Most sites already serve a responsive layout that fits your phone, so the full page opens without extra steps. Some pages still hide desktop-only menus, filters, or high-resolution images behind a mobile view.
Chrome on Android has a per-tab toggle that reloads the current page as the full desktop layout. You can also set desktop site as the default for every site in Chrome's Site settings.
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Contents
View the desktop site layout in Chrome on Android
When a site hides menu items, filters, or full-resolution images behind its mobile layout, Chrome on Android can reload that page as the full desktop version. Most modern sites use responsive design, so the page would normally fit your phone without extra steps. Some pages still serve a stripped-down mobile view.
To switch one tab to desktop view right now:
- Open the Chrome app on your Android phone.
- Open the website you want to see in desktop layout.
- Tap the More
menu in the top-right corner (or bottom-right if you have moved the address bar to the bottom). - Find the Desktop site row and tap the toggle to turn it on. Turning it on makes the tab Request Desktop View, as noted in Google's Chrome help page on Desktop site.
TIP: The page reloads in the full desktop layout. Text and buttons look smaller because the desktop version is rendering on a small screen. Pinch to zoom or use Chrome’s in-page zoom controls if needed. If the site still forces the mobile layout, clear its stored data and reload.
Switch the tab back to the mobile site when you’re done
When you are done with the desktop layout, flip the same toggle off:
- Tap the More menu.
- Tap the Desktop site toggle to switch it off.
Chrome reloads the tab in the mobile layout. The toggle is per-tab, so other open tabs and future visits stay on the default view until you flip it again. If you want to do the reverse on desktop Chrome instead, see how to request the mobile site in Chrome on the Computer.
Set desktop site as the default for every site
If you do not want to flip the toggle on every tab, change the global default through Chrome’s Site settings on Android:
- Tap the menu in the top right corner of Chrome.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down to Advanced and tap Site settings.
Tap Desktop site. Chrome shows three options under Default view:
- Mobile site: every site loads the mobile layout.
- Desktop site: every site loads the full desktop layout.
- Default view: Chrome picks mobile or desktop based on screen size and device RAM.
When your phone is connected to an external display, Chrome auto-loads the desktop version on devices with 8 GB of RAM or more. Phones with less RAM keep loading the mobile version. Google’s Chrome help page confirms this behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome still show the mobile site after I turned on Desktop site?
The toggle reloads the current tab, but some sites force a mobile layout through their own code. Clear the site’s cookies and stored data, then reload, or open the page in an Incognito tab to confirm.
Will desktop view use more mobile data?
Yes. Desktop pages download larger images, scripts, and ads. Turn the toggle off and switch back to mobile view on a slow or metered connection.
Where is the Desktop site setting in Chrome on Android?
On current Chrome versions, the toggle appears directly in the More menu as the row Desktop site. In older versions the row showed a checkbox-style icon, and the behavior is the same.
Does the Desktop site setting sync across my devices?
No. The per-tab toggle and the default under Settings → Site settings → Desktop site both stay local to the device where you change them.
I tried several browsers on my android. It is as said above. The sites (developers) recognize it’s a mobile and forces a mobile site. But a lot of sites exclude menus, buttons and what not… in their mobile sites. MySolarEdge…. pc for changing energy price. Shell recharge…. pc for changing anything re. loading pass, your home loading dock etc. Twitter Library….only on pc. Etc etc etc etc.
WE NEED A SWITCH THAT IGNORES THE FACT WE ARE MOBILE.
We will just swipe our way thru the screen, as long as we can get things done without pc
For those who constantly say to use the desktop function of chrome, I have the impression that you have never done it yourself. So, do this test to convince yourself that it’s crap: Open Gmail in destop mode on your android smartphone and try to add labels and sub-labels to a label. The menu is simply not offered. (note that on android tablet this is possible). According to Gmail, the solution is to go to a pc each time you want to classify an email. What the fuck… today a lot of people don’t even have a PC. And even if it is, it’s ridiculous not to have all the functions on an android application like on PC.
Hello,
Thank you for the helpful information. However, I am confused regarding what I it best for my android? Desk top mode or mobile?
On Chrome I can go to the three dots & click desktop view if desired.
The confusion is to turn on request desktop view in settings by turning it on but I may not want it all the time so should I just leave it turned off & click the three dots to click desktop view when desired?
I hope I explained my question so you can understand what I am asking!
Thank you for your help!
Have a beautiful day!
Hi Michael, most of the websites (including us) offer a different layout for different screen sizes. It’s the same site but changes based on the screen resolution, and it’s known as responsive web design.
Answering your question (correct me if I am wrong!) – It’s a good idea to keep the mobile layout on the smartphone rather than the desktop view all time. The font sizes and images on the mobile screen are often squeezed when using the desktop mode, which makes the mobile site view apt for mobile resolution. As you mentioned, you can turn it on and off when you desire.
Hope this helps!