At one point or another, you might have found yourself on a website that looks great on your desktop but is not optimized for mobile devices. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re trying to read content or click on links. Â Automation testing is one of the most widely used features in the present app development market. With this process, the developers can efficiently verify the proper performance of thousands of elements present in the web application.
Fortunately, there is a remedy for this problem. Most websites have different versions, optimized so that they can be viewed via different browsers and devices. Phones usually have streamlined interfaces designed for smaller screens. A site designed with Chrome in mind might not render and function flawlessly on Firefox without some optimization efforts.
Primarily, websites utilize responsive design which allows them to adapt to different screen sizes without affecting usability and user experience. UI elements text, UI elements, and images rescale and resize depending on the viewport. However, there might be instances in which the mobile site is not up to par, and the desktop site needs to be requested on a device.
What is the reason for using a desktop view?Â
We use desktop view because it allows us to see all of the features available for any given product. When you’re looking for a new laptop, for example, you want to be able to see how many USB ports it has and whether or not it has an HDMI port. In mobile view, you can only see one feature at a time, which isn’t very helpful if you’re trying to make a decision about what kind of computer you want.
We also use desktop view because we want to be able to compare different products against each other when making a purchase decision. If we were using mobile view, we wouldn’t be able to do this effectively since they would all be displayed on separate pages on our phones instead of side-by-side like they are on our desktops.
If you’re using mobile, you may be tempted to check your email or social media accounts every so often. But when you’re working on something important, it’s important to stay focused. Desktop view allows you to find the right balance between being able to check in on what’s going on in the world outside of your work and being able to focus on what’s happening inside your work.
In some cases, the mobile site might be fine if it’s well-designed. However, it might be missing features like menus and buttons. Or, even if these elements exist they might not work correctly on the mobile version. On the desktop version, however, they would be working.
The desktop view is still used in our testing because there are lots of websites that have a mobile version of their site that is significantly different than the desktop version. For example, a company may have a separate mobile landing page where users can only access certain parts of their website by logging in as a member or customers. This means that these users would still need to access both versions of the site during testing because neither one is complete without all its necessary features available for use by users from their phones or tablets.
Accessing the desktop version of a website on an Android device can be useful in certain situations, such as when a website’s mobile version is limited or when you need to use certain features that are only available on the desktop version. Here’s a quick guide on how to access the desktop version of a website on your Android device.
Method 1: Use the Chrome browser
- Open the Chrome browser on your Android device.
- Go to the website you want to access the desktop version of.
- Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the screen to open the menu.
- Select “Desktop site” from the menu.
- The website will now reload and display the desktop version.
Method 2: Use the Firefox browser
- Open the Firefox browser on your Android device.
- Go to the website you want to access the desktop version of.
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen to open the menu.
- Select “Desktop” from the menu.
- The website will now reload and display the desktop version.
Method 3: Use a browser extension
- Install the “User-Agent Switcher” browser extension in chrome or Firefox browser.
- Click on the extension icon and select “Desktop” from the list of options.
- The website will now reload and display the desktop version.
Note: Some websites may not have a desktop version, or may not allow users to access it on mobile devices. In these cases, the above methods may not work. Additionally, some websites may redirect you to the mobile version even if you are using the above methods.
In conclusion, accessing the desktop version of a website on an Android device can be done easily using the Chrome or Firefox browser or using a browser extension. These methods allow you to access features and functionality that may not be available on the mobile version of a website.
In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are a few other ways you can access the desktop version of a website on an Android device.
Method 4: Use the “Request Desktop Site” option in Chrome
- Open the Chrome browser on your Android device.
- Go to the website you want to access the desktop version of.
- Tap and hold the refresh button (circular arrow) located on the right side of the address bar.
- Select “Request desktop site” from the menu that appears.
- The website will now reload and display the desktop version.
Method 5: Use the “View Desktop Site” option in Safari
- Open the Safari browser on your iOS device.
- Go to the website you want to access the desktop version of.
- Tap the “aA” button located on the left side of the address bar.
- Select “Request Desktop Site” from the menu that appears.
- The website will now reload and display the desktop version.
