How to Request the Desktop Site on iPhone (Safari, Chrome) 2026

Updated November 5, 2026

To see the desktop version of a website on iPhone, open the page in Safari, tap the Page Menu button on the left side of the address bar, and tap Request Desktop Website. On iOS 26, it sits one step deeper: tap More (⋯) first. In Chrome, tap ⋯ → Request Desktop Site. To make it stick, Safari can request the desktop site for one website or for every website.

Below are the exact steps for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave, how to switch back, and why some sites still show the mobile layout after you ask.

Request the desktop site in Safari for one page

This is the quick option when one page is missing something you need.

Open the website in Safari.
Tap the Page Menu button on the left side of the address bar. It replaced the old "aA" button.
On iOS 26, tap More (⋯) to see the rest of the page actions. On newer versions, the option may be in the first menu.
Tap Request Desktop Website. The page reloads with the desktop layout.

If you don't see the option, wait for the page to finish loading and check again. Apple says it appears only when available, so it won't show on a blank start page or while Reader is on.

To go back, open the same menu and tap Request Mobile Website.

Always request the desktop site for one website

If you visit a site that always works better in desktop mode, like a bank portal, a school system or a forum, set it once per site:

Open the website in Safari.
Tap the Page Menu button, then More (⋯) if you're on iOS 26.
Tap Website Settings.
Turn on Request Desktop Website.

Safari now loads that site in desktop mode every time. Turn the same switch off to return to mobile.

Always request the desktop site for every website

If you'd rather see desktop layouts everywhere:

Open Settings → Apps → Safari.
Scroll to Settings for Websites and tap Request Desktop Website.
Turn on All Websites.

The same screen lists any sites you set one by one, so this is also where you can review old exceptions.

Be careful with this setting on an iPhone. Desktop pages are built for a wide screen and a mouse, so most sites become harder to read and tap. Per-site settings are usually the better choice.

Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave

Every iPhone browser has the same option, just with a different name and place. They all use Apple's WebKit engine, so the result looks about the same as in Safari.

Chrome

Open the page in Chrome.
Tap ⋯ (More) at the bottom right.
Tap Request Desktop Site. To undo, tap Request Mobile Site in the same menu.

To make desktop the default in Chrome, go to ⋯ → Settings → Content settings → Default site view and choose Desktop. For more on how the two browsers differ, see Chrome vs Safari on iPhone.

Firefox

Open the page actions menu and tap the desktop site option. Firefox remembers your choice for that site until you switch it back to mobile from the same menu.

Edge

Tap ⋯ at the bottom of the screen, then View desktop site.

Brave

Tap ⋯ (More), then Request Desktop Site. If you're deciding between the two, we compared Brave and Safari on iPhone.

What "request desktop site" actually does

Your browser tells every website what kind of device it is, mostly through a line of text called the user agent. On iPhone, that line says "iPhone" and "Mobile". When you request the desktop site, the browser identifies as a Mac instead and lays the page out on a wider virtual screen. The site sees a computer and serves its computer version.

That's all it is. It doesn't change your account, unlock paid features or send any extra data. It's also easy to undo at any time.

Why some sites still show the mobile version

Requesting the desktop site is a request, not an order. A few common reasons it doesn't work:

The site is responsive. Most modern sites have one design that adapts to screen width. They don't check the user agent at all, so a narrow screen still gets the narrow layout, even in desktop mode.
The site checks for touch. Some sites look at whether the screen supports touch or how big it is, and both still give your iPhone away.
You're on a mobile address. If the address starts with "m." (like m.example.com), edit it to remove the "m." or start from the site's home page after switching.
The site blocks phones on purpose. A few web apps are built only for computers and refuse to run on phones in any mode, and no browser setting changes that.

If a page still won't cooperate, try closing the tab and opening the site again after switching, so it doesn't reuse the mobile version it already loaded.

Why desktop sites look tiny or load slowly

A desktop page is designed for a screen much wider than your iPhone, so it shows up zoomed out with small text and small buttons. A few things help:

Pinch to zoom on the part you need, then double-tap a column of text to fit it to the screen.
Turn your iPhone sideways. Landscape gives desktop layouts more room.
Use Page Zoom in Safari. Tap the Page Menu button and use the small and large A buttons to change the text size for that site.

Desktop pages can also be heavier. They often load larger images, more scripts and more ads than the mobile version, so they're slower on cellular and use more data. If that matters to you, see our tips on saving mobile data on iPhone. Blocking ads makes the biggest difference on desktop pages, since there are more of them.

When desktop mode is worth it

Features missing on mobile. Account settings, advanced search filters, admin pages, full spreadsheets and report exports are often only on the desktop version.
Web apps. Some web tools show "download our app" on phones but work fine in desktop mode.
Layouts that hide things. Mobile sites sometimes hide tables, sidebars or comment threads behind extra taps.
Broken mobile sites. Older or poorly built sites sometimes work better in desktop mode than in their own mobile layout.

For everyday reading, the mobile site is usually faster and easier. Treat desktop mode as a tool for the moments you need it.

Request the desktop site in Kipzy

Kipzy is a free iPhone browser with ad blocking built in, and it handles desktop mode per site:

Open the website in Kipzy.
Tap •••, then More.
Tap Request Desktop Site.

Kipzy remembers the choice for that site, so it opens in desktop mode next time without any extra settings. To undo it, go to ••• → More → Request Mobile Site. In private tabs, the choice is forgotten when the private session ends.

The same ••• menu has a page zoom row with Smaller, the current percentage and Larger. Kipzy saves the zoom level per site too, which helps a lot with tiny desktop pages. Tap the percentage to go back to 100%.

Because Kipzy blocks ads, trackers and pop-ups with the EasyList and EasyPrivacy filter lists, desktop pages load with less clutter. Kipzy is iPhone only and doesn't sync with a computer. Read more about blocking ads on iPhone or how to change your default browser if you want to try it.

Common questions

Where is "Request Desktop Website" in Safari on iOS 26?

Tap the Page Menu button on the left side of the address bar, then More (⋯), then Request Desktop Website. The old "aA" button is gone, which is why many people can't find it after updating.

How do I make Safari always show the desktop version?

For one site, use Page Menu → More → Website Settings and turn on Request Desktop Website. For every site, go to Settings → Apps → Safari → Request Desktop Website and turn on All Websites.

How do I switch back to the mobile site?

Open the same menu and tap Request Mobile Website in Safari or Request Mobile Site in Chrome. If you set it as a site or global setting, turn that switch off too, or the desktop version will come back.

Why does my iPad always show desktop sites?

Safari on iPad requests the desktop version by default, because iPad screens are big enough for it. You can ask for the mobile version of a page from the same Page Menu.

Is there a desktop browser for iPhone?

Not in the sense of a full Mac or Windows browser. Every iPhone browser uses Apple's WebKit engine and can request desktop sites, so the experience is similar across Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave and Kipzy. Pick the one whose other features suit you. Our guide to the best browser for iPhone compares them.

Does desktop mode use more data or battery?

Often, yes. Desktop pages tend to load bigger images, more scripts and more ads. The difference is small for a single page, but it adds up if you turn on desktop mode for every site.