How to Stop a Website From Redirecting to Mobile Sites on an iPhone

By Melly Parker

Safari comes pre-installed on iOS, but you can install other browsers.
i Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Mobile versions of websites often display different content than the desktop version of the same website. Some mobile versions of sites are locked in to the screen and can't be zoomed in on the way a desktop browser can. While it isn't possible to switch to desktop mode with the native iOS browser, installing other software will help you view the desktop version of a site.

Safari

Safari doesn't have an option built-in for displaying the desktop version of a website. Since Apple doesn't support the software used by computers to display a website, its native browser on the iPhone displays an alternate, compatible website. Safari is designed to show the mobile versions so that all websites are displayed in the most functional, attractive way possible on your iPhone.

Alternate Apps

If you want to view a desktop version of a browser, use an app from iTunes. Alternate browsers send information indicating that they're operating on a normal computer, not a phone or tablet. The website responds by displaying the desktop version of the page on your iPhone. Once you've downloaded the app, adjust the settings so that desktop mode is enabled.

Choosing an App

The browser interface is one major thing to consider when selecting an alternate browser. Look at the images displayed on the browser's listing on the App Store to see what the browser looks like. Browsers with a large toolbar may obscure your view of certain websites, while others may not offer buttons that you want to use. vBrowse, Mercury Browser and iCab Mobile can all toggle between desktop and mobile browser view on the iPhone.

Warnings

Even with an alternate app, not every Web page will work as it would on a desktop computer. Not only does the iPhone have different software than a desktop computer, but it also has different inputs. Mobile sites are designed to be used with your fingers; desktop sites are designed to be used with a keyboard and a mouse. Some of the inputs, graphics, videos and other aspects of the website might not work on the iPhone, no matter what app you use.

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