Method 6: Use a third-party app
There are several third-party apps available on the Google Play Store that allow you to access the desktop version of a website on an Android device. These apps work by modifying the user agent of your device, making it appear as though you’re accessing the website from a desktop browser. Some popular options include
- Desktop Browser
- Desktop Mode
- Full-Screen Browser
It’s worth noting that while these methods can be useful in certain situations, accessing the desktop version of a website on a mobile device may not always be necessary. Some websites have been optimized for mobile devices and may offer a better user experience in the mobile version. Additionally, some websites may not be fully functional or may not display correctly on the desktop version on a mobile device. So it’s always a good idea to check both versions and use the one that works best for you.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when you access the desktop version of a website on a mobile device, the website may take longer to load and may consume more data. This is because the desktop version of a website is typically larger and more complex than the mobile version. Additionally, the website may not be optimized for the smaller screen of a mobile device, which could make it more difficult to navigate and use.
Additionally, some websites may use responsive web design, which means that the website automatically adjusts to the size of the screen it’s being viewed on. In this case, you may not have to access the desktop version of the website on your mobile device as it will automatically adjust to the size of your screen.
It’s also important to note that some websites may block users who try to access the desktop version of the website on a mobile device. This could be for security reasons or to prevent users from accessing certain features or content that is not meant for mobile devices.
In conclusion, while accessing the desktop version of a website on an Android device can be useful in certain situations, it’s important to keep in mind that this may not always be the best option. Websites that are optimized for mobile devices may offer a better user experience and may be faster and more efficient to use on a mobile device. Additionally, accessing the desktop version of a website on a mobile device may consume more data and may not always be possible if the website blocks mobile users or uses a responsive web design. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check both the mobile and desktop versions of a website and use the one that works best for you.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when accessing the desktop version of a website on a mobile device, you may encounter compatibility issues. Some websites may use technologies that are not supported by mobile browsers, such as Adobe Flash, which could prevent certain elements of the website from working properly. Additionally, certain features or functionality that are available on the desktop version of a website may not be available or may not work properly on a mobile device.
Also, when accessing the desktop version of a website on a mobile device, you may need to zoom in and out to read the text and navigate through the website. This can be a bit cumbersome and time-consuming, especially if you need to access specific elements on the website.
It’s also worth noting that accessing the desktop version of a website on a mobile device may not be necessary for all types of websites. For example, if you’re accessing a news website, you may find that the mobile version of the website is perfectly fine and that you don’t need to access the desktop version. On the other hand, if you’re accessing a website that requires you to fill out a form or complete a transaction, you may find that the desktop version is more convenient and offers more options.
How can Lambda test help you?
LambdaTest is a cloud-based cross-browser testing platform that allows users to test their websites and web applications on a wide range of browsers and operating systems. This tool provides an easy and efficient way to ensure that your website or web application works seamlessly across different browsers and platforms. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at LambdaTest and its features.
One of the main benefits of LambdaTest is its ability to test your website or web application on a wide range of browsers and operating systems. This includes popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and more, as well as older versions of these browsers. Additionally, you can test your website or web application on different operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. This ensures that your website or web application works seamlessly across different platforms and devices.
Another benefit of LambdaTest is its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The platform is easy to navigate and provides a wide range of options for testing your website or web application. You can test your website or web application on a live URL, or you can upload your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files for testing. Additionally, you can use the platform’s built-in tools to take screenshots and record videos of your website or web application, which can be useful for debugging and troubleshooting.
LambdaTest also provides a number of additional features that make it a powerful testing tool. One of these features is its ability to perform responsive testing, which allows you to test your website or web application on different screen sizes and resolutions. Additionally, LambdaTest provides a “Debugging” feature, which allows you to access the browser’s developer console to troubleshoot and fix any issues that may arise during testing.
Additionally, LambdaTest offers a “Screenshots” feature, where you can test your website or web application on different screen resolutions and browsers. This feature allows you to see how your website or web application looks on different devices and screens.
In conclusion, LambdaTest is a powerful and versatile cross-browser testing tool that can help you ensure that your website or web application works seamlessly across different browsers and operating systems by running Selenium, Cypress, Playwright and Puppeteer tests in a single click. Its intuitive interface, wide range of testing options, and additional features make it a valuable tool for any web developer or website owner. By using LambdaTest, you can save time and effort by identifying and fixing compatibility issues before they become a problem for your users.