site" instead.

Related coverage from  How To Do Everything: Tech :

How to turn off auto brightness in ios 13 to stop your iphone from changing its brightness on its own, how to use do not disturb on an iphone to silence notifications and limit distractions, ios 13 lets you automatically close tabs in the safari browser on an iphone after a set period of time — here's how to do it, ios 13 has a new feature that limits the data usage on your iphone — here's how to use low data mode, how to copy and paste using gestures on an iphone with ios 13, and edit text in an instant.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Watch: Top 9 features coming to the iPhone in iOS 12

• Main content

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

How to quickly request the desktop version of a website on your iPhone

Last updated 3 years ago

At a time when more and more people use smartphones and tablets to go online, many websites have adapted to the wide variety of screen sizes by using responsive design, allowing for the experience to be relatively close to the full page version, as seen in web browsers on Mac desktops and PCs.

Not all sites go down this route, and instead funnel iPhone users towards a mobile-friendly version of the website. Typically produced to offer the essential elements of the web page but on a narrower display, these versions are optimized to use small amounts of data and to make it readable in a compact display, and in some cases can perform a lot better than the responsive design version.

That being said, there's sometimes a need for an iPhone user to break from the constraints of the mobile site and instead view the desktop version. For example, some features available in the full page may not be offered in the mobile site.

To make it easy for users needing to view the desktop site, Apple has added ways to force it to load in Safari, instead of taking users to the mobile-friendly variant.

Method 1: Reload Icon

Start off by loading the relevant website in Safari , then once it's completed loading the mobile site, hold down the refresh icon in the URL bar, at the top right corner of the screen.

For iPhone users, this will bring up buttons at the bottom of the screen, offering to Request Desktop Site or to Cancel the request. Select Request Desktop Site .

The same thing can also be requested on the iPad, but instead of appearing at the bottom of the screen, there is instead a pop-up button for Request Desktop Site that appears just below the refresh icon. Tap Request Desktop Site .

In either case, Safari will reload the page to display the desktop version of the website. Depending on the site's width, users may need to scroll sideways in order to see the complete page, even if the iPhone is turned to a landscape orientation.

Method 2: Sharing Menu

As before, enter Safari and load up the page you want to view.

On iPhone, scroll up or tap the top bar to bring up the bottom menu bar, and select the Share icon . In the Share menu, scroll along the bottom grey-and-white icons to find Request Desktop Site , and select it.

On iPad, the same icon is just to the right of the Reload icon, in the top-right corner. Navigate to the same section within the menu, and tap Request Desktop Site .

Further notes

If you request the non-mobile version of a website, Safari will retain your preferences, and will always request that version in the future. Bear this in mind before selecting the option.

22 Comments

Interesting (not). What I'd really like to know is how to access the desktop site on a MacBook Air as it keeps loading the Facebook mobile site!

sflagel said: Interesting (not). What I'd really like to know is how to access the desktop site on a MacBook Air as it keeps loading the Facebook mobile site! Does this happen even if you type the full url, as in https://www.facebook.com or just when you type facebook in the URL bar?

It happens very often that I request the desktop version of a site and still get served with mobile version. Which is often very annoying and i didn’t find any way how to fix this...

riverko said: It happens very often that I request the desktop version of a site and still get served with mobile version. Which is often very annoying and i didn’t find any way how to fix this... If the mobile version still gets served after the request, then the web developers from that site are not adhering to standards. You'll need to take it up with them, I'm afraid.

Mike Wuerthele said: riverko said: It happens very often that I request the desktop version of a site and still get served with mobile version. Which is often very annoying and i didn’t find any way how to fix this...

OK, I'll call Facebook and see if I cans peak to their head of development. No seriously, I think it is the way Safari remembers Favourites; if you use a website often on a mobile device, it put the mobile url in Favourites; which also brings it up when you just type "facebook" in the URL window..

Top Stories

B&H's MacBook Pro Mega Deal Zone knocks up to $550 off

Apple Intelligence impresses now, and it's still very early

M4 MacBook Pro upgrade could arrive by end of 2024

Apple Vision Pro sequel stalls as work on cheaper consumer headset continues

EU has very serious issues with Apple, says competition chief

M4 Macs, iPhone 16, and more: What Apple has planned for the rest of 2024

Featured deals.

Apple's M3 Pro MacBook Pro plunges to $1,699

Latest exclusives.

What happened to Safari Web Eraser — the controversy, and what it looked like

Siri is reborn in iOS 18 — everything Apple's voice assistant will be able to do

iOS 18 Mail app will get huge AI enhancements & summarizations with 'Project Blackpearl'

Latest comparisons.

AirPods Max vs. Sonos Ace: premium personal audio, compared

More Metal: Apple's iPad Pro Magic Keyboards, compared

Top AI tablets: iPad Pro with M4 versus Microsoft's new Surface Pro

Latest news.

How Apple's Game Mode is expanding to iOS and iPadOS — and how to turn it off

Apple is making a bigger drive for people to game on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, but Game Mode can be annoying. Here's what it is, and how to turn it off.

How to perfect your home screen with iPadOS 18 customization options

Apple has made it easier to customize and arrange your iPad home screen, with iPadOS 18 letting you rearrange icons and even tint them. Here's how to do it.

Safari's Reader mode is improved in iOS 18, even without Apple Intelligence

The headline Apple Intelligence improvements to Safari's Reader mode on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia are not available yet, but the feature has still been updated.

