How to request a desktop site on the iPhone

Sometimes when web applications are designed, there might not be enough forethought that goes into ensuring that it is created as a responsive app. Lack of these thoughts results in user experience that isn’t consistent across browsers and devices. 

When you are testing such a web application on the iPhone using Safari as your browser, you can use the Request Desktop Site option that iPhone provides to view the website in its original resolution. 

Why view the desktop version of a website on a mobile browser?

Some of the reasons that should push you to use Desktop view are:

• See Everything:  Some websites hide features or detailed content on mobile versions. Desktop view lets you access everything the site offers, even on a smaller screen.
• Navigate with Ease:  Complex websites, especially e-commerce stores with many menus, can be tricky to navigate on mobile. Desktop view often provides a clearer layout, making it easier to find what you’re looking for.
• Get the Full Picture:  Desktop view lets you see more information at once. This is ideal for reading long articles, comparing products with intricate details, or viewing high-resolution images.
• Accessibility Boost:  For people with visual impairments, the larger screen and potentially simpler layout of desktop view can be a big advantage compared to the mobile version.

While desktop view can be a temporary solution, the focus for web developers should be on crafting mobile experiences that eliminate the need for users to switch views entirely. Here’s why investing in a mobile-friendly approach is crucial:

• Over 50% of all website traffic now comes from mobile devices. People often switch between devices throughout their online journey, expecting a consistent and smooth experience.
• Up to 75% of consumers admit to forming judgements on a company’s credibility based solely on their website design.
• Global smartphone ownership is projected to reach nearly 7 billion users by 2025. 

By prioritizing mobile-friendliness, developers can ensure a smooth and intuitive experience for the majority of users who access websites on their smartphones and tablets. With BrowserStack’s real device cloud of thousands of real mobile browsers and Android (and iOS) devices, you can ensure an equitable experience across different screens. 

How to request a desktop site on the iPhone

There are 2 different Methods to Request a Desktop Site in iPhone:

• Method 1: Enable Desktop View in Safari
• Method 2: Request Desktop site on iPhone using Real Device Cloud with BrowserStack

Method 1: Enable Desktop View in Safari

You can view desktop site on iPhone using Safari Browser, by following simple steps depending upon whether you are using iOS 13 and above or iOS 12 and below.

View Desktop Sites in versions iOS 13 and above

To view the desktop version of a website on Safari running on iPhone (iOS 13), follow these simple steps:

Step 1. Launch Safari on your iPhone, and navigate to the website you wish to view.

Step 2. After the website loads, tap the ‘aA’ icon in the top corner before the address bar to open the website view menu.

Step 3. From the pop-up menu, select ‘Request Desktop Site’.

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View Desktop Sites in versions iOS 12 and below

If you’re using iOS 12 or an earlier version, the process is a bit different from the latest iOS versions. Just follow these two simple steps:

Step 1. Launch Safari and navigate to your desired website. When it’s fully loaded, give the ‘Refresh’ button a long tap and hold.

Step 2. Choose “Request Desktop Site” from the pop-up menu that appears at the bottom of the screen.

By following the steps above, you can easily view the desktop version of any website.

As much as we (the Developers and QAs) love Safari, manually downloading and installing different versions of it can be quite the snooze-fest. Plus, it’s time-consuming and effort-intensive.

Well, if you want to test different versions of Safari on real iOS devices, you better have some serious cash and a team of dedicated lab technicians. Setting up an on-premise device lab is a major undertaking, both in terms of money and manpower. And don’t even get us started on the ongoing maintenance costs!

Method 2: View Desktop Site on iPhone using BrowserStack Live

With more than 3500 real devices that BrowserStack provides, the probabilities that you can test are huge. If you are creating web applications, then you want to be sure that when your app is accessed on any device, mobile or desktop, the user experience remains seamless. 

To view your application using Desktop view on an iPhone device and Safari browser, complete the following steps:

Step 1. Sign up on BrowserStack Live for a free trial or purchase a plan.

Step 2. Navigate to the Live Dashboard after successful sign-up.

Step 3. Click iOS > iPhone 15, and then select Safari.

Step 4. Wait for the device to boot.

Step 5. In the web address bar, enter www.browserstack.com.

Step 6. Click AA on the left of the web address bar in the browser, and then click Request Desktop View.

Currently, Safari on iOS devices changes only the user agent, but not the viewport when you request a desktop view. To verify you are in desktop view, click AA, and then click Request Mobile View.

Why Test Websites on Real Device Cloud?

BrowserStack Live offers access to numerous devices and cross-browser capabilities, which enhances the likelihood of detecting issues stemming from varying browser behaviors. Additionally, BrowserStack provides access to various features, including media injection, payment workflow, physical SIM, GPS location testing, network simulation, and more.

With the real device cloud, there’s no need to worry about the overhead associated with investing in infrastructure for adding a wide range of devices. Maintaining a device farm would also be an overhead that organizations prefer to avoid investing in.

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Conclusion

In an ideal situation, you must always use design best practices such as creating a responsive app, ensuring accessibility, etc when designing your application. 

BrowserStack offers an option to register for a free trial to try out its line of products without any commitment. This gives you access to 35-00+ browser and device combinations that you can use to test your application and ensure that your customers get a seamless experience using your applications.