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I use a 12.2" Galaxy Tab. Need a way to automatically go to websites in desktop view, always.

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  • Last reply by aFind

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I know how to get desktop view each time going to a new webpage, but that takes too much time and I never need to see the mobile website. I used to use "desktop by default" but that no longer works with the newer Firefox. Is there some setting in "about:config" to do this? Or any other way? Or is my only option to go back to an older version of firefox, and if so, what are the risks?

I know how to get desktop view each time going to a new webpage, but that takes too much time and I never need to see the mobile website. I used to use "desktop by default" but that no longer works with the newer Firefox. Is there some setting in "about:config" to do this? Or any other way? Or is my only option to go back to an older version of firefox, and if so, what are the risks?

Chosen solution

You can set your mobile Firefox to identify itself using a different user agent string. This is a little involved.

(1) On Firefox for Android, select and copy the following if possible to avoid excess typing:

general.useragent.override

(2) Open a new tab to about:config (type about:config in the Awesomebar and tap the go arrow or tap Enter).

You may want to bookmark this for easier future access.

(3) To filter the view, in the search box, type useragent and pause while Firefox filters the list

(4) Tap the large "+" button to the left of the search box to add a new setting

(A) The name of the preference should be

general.useragent.override

It's easiest to paste. If you are typing it, watch out for autocorrect inserting spaces or changing capitalization, and make sure to clean that up.

(B) On the right side, tap Boolean and in the popup change it to String

(C) Temporarily assign any text (more letters is better), e.g., aaaaaaaa

(D) Then click Create

(5) In a separate tab, open the following page:

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/jstest.php

(6) Use menu > Request Desktop Site

In the page, the user agent string in red should change from referring to aaaaaaaa to X11/Linux.

(7) Select and copy the user agent string

(8) Switch back to the about:config tab in Firefox, double-tap the temporary text, select it, and paste the user agent string you copied, then tap any other preference to finish the edit.

Now if you switch off Request Desktop on the test page, you should still get the same page and user agent.

If you test that on sites you normally visit, does it work?

If you need to undo the change, tap the "Reset" button for that preference and Firefox will delete it.

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Chosen Solution

You can set your mobile Firefox to identify itself using a different user agent string. This is a little involved.

(1) On Firefox for Android, select and copy the following if possible to avoid excess typing:

general.useragent.override

(2) Open a new tab to about:config (type about:config in the Awesomebar and tap the go arrow or tap Enter).

You may want to bookmark this for easier future access.

(3) To filter the view, in the search box, type useragent and pause while Firefox filters the list

(4) Tap the large "+" button to the left of the search box to add a new setting

(A) The name of the preference should be

general.useragent.override

It's easiest to paste. If you are typing it, watch out for autocorrect inserting spaces or changing capitalization, and make sure to clean that up.

(B) On the right side, tap Boolean and in the popup change it to String

(C) Temporarily assign any text (more letters is better), e.g., aaaaaaaa

(D) Then click Create

(5) In a separate tab, open the following page:

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/jstest.php

(6) Use menu > Request Desktop Site

In the page, the user agent string in red should change from referring to aaaaaaaa to X11/Linux.

(7) Select and copy the user agent string

(8) Switch back to the about:config tab in Firefox, double-tap the temporary text, select it, and paste the user agent string you copied, then tap any other preference to finish the edit.

Now if you switch off Request Desktop on the test page, you should still get the same page and user agent.

If you test that on sites you normally visit, does it work?

If you need to undo the change, tap the "Reset" button for that preference and Firefox will delete it.

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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Thank you soooo much!!! Really appreciate your time!