At WWDC, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence as an expansion of its AI capabilities. It's incredibly impressive in action, and if you let it, it will change how you work.

Apple researchers add 20 more open-source models to improve text and image AI

Apple has contributed 20 new Core Machine Learning models to an open source AI repository Hugging Face, adding to its existing public models and research papers.

How to schedule messages in iOS 18 using 'Send Later'

Apple's latest iOS 18 update brings many new features, including scheduling messages. Here's how to use 'Send Later.'

Apple's new 'Help Me Choose' quiz helps users find the right Mac

Apple's website was recently updated to include an all-new Help Me Choose quiz, created to help potential customers find the Mac best suited for their needs and within their budget.

Apple could be planning to update the MacBook Pro lineup to M4 chips before the end of 2024, based on OLED screen production timetables.

Latest Videos

Retro gold rush: which emulators are on the App Store, and what's coming

Best features in watchOS 11 for Apple Watch

Our favorite features so far in iOS 18 from Control Center to Genmoji

Latest reviews.

Beats Solo Buds review: Apple's best wireless audio bargain yet

Dockcase Studio Smart USB-C Hub 8-in-1 Review - Powerful hub with perplexing features.

PNY Elite-X Type-C Drive review: Small size, huge convenience

{{ title }}

{{ summary }}

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to force safari to load desktop sites on iphone.

Mobile websites are great, but they are very limited when it comes to how much content can be displayed on the small screen. Apple’s iPhones have gotten bigger in size over the years and thanks to HTML5, viewing desktop sites on your phone isn’t nearly as bad as you think. Plus sometimes you may need to use the full desktop version of a site, so you may come into a situation where forcing Safari to load the desktop site onto iPhone is necessary.

By default, when you visit a website using Safari or any web browser on an iPhone, you’re shown the mobile version of the site. Although it’s pretty easy to request the desktop site manually from the address bar, some people may want to access desktop websites at all times. No one would be okay with having to request the desktop version every time they visit a new website. It’s honestly far from convenient. If you’re one of those iOS users who’re frustrated by this, you’ve come to the right place, so let’s cover how to force Safari to load desktop sites on iPhone and iPad.

Safari is fully capable of always loading desktop versions of websites, as long as you set it up properly. Just follow the steps below to get started.

There you go. Now you’ve learned how to force Safari to always load desktop websites on your iPhone and iPad.

Keep in mind that Safari can only display the desktop version of the website whenever available. For example, when you try to visit the official Apple website, you’ll be shown the mobile version instead of the full desktop site.

If your iPad is running iPadOS 13 or later, you don’t have to follow this procedure. This is because iPadOS 13 brings desktop-class Safari to the iPad, and defaults to loading the desktop sites on iPad. However, this method is still applicable to iPads running older versions of iOS.

More often than not, mobile websites may still perform better on your iPhone as they’re more optimized for mobile devices. Therefore, if you ever change your mind, you can follow these steps to disable desktop websites on your iOS device.

Do you use third-party web browsers like Chrome on your iOS device? Unfortunately, there’s not currently a similar feature that allows you to always load desktop versions of websites for those web browsers, but it may be coming soon to them too. Instead, you’ll have to request the desktop site manually for the time being.

We hope you were able to permanently access desktop websites while browsing with Safari. What are your overall thoughts on this feature? Is this something that you’ll be using in the long run? Do share your valuable opinions and experiences in the comments section down below.

Enjoy this tip? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Get more of our great Apple tips, tricks, and important news delivered to your inbox with the OSXDaily newsletter. 

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Related articles:

• How to View a Full Desktop Website in Safari for iPhone
• 7 Ways to Force Quit Mac Applications
• How to Request Mobile Site After Requesting Desktop Site in Safari on iPhone
• How to Turn Off Split Screen in Safari for iPad? Exiting Safari Split Screen in iPadOS

» Comments RSS Feed

You still may get a site’s web page that has been altered for the small screen of the phone. If you want the page as displayed on a PC, a substitute browser like Zoomable (which also has a permanent ‘desktop’ setting) has a screen-size slider; when set to the appropriate size (up to about 3/4 of full size on some sites), the full regular desktop site is displayed. You can then pinch-zoom to view the page in detail.

This no longer works on the NYT website.

Please tell me a new way; can’t believe even the NYT is caught in today’s “feed” trap, not allowing me to choose what to read.

To tell the truth, so many times I was in the situation where it was necessary for me to load the desktop site onto an iPhone. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it properly because I wasn’t able to cope with my safari settings and the description in a lot of sites was really intricate. Now it is like a relief that I stumbled across your article and have finally understood how this system works and how much it is a simple process. From my point of view, it is really convenient to have permanent access to websites on the desktop while browsing using Safari because you don’t need to face such a huddle like a request for the desktop version every time you visit a new website. I think that your guide will be useful for any holder of an IPhone because it can make their work with sites and with the use of Safari much easier, helping them to get rid of unnecessary hassle.

