Viewing the desktop and mobile versions of Mumsnet

[JanineMumsnet]

Dear all,

We wanted to let you know that we are shortly going to be removing the ability to manually switch the view of the website from desktop to mobile and vice versa. The reason for doing this is because an incorrect view of MN for the device you are using (eg a desktop view on a mobile device) can impact the functionality of some elements of the website, and this causes real problems with Google and the way they view and rank us.

So from today, if you use a mobile device to access the site you will only be able to see the mobile view, if you view on a desktop device you will only see the desktop view and those using a tablet will also only see the desktop view. We're sorry if this impacts your enjoyment of the site - we know that a very few Mumsnetters do use the link to view the site differently - but we do need to do this or it will cause lots of problems going forward.

If you have any particular concerns or queries do please post them here.

MNHQ

Thank you, Lougle, I have the desktop site back

@werekitty

Thank you, Lougle, I have the desktop site back

great

Do I need to download chrome if that’s showing desktop

Can you update the android app then?

@Blondeshavemorefun

Do I need to download chrome if that’s showing desktop

This is the difference between viewing MN in Chrome and viewing it with 'desktop site' ticked.

Awwww jealous !!!

I have downloaded chrome but can’t see any three dots or saying desktop

Tell a lie. It’s showing at the bottom. Hurray. Thank you !!!

@Blondeshavemorefun

Tell a lie. It’s showing at the bottom. Hurray. Thank you !!!

Great! Enjoy

@Blondeshavemorefun I have looked into this issue, but it looks as though you are now using Chrome anyway now.

As I understand, the reason you moved away from Safari and Chrome was because you felt you were getting too many pop ups? We have over the last few months been removing as many pop ups as we can, so we would suggest Chrome or Safari as the browser you use, as the site does work better generally in those browsers.

Hi @JanineMumsnet

Yes I had to swap to another browser as so many pop ups

At the moment seems chrome is ok so will go back to using that

Let’s hope stays that way

Must be hard with so many different phones and browsers to find something that suits all

I am so fed up. I just can’t be arsed anymore. I want use the mobile site on my iPad. If I can’t I will have to use my phone. It’s too small. (iPhone 5s)

What a pain.

I agree not being able to use the mobile site on an iPad or iPad mini is just ridiculous.

[quote Lougle]@werekitty if you're using Chrome, the 3 dots has 'show desktop site' - that switches to desktop mode. But I'm not sure we're meant to be able to do that any more?[/quote]
What are the 3 dots you're talking about? 😮

I'm using my Samsung tablet and can't get off the mobile site... 😣

@MrsJBaptiste I'm using my Samsung tablet and can't get off the mobile site... 😣 I would happily swap.

This is on PC.

This is on mobile

So you tap the three dots to the right of the URL - there will be a checkbox for 'show desktop site'.

Ok so I can switch from both

Pleased dont take desktop away

This is what I see.

Then lick those magic 3 dots and for me they are at the bottom right - not top url

And can switch back to mobile. Then click again and back to desktop

Click not lick😂

I can't vote on AIBU on the mobile app. Can that be fixed?

I have got the 3 dots on Chrome but when I click on request mobile site it is no different and not back to the mobile site, I ‘m stuck on desktop as far as I can see on my iPad which reading this is what is supposed to be happening. Am rather pissed off I paid for premium for a year now,

At last! I have 3 lines and not 3 dots so have swapped and am back to desktop 😁

The desktop version is too small for mobile devices like tablets. If there is a general preference for mobile on smaller screens, would it be possible to fix it to mobile?

As an aside, forcing views like this is pretty shoddy in 2020.

The chrome functionality to show desktop site is separate from what MNHQ are proposing. If you have that you should be able to override it and it won't cause problems for them in search engines.

They are just going to remove the quick link at the bottom of the page and maybe the ability to go to m. rather than www.

When you load a website these days the device you're using identifies itself as either a mobile or desktop device and the website will display accordingly. It's currently the case on MN that you can scroll right to the bottom and change your version, but it sounds like this is what will be removed. The chrome menu function simply changes how the device is identified to the website code.