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Tips - July 12th, 2011

Switch from Mobile to Desktop Browsing Mode on your Galaxy Tab 10.1

Does the above image look familiar? It’s a common theme used for mobile sites, and the built-in Android browser on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 reverts to mobile mode. To enable desktop mode, follow these steps:

  1. Enter “about:debug” in the address bar in the browser, without the quotes. That shouldn’t have any direct effect but enables a debug menu in the options.
  2. Go into the options menu. (icon at the top-right corner of the screen)
  3. Go into “Settings“.
  4. Go into the “Debug” menu on the left menu.
  5. Touch “UASTRING“.
  6. Select “Desktop” over the default “Android”.

Now you’ll be able to browse websites in desktop mode, just like on your laptop or desktop computer. This tip via the XDA forum.

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  • Larrybrad

    Can anyone advise on the advantages or disadvantages of performingthis change or why the manufacturer set Android as the default?

    • Anonymous

      It’s set to Android as default so websites can, if they want, optimize the viewing experience (website layout / function) specifically for Android devices. 

      Unfortunately, most of the time sites handle this is done just by switching over to a mobile (phone optimized) layout not taking tablets into consideration, because most Android devices, are phones. 

      This is why some manufacturers set a desktop UA (User Agent) by default as it offers the best experience so far on large tablets.

  • http://twitter.com/freitasneno Neno Freitas

    I did it , but doesn’t work ….

    • Anonymous

      Did you get the debug menu? What site are you trying to check?

  • Peter

    It works for most websites but once u switch the tab and on again it doesn’t work again

  • Joe

    Did it and its still not working.Aalso when I test what other sites seeing the tablet as, it comes up as a MAC Safari Browser.

    This is a major disappointment and Flash movies don’t play.

  • http://usb3gvn.com USB 3G

    Well, interesting post, thanks

  • Harsh Gupta

    thanksssss………..it really worked.

  • Sasj143786

    i dont get the additional ‘debug’ menu options in settings.