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Subscribe to OSXDaily

• - How to Use Screen Distance on iPhone & iPad to Help Eye Health
• - How to Fix iPhone “Charging on Hold” Message
• - How to Install iOS 18 Beta on iPhone
• - How to Install MacOS Sequoia Beta
• - Can’t Upgrade a Sonoma VM to MacOS Sequoia Beta? Try This
• - MacOS Sequoia 15 Beta 1 Available to Download Now
• - iOS 18 Beta 1 Download Available Now for iPhone & iPad
• - Watch the Full WWDC 2024 Keynote Video, or Short Clips
• - iOS 18 Announced with Dark Mode Icons, AI Features, Control Center Customizations, & More
• - MacOS Sequoia Announced with iPhone Mirroring, AI, Passwords App, & More

iPhone / iPad

• - Can I Keep My MacBook Pro/Air Plugged in All The Time?
• - sysmond on Mac Using High CPU? Here’s the Likely Reason & How to Fix It
• - How to Factory Reset Mac (MacOS Sonoma & Ventura)
• - How to Fix the Apple Watch Squiggly Line Screen

About OSXDaily | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap

This website is unrelated to Apple Inc

All trademarks and copyrights on this website are property of their respective owners.

© 2024 OS X Daily. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited.

Safari 101 : How to Request Desktop Sites on Your iPhone

Having websites coded for mobile browsing is great for small screens, but if you have a Plus model iPhone or even the iPhone X , desktop versions of websites might show you more of what you want. Plus, there's the case of poorly designed mobile websites, where the desktop view is clearly the better option with more functionality and features. Luckily, asking for desktop sites in Safari is simple.

In older versions of Safari for iPhone ( iOS 7 and 8 ), you would have to tap in the URL bar, pull the webpage down to view some hidden options, then tap on "Request Desktop Site" to exit the mobile version and see the whole shebang.

• Don't Miss: 200+ Exciting New iOS 13 Features for iPhone

When iOS 9 first came out in 2015, Apple streamlined this process to make it just a tad bit more convenient, and it still works this way in newer versions of iOS. Plus, there are two different ways to request desktop sites now, so use whichever one is more convenient or easiest for you.

Method 1: Use the Refresh Icon

Start by pulling up a mobile website on Safari; I'll be using Wikipedia for this example. Once it's loaded, tap and hold the refresh icon in the URL bar and you'll see the option to "Request Desktop Site" at the bottom. Tap on that option and you're browsing like you have a regular computer now. (Note: if you don't see the refresh button, either scroll up on the webpage or tap the top bar to make the options appear.)

To go back to the mobile version of the website, just repeat the process. However, instead of seeing something like "Request Mobile Site," you'll just see "Request Desktop Site" again. Hopefully, Apple fixes this one day, but it doesn't seem to be high on their priority list. Tap on it and it should still take you back to the mobile version, regardless of what it says.

However, note that not all websites work the same. While some will return you back to the mobile version if asked, some will keep you locked into the desktop site. In order to return desktop sites back to mobile websites when the request button isn't working, you'll need to force-close Safari , then reopen it. When you go back to the open tabs, they should all automatically convert back to the mobile editions.

Method 2: Use the Share Sheet

While using the refresh button is fairly fast, some of you might be used to sharing websites so much that you might rather use the share sheet option instead. On the webpage, either scroll up or tap the top bar to make the options appear, then tap on the share sheet icon (square with an up arrow). Next, on the bottom row of activities, swipe across until you see "Request Desktop Site," then select it.

Just like the above method, to get back to the mobile version of the site, repeat this process. Again, not all websites can go back to the mobile versions easily, so in the case that the one you're trying to get back to mobile doesn't, force-close Safari , then reopen it and everything should be back to normal.

Tip: If you use this share sheet option a lot, you can make it appear toward the front of the activities row for easier access. To do this, tap-and-hold on the "Request Desktop Site" icon, then drag and drop it to where you want. Alternatively, you can select "More" at the end of the activities list, tap-and-hold on the three lines next to "Request Desktop Site," then drag and drop it up on the list.

Want even more out of your mobile Safari browser? You can do all sorts of things, including making your iPhone read web articles to you and using reader mode to make webpages easier to view . See our Safari tips collection for even more tricks.

• Follow Gadget Hacks on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , and Flipboard
• Follow WonderHowTo on Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest , and Flipboard

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new features for Podcasts, News, Books, and TV, as well as important security improvements and fresh wallpapers. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.5 update.

Share Your Thoughts

How to : your iphone's flashlight has new focus beams and greater brightness control on ios 18, how to : 16 harry potter spells for siri that turn your iphone into a magical elder wand, how to : dial these secret codes to see if someone is hijacking calls & texts on your iphone, warning : sensitive info you black out in images can be revealed with a few quick edits on your iphone, how to : keep your night vision sharp with the iphone's hidden red screen, how to : if 'messages' consumes too much iphone or icloud storage, don't delete your conversations just yet, how to : your iphone's status bar can actually be customized — here's how, how to : clear your frequently used and recent emoji from your iphone's keyboard, how to : make siri say whatever you want every time you connect your iphone to a charger, how to : the simple way to stop your iphone from sending unwanted audio messages, how to : force your iphone to switch cell towers for a stronger signal, how to : fix the 'software update is required to connect to your iphone' warning on your mac, ios security : how to keep private messages on your iphone's lock screen for your eyes only, how to : 100+ secret dialer codes for your iphone, how to : there's an easy way to see all the unsent messages in your imessage conversations, how to : trigger imessage effects with just a keyword, how to : apple has a killer new word game puzzle called quartiles on ios 17.5, how to : see your iphone's actual signal strength for cellular reception, how to : 15 hidden imessage features for iphone you probably didn't know about, how to : make siri run google assistant commands on your iphone.

• All Features
• All Hot Posts

How To Use Desktop Mode On Safari

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

Safari, the default web browser for Apple devices, offers a seamless and intuitive browsing experience. One of its notable features is the Desktop Mode, which allows users to view websites as they would appear on a desktop computer. This feature comes in handy when you want to access the full functionality of a website, especially when using a larger screen such as an iPad or Mac.

Enabling Desktop Mode on Safari is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your browsing experience. Whether you're working on a project, conducting research, or simply prefer the layout of a desktop website, Desktop Mode provides a versatile solution.

In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of using Desktop Mode on Safari, exploring the steps to enable it, navigating within this mode, and customizing settings to suit your preferences. By the end of this guide, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage Desktop Mode to optimize your browsing experience on Safari.

Let's embark on this journey to uncover the functionalities and benefits of Safari's Desktop Mode, empowering you to harness the full potential of this feature for a seamless and efficient browsing experience.

Enabling Desktop Mode on Safari

Enabling Desktop Mode on Safari is a simple yet powerful way to access the full desktop version of websites, providing a more comprehensive browsing experience. Whether you are using an iPad or a Mac, activating Desktop Mode allows you to view websites as they would appear on a desktop computer, complete with all the functionalities and layout elements.

To enable Desktop Mode on Safari , follow these straightforward steps:

Open Safari : Launch the Safari browser on your device.

Navigate to a Website : Enter the URL of the website you want to view in Desktop Mode. This could be a news website, online shopping platform, or any site where you prefer the desktop layout.

Access the Share Menu : Tap the "Share" icon located at the top or bottom of the screen, depending on your device's orientation. This icon typically resembles a box with an arrow pointing upward.

Select "Request Desktop Site" : In the Share menu, scroll through the options and locate "Request Desktop Site." Tap on this option to activate Desktop Mode for the current website.

Confirmation : Once selected, Safari will reload the website, presenting it in the desktop layout. You will now have access to the complete desktop version of the site, including features and functionalities that may not be available in the mobile view.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly transition to Desktop Mode on Safari, unlocking the full potential of websites and enjoying a more comprehensive browsing experience.

Enabling Desktop Mode on Safari is a valuable feature that empowers users to access the complete functionality of websites, especially when using larger screens such as iPads or Macs. This mode not only enhances the visual experience but also ensures that you can utilize all the features available on the desktop version of a website.

With Desktop Mode enabled, you can interact with websites more effectively, access advanced features, and enjoy a browsing experience that closely mirrors the desktop environment. Whether you are conducting research, working on projects, or simply prefer the layout of a desktop website, Desktop Mode on Safari offers a versatile solution for optimizing your browsing experience.

Navigating in Desktop Mode

Once you have successfully enabled Desktop Mode on Safari, navigating through websites becomes a seamless and immersive experience. In Desktop Mode, you gain access to the complete desktop version of websites, allowing you to interact with the content and features as you would on a desktop computer. Whether you are exploring news articles, conducting online research, or engaging with multimedia content, navigating in Desktop Mode offers a range of functionalities to enhance your browsing experience.

Enhanced User Interface

In Desktop Mode, the user interface of websites is optimized for larger screens, providing a more expansive layout that accommodates additional content and features. This enhanced interface allows for improved navigation, making it easier to locate specific sections of a website, access menus, and interact with multimedia elements. The larger screen real estate facilitates a more comprehensive view of the website, enabling you to engage with the content in a more immersive manner.

Seamless Multitasking

With the desktop layout at your disposal, multitasking becomes more efficient and intuitive. You can open multiple tabs and windows, switch between different web applications, and seamlessly transition between tasks. This flexibility is particularly beneficial when conducting research, as you can compare information from various sources and manage multiple resources simultaneously, all within the expansive Desktop Mode interface.

Access to Advanced Features

Desktop Mode grants access to advanced features and functionalities that may not be available in the mobile view of websites. This includes comprehensive editing tools, advanced search options, and interactive elements that are optimized for desktop usage. By leveraging these advanced features, you can enhance your productivity, creativity, and overall browsing experience, making Desktop Mode an invaluable tool for users seeking a more robust web interaction.

Optimized Multimedia Experience

When engaging with multimedia content, such as videos, interactive graphics, or image galleries, Desktop Mode provides an optimized viewing experience. The larger screen size and enhanced interface allow for a more immersive multimedia experience, enabling you to enjoy high-quality visuals and interactive elements with greater clarity and detail. Whether you are streaming videos, exploring virtual tours, or engaging with interactive content, Desktop Mode elevates the multimedia experience to new heights.

Seamless Interaction with Web Applications

In Desktop Mode, interacting with web applications and online tools becomes more seamless and intuitive. Whether you are accessing productivity suites, collaborative platforms, or web-based tools, the desktop layout enhances the functionality and usability of these applications. This enables you to work more efficiently, collaborate with colleagues, and leverage the full potential of web-based tools, all within the expansive and feature-rich environment of Desktop Mode.

Navigating in Desktop Mode on Safari opens up a world of possibilities, empowering users to engage with websites, multimedia content, and web applications in a more comprehensive and immersive manner. By leveraging the enhanced user interface, seamless multitasking capabilities, access to advanced features, and optimized multimedia experience, Desktop Mode enhances the overall browsing experience, making it an indispensable feature for users seeking a versatile and powerful web interaction platform.

Customizing Desktop Mode Settings

Customizing Desktop Mode settings in Safari allows users to tailor their browsing experience to suit their preferences and optimize their interaction with websites in the desktop layout. Safari offers a range of customization options that empower users to personalize their browsing environment, enhance accessibility, and streamline their workflow within Desktop Mode.

Font and Text Size Customization

One of the key customization options in Desktop Mode is the ability to adjust font styles and text sizes to improve readability and visual comfort. Safari allows users to modify the default font settings and adjust the text size according to their preferences. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who require larger text for improved legibility or prefer specific font styles for a more personalized browsing experience.

Content Blockers and Privacy Settings

Safari's Desktop Mode provides access to content blockers and privacy settings, allowing users to manage website permissions, block intrusive content, and enhance their online privacy. By customizing content blockers, users can control the display of ads, pop-ups, and other distracting elements, creating a more focused and streamlined browsing environment. Additionally, privacy settings enable users to manage website tracking, cookies, and other privacy-related features, empowering them to maintain a secure and private browsing experience.

Reader View Customization

Safari's Reader View feature, available in Desktop Mode, offers customization options that enhance the readability of articles and long-form content. Users can customize the appearance of Reader View by adjusting the background color, text size, and font style, creating a personalized reading environment that aligns with their preferences. This customization feature ensures a comfortable and immersive reading experience, making it easier to consume textual content without distractions.

Tab Management and Organization

Customizing tab management and organization in Desktop Mode allows users to streamline their workflow and efficiently navigate between multiple open tabs. Safari offers options to customize tab behavior, group related tabs, and organize them according to specific categories or projects. This feature enhances productivity and multitasking, enabling users to manage their browsing sessions with greater efficiency and clarity.

Accessibility Customization

Safari's Desktop Mode includes accessibility customization options that cater to users with diverse needs. From adjusting contrast and color settings to enabling screen reader support, Safari empowers users to customize their browsing experience to accommodate visual, auditory, and motor impairments. This inclusive approach ensures that all users can access and interact with web content in a manner that suits their individual requirements.

By customizing Desktop Mode settings in Safari, users can create a personalized and optimized browsing environment that aligns with their preferences, enhances productivity, and promotes a more enjoyable web interaction experience. These customization options empower users to tailor their browsing environment, improve accessibility, and streamline their workflow within Desktop Mode, making Safari a versatile and user-centric web browser for a diverse range of users.

In conclusion, Safari's Desktop Mode offers a powerful and versatile solution for users seeking a comprehensive and immersive browsing experience. By enabling Desktop Mode, users can access the complete desktop version of websites, unlocking advanced features, enhanced user interface, and seamless multitasking capabilities. Navigating in Desktop Mode provides a seamless and immersive experience, empowering users to engage with websites, multimedia content, and web applications in a more comprehensive manner. Additionally, customizing Desktop Mode settings allows users to tailor their browsing environment, enhance accessibility, and streamline their workflow within the desktop layout.

Safari's commitment to user-centric design is evident in the range of customization options available in Desktop Mode, catering to diverse user preferences and accessibility needs. From font and text size customization to content blockers, privacy settings, and tab management, Safari empowers users to personalize their browsing experience, ensuring optimal comfort, security, and productivity. The inclusive approach to accessibility customization further reinforces Safari's dedication to providing a seamless and accessible web interaction platform for all users.

As technology continues to evolve, the ability to seamlessly transition between mobile and desktop browsing environments becomes increasingly essential. Safari's Desktop Mode not only meets this demand but also exceeds expectations by delivering a feature-rich and intuitive desktop browsing experience on Apple devices. Whether you are conducting research, engaging with multimedia content, or collaborating on web-based tools, Desktop Mode on Safari elevates the browsing experience to new heights, offering a versatile and powerful platform for users to explore, create, and connect.

In essence, Safari's Desktop Mode is a testament to the browser's commitment to innovation, user experience, and accessibility. By enabling users to access the full functionality of websites, customize their browsing environment, and navigate seamlessly in the desktop layout, Safari sets a new standard for web browsing on Apple devices. Whether you are a professional seeking a robust web interaction platform or an individual looking to optimize your browsing experience, Safari's Desktop Mode is a valuable feature that empowers users to explore the web with unparalleled flexibility and functionality.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Crowdfunding
• Cryptocurrency
• Digital Banking
• Digital Payments
• Investments
• Console Gaming
• Mobile Gaming
• VR/AR Gaming
• Gadget Usage
• Gaming Tips
• Online Safety
• Software Tutorials
• Tech Setup & Troubleshooting
• Buyer’s Guides
• Comparative Analysis
• Gadget Reviews
• Service Reviews
• Software Reviews
• Mobile Devices
• PCs & Laptops
• Smart Home Gadgets
• Content Creation Tools
• Digital Photography
• Video & Music Streaming
• Online Security
• Online Services
• Web Hosting
• WiFi & Ethernet
• Browsers & Extensions
• Communication Platforms
• Operating Systems
• Productivity Tools
• AI & Machine Learning
• Cybersecurity
• Emerging Tech
• IoT & Smart Devices
• Virtual & Augmented Reality
• Latest News
• AI Developments
• Fintech Updates
• Gaming News
• New Product Launches

5 Ways to Improve IT Automation

• What is Building Information Modelling

Related Post

Sla network: benefits, advantages, satisfaction of both parties to the contract, what is minecraft coded in, how much hp does a diablo tuner add, what is halo-fi, what is halo lock iphone, related posts.

How To Enable Desktop Mode On Safari

How Do You Turn Off Incognito Mode?

How To Get Safari Full Screen On IPad

How To Display Safari Full Screen On IPad

How To Hide Top Bar On Safari Mac

How To Make Safari Full Screen On Mac

How To Restart A Web Browser

How To Make Safari Open In Full Screen On Mac

Recent stories.

What is Building Information Modelling?

How to Use Email Blasts Marketing To Take Control of Your Market

Learn To Convert Scanned Documents Into Editable Text With OCR

Top Mini Split Air Conditioner For Summer

Comfortable and Luxurious Family Life | Zero Gravity Massage Chair

Fintechs and Traditional Banks: Navigating the Future of Financial Services

AI Writing: How It’s Changing the Way We Create Content

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

How to access the desktop version of a website in Safari on iPhone

This tutorial shows you the quick steps to visit the desktop version of a website in Safari on your iPhone or iPad and switch back to mobile view if needed.

Don’t you hate it when visiting a website in Safari on your phone takes you to a crippled mobile version rather than the full desktop experience? Thankfully, iOS has made it a cinch to skip those skimpy mobile websites and go straight to their full desktop versions if needed.

Before you begin: It’s important to note that requesting a desktop website doesn’t always work as intended on each and every website. For instance, some websites might switch you to their enhanced mobile edition rather than to the full desktop version. You must know that web developers have the tools at their disposal to override your preference, and I’ve seen a fair share of websites that pop right back into mobile mode.

How to view the desktop version of a site in Safari

• Open Safari and visit any website that has both a mobile and a desktop version.
• Once the site loads, tap on the A A symbol located at the leftmost side of Safari’s URL box.
• A menu will pop up with an option to see a desktop version of the website in its full glory. Choose Request Desktop Website to load up a desktop version of the original.
• You can go back to the mobile site anytime using the same action and selecting Request Mobile Website .

Safari on iPad running iPadOS (or iPadOS 13) and later automatically takes you to the desktop version of a website . You do not have to do anything else.

However, if you want to access the mobile version of a website on your iPad, all you need to do is tap A A in the Safari URL bar and select Request Mobile Website .

How to always request the desktop site in Safari

Maybe you’d like to request the desktop website every time you visit a site in Safari on iOS. If yes, follow these steps:

• Open Settings and select Safari .
• Tap Request Desktop Website .
• Enable the toggle for All Websites under Request Desktop Website .

Other Safari tips:

• 10+ tips to customize and personalize Safari on iPhone and iPad
• How to create and use profiles in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• How to lock and unlock private Safari tabs with Face ID, Touch ID or password

How to request desktop sites on iOS 9 Safari

Get the full site on your iPhone

Sometimes you just want the full desktop version of a website instead of the mobile version. Maybe it's because you need different features, maybe it's easier to navigate, or maybe you just have a large-screen iPhone or iPad and there's no reason to not use those extra pixels. Whatever the reason, the option to choose which version of a site you get has existed in iOS for a few years now, but the method changed with the introduction of iOS 9 . Here's how it's done.

To access the desktop version of a website from your iOS device, perform these steps:

1. Open Safari .

2. Navigate to any website that has a mobile version.

3. Press and hold the refresh arrow in the navigation bar until prompted, OR...

4. Alternatively, tap the "Share" button (the rectangle with the arrow) at the bottom of the screen to bring up the share sheet.

5. In the action list (bottom row of icons), swipe over if necessary and select "Request Desktop Site."

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

That's all there is to it! This should cause the page to reload, but with the website now identifying you as having a larger-screened device. For most websites this will work, but it's not always foolproof as some websites use different methods to identify screen resolution and may still offer up mobile sites instead.

Firefox 126 is out – and it’ll make a huge difference to the quality of videos in the browser, for those with the right hardware

Mozilla wants Pocket users to switch to Firefox accounts, which may not be a bad thing

Apple Intelligence may be reason why OpenAI wants Microsoft to work with archrival Oracle — Azure may be feeling the pinch as iOS 18 AI-focus means far more GPUs are required

Most Popular

• 2 ACDSee is offering a range of its editing tools free to schools in a bid to compete with Adobe Photoshop
• 3 Truist Bank confirms data breach after stolen data appears online
• 4 3 movies new to Prime Video with over 95% on Rotten Tomatoes
• 5 Your work from home setup will never have looked so good until you add these Alogic monitors
• 2 There's a massive weekend sale at Best Buy: here are the 15 best deals worth buying
• 3 ACDSee is offering a range of its editing tools free to schools in a bid to compete with Adobe Photoshop
• 4 Apple quietly released a hardened OS based on iOS and macOS to keep LLM inference tasks private
• 5 IKEA solves your charging headaches with its new cheap, colorful USB-C accessories

• a. Send us an email
• b. Anonymous form
• Buyer's Guide
• Upcoming Products
• Tips / Contact Us
• Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

Safari 18 Features: Highlights, New Reader Mode, and Video Viewer

In macOS Sequoia , Apple has some additional features in Safari 18 that are likely to be welcomed by Mac users. Here's a quick rundown of what's new.

Highlights can be accessed via a new site menu icon that appears in the address bar, from which you can quickly pull up relevant information about a site, such as directions, summaries, or quick links to learn more about people, music, movies, and TV shows.

As of writing this, Highlights does not appear to work outside of the United States, so it is likely to be region-specific at this early state. However, there are other changes to Safari that are live wherever you are located.

If you click the button again, a dropdown menu lets you change the theme (white, off-white, gray, black) and choose your preferred font (Athelas, Charter, Georgia, Iowan, New York, Palatino, San Fransisco, Seravek, and Times New Roman).

In this menu, you can also find text size options by percentage (from 50% to 300%), as well as a "Find..." option to find a word or phrase on a page, and a button to Hide Reader mode.

Apple says that Reader can also provide a summary of an article, along with a table of contents in a sidebar, but we could not get this to work, likely because it is an aspect of Apple Intelligence , which will not be introduced until later in the year.

In other Safari-related changes, ‌macOS Sequoia‌ beta adds support for opening links directly in web apps. Now, when you click a link, that link should open in the web app instead of your default web browser. You can also now personalize web apps on Mac with Safari Web Extensions and Content Blockers.

Lastly, Safari 18 beta for iOS, iPadOS, visionOS , ‌macOS Sequoia‌ and macOS Sonoma brings inline predictive text to the web, and you can now set which Safari profile should be used to open particular websites.

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Popular Stories

Apple Reportedly Suspends Work on Vision Pro 2

Kuo: Apple Watch Series 10 to Get Larger Screen and Thinner Design

Apple's 2024 Back to School Sale Launching This Week

Apple Discontinuing Apple Pay Later

iOS 18 Adds These 5 New Features to CarPlay

Apple Developing Thinner MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, and iPhone

watchOS 11 Supports Automatic Nap Detection

Top rated comments.

People still use Safari? I tried it when i first had my Mac, but I could nto get on with it, then I tried it again a few weeks ago, but had problems with some sites not working, so I have gone back to Firefox.

Safari is still the second-most used browser. Far behind Chrome but also far ahead of Firefox. Of course, most of that is iOS/iPadOS. But even on the desktop, Safari is ahead of Firefox and Safari is not even available on Windows & Linux, unlike Firefox. So yeah... People still use FireFox? :D

No fixes to the messy interface? I have no idea where to find stuff anymore. Scattered around the share sheet, under the A button, the refresh button, the extensions menu, third party buttons, … And there are iCloud tabs, tab groups, profiles, tab group favorites, ….

Next Article

Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.

Apple News+ improvements, cross-platform tracker alerts, website app downloads for the EU, and more.

Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.

A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.

Updates to Mail, Photos, Messages, and more, with Apple Intelligence features throughout.

iPhone Mirroring, Safari improvements, new Passwords app, and Apple Intelligence features throughout.

Action button expands to all models, new Capture button, camera improvements, and more.

Larger displays, new Capture button, camera improvements, and more.

Other Stories

34 minutes ago by Tim Hardwick

21 hours ago by Tim Hardwick

6 days ago by Tim Hardwick

1 week ago by Tim Hardwick

macOS Sequoia takes productivity and intelligence on Mac to new heights

Wirelessly Use iPhone Right from Mac with iPhone Mirroring

Big Updates Come to Safari

Gaming Gets Even Better with Highly Anticipated Titles and More

• Highly anticipated titles : Developers are delivering an amazing host of new titles to Mac. Ubisoft will release Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Capcom will offer even more exciting titles from the popular RESIDENT EVIL series, including RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard and RESIDENT EVIL 2. The next major expansion of World of Warcraft: The War Within is coming later this year. Also on the way are Frostpunk 2, Palworld, Sniper Elite 4, and RoboCop: Rogue City, all leveraging powerful software technologies like MetalFX Upscaling to accelerate performance and deliver high-quality visuals across the Mac lineup. And Control Ultimate Edition and Wuthering Waves are coming soon, taking advantage of the latest M3 family of chips to deliver breathtaking visuals with ray tracing.
• A more immersive gaming experience : Personalized Spatial Audio puts players in the middle of the action like never before, while significantly reduced audio latency with AirPods Pro (2nd generation) provides even better responsiveness. Improvements to Game Mode unlock smoother frame rates, and advanced power management features boost performance across the Mac lineup.
• Game Porting Toolkit 2 : Since the introduction of the Game Porting Toolkit, developers have been able to bring their games to Apple devices faster than ever, and gaming enthusiasts can experience more titles on the Mac. Game Porting Toolkit 2 takes this to the next level with some of the most-requested capabilities from game developers, making it even easier to bring advanced games to Mac, as well as iPhone and iPad.

Window Tiling Is Easier and Faster Than Ever

Video Conferencing Gets More Updates

The New Passwords App Keeps Credentials Secure and Organized

Apple Intelligence Ushers in the Next Chapter of AI on Mac

• Messages has big updates to the ways users express themselves and stay connected, including all-new text effects, emoji and sticker Tapbacks, and the ability to schedule a message to send later.
• Apple Maps is introducing even more ways to explore the world, including curated hikes and custom walking routes. Beginning this fall, users can browse thousands of hikes across all 63 national parks in the United States, filtered by length, elevation, and route type, and save them to use while offline.
• Photos now surfaces Collections, which automatically organizes a user’s library by helpful themes, and includes a big update to search, so users can get results quickly.
• Note taking in Notes is getting smarter, making it easier than ever to take detailed and well-written notes. New audio transcription and summarization features with Apple Intelligence enable a device to take notes for the user, letting them stay present in a situation where they need to capture details about what’s happening. And if they need to quickly crunch a number, they can just type in an equation to have it solved automatically in their note body.
• An updated Calculator app lets users see previous calculations with history, and gives them the ability to see their expressions as they type.
• Calendar shows events and tasks from Reminders , making it easy to see, edit, or complete tasks throughout the day. An updated Month View makes it easier to see events and reminders for an entire month at a glance.

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

The Mac experience gets better than ever with iPhone Mirroring, big updates to Safari, highly anticipated games, and Apple Intelligence to deliver all-new capabilities

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today previewed macOS Sequoia , the next version of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, bringing entirely new ways of working and transformative intelligence features to Mac. macOS Sequoia is full of exciting new capabilities, including iPhone Mirroring, which expands Continuity by enabling full access to and control of iPhone directly from macOS. Safari gets another big update with the new Highlights feature for effortless information discovery on webpages while browsing. The new Passwords app makes it even easier to access passwords and organize credentials all in one place. Gaming advances with a more immersive experience, as well as a breadth of new titles, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Frostpunk 2, and more.

macOS Sequoia also introduces Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for Mac, iPhone, and iPad that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. Built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. It understands and creates language and images, takes action across apps, and draws from personal context, simplifying and accelerating everyday tasks. Taking full advantage of the power of Apple silicon and the Neural Engine, Apple Intelligence will be supported by every Mac with an M-series chip. 1

“The all-star combination of the power of Apple silicon and the legendary ease of use of macOS have made the Mac more capable than ever. Today, we’re excited to take macOS to new heights with macOS Sequoia, a big release that elevates productivity and intelligence,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “macOS Sequoia ushers in Apple Intelligence, unlocking incredible new features that will be a game changer for working on Mac. And with more ways to help users effortlessly get things done, new Continuity features like iPhone Mirroring, major updates to Safari, and a host of new games, we think Mac users are going to love it.”

macOS Sequoia makes Continuity even more magical with iPhone Mirroring, which allows users to fully access and engage with their iPhone — right from their Mac. A user’s custom wallpaper and icons appear just like on their iPhone, and they can swipe between pages on their Home Screen, or launch and browse any of their favorite apps. The keyboard, trackpad, and mouse on Mac also let a user interact with their iPhone, and audio even comes through. Users can seamlessly drag and drop between iPhone and Mac, and a user’s iPhone remains locked, so nobody else can access or see what the user is doing. It also works great with StandBy, which stays visible, so users can get information at a glance. Additionally, users can review and respond to iPhone notifications directly from their Mac.

Safari, the world’s fastest browser, 2 now offers Highlights, an even easier way to discover information on the web, such as directions, summaries, or quick links to learn more about people, music, movies, and TV shows. A redesigned Reader includes even more ways to enjoy articles without distractions, featuring a streamlined view of the article a user is reading, a summary, and a table of contents for longer articles. And when Safari detects a video on the page, Viewer helps users put it front and center, while still giving them full access to system playback controls, including Picture in Picture.

A stellar lineup of games is coming to Mac — including the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the next installment in Ubisoft’s blockbuster series — alongside new features like Personalized Spatial Audio that make gaming even more immersive.

Users can stay organized with new ways to arrange windows into a layout that works best for them. When a user drags a window to the edge of the screen, macOS Sequoia automatically suggests a tiled position on their desktop. Users can release their window right into place, quickly arrange tiles side by side, or place them in corners to keep even more apps in view. And new keyboard and menu shortcuts help users organize tiles even faster.

The new presenter preview makes it easier to present, letting users see what they’re about to share before they share it, and works with apps like FaceTime and Zoom. Users can also apply beautiful built-in backgrounds, including a variety of color gradients and system wallpapers, or upload their own photos. Background replacements can be applied during a video call in FaceTime or in third-party apps like Webex, and with Apple’s industry-leading segmentation, users will look their best when on a call.

Built on the foundation of Keychain, which was first introduced over 25 years ago, macOS Sequoia brings Passwords, a new app that makes it even easier to access passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and other credentials all in one place. iCloud syncing is backed by secure end-to-end encryption. Passwords works great with Safari, and seamlessly syncs between a user’s Apple devices and Windows with the iCloud for Windows app.

Deeply integrated into macOS Sequoia and built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into macOS Sequoia, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

New image capabilities make communication and self-expression even more fun. With Image Playground, users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use, built right into apps like Messages, and also available in a dedicated app.

Memories in Photos lets users create the stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. In addition, a new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri takes a major step forward, becoming even more natural, contextually relevant, and personal. Additionally, users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment — making the Siri experience on Mac incredibly easy and seamless.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers. When requests are routed to Private Cloud Compute, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple, and is only used to fulfill the user’s requests, and independent experts can verify this privacy promise.

Additionally, access to ChatGPT is integrated into Siri and systemwide Writing Tools across Apple’s platforms, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Additional features in macOS Sequoia include:

Availability

The developer beta of macOS Sequoia is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com . The release will be available as a free software update this fall. Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall. For more information, visit apple.com/macos/macos-sequoia-preview  and apple.com/apple-intelligence . Features are subject to change. Some features are not available in all regions, all languages, or on all devices. For more information about availability, visit apple.com .

• Users with an eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Siri and device language set to English (U.S.) can sign up this fall to access the Apple Intelligence beta.
• Testing was conducted by Apple in May 2023. See apple.com/safari for more information.

Press Contacts

Michelle Del Rio

[email protected]

Starlayne Meza

[email protected]

Apple Media Helpline

[email protected]

Images in this article