It can be frustrating when you access Facebook on your desktop computer, but the site appears like the mobile version instead of the full desktop site. There are a few potential reasons why Facebook may unexpectedly show the mobile site on a desktop browser and some steps you can try to resolve the issue.
Common Reasons for the Mobile Site Displaying
Here are some of the most common reasons why Facebook’s mobile site may be showing up on your desktop computer:
- Your browser window is narrow or condensed – If your browser window is vertically compressed or made very narrow, Facebook may switch to showing the mobile layout.
- You’re using the mobile site URL – The Facebook mobile site has a different URL than the desktop site. Using m.facebook.com will always show the mobile site.
- You have the “view mobile site” option set – Facebook has a toggle to let you view the mobile site even on desktop. This gets saved in a cookie.
- The browser is reporting a mobile user agent – Some browsers may incorrectly report they are on mobile devices, triggering the mobile site.
- A browser extension or add-on is enabled – Some browser extensions can force sites into their mobile versions.
- You’re logged into Facebook through a mobile app – If logged into the Facebook mobile app, the desktop site may also switch to mobile.
How to Get Back to Facebook Desktop Site
If you want to get Facebook back to its full desktop version, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
Use the Desktop Site URL
Make sure you are accessing Facebook using the desktop site URL: https://www.facebook.com. If you were previously using m.facebook.com, the mobile version, update it to access the desktop site.
Resize Your Browser Window
If your browser window is narrowed or vertically compressed, Facebook may have automatically switched to mobile view. Try resizing your browser window to be larger and more horizontal to trigger the desktop site.
Clear Your Browser Cookies
Facebook’s “view mobile site” setting is saved in a cookie. Clearing your browser cookies will reset this. In most browsers you can clear cookies through the settings or history pages.
Check for Mobile Browser Extensions
Some browsers have extensions that can force sites into mobile view. Check your browser add-ons and extensions and disable any that may be impacting Facebook’s display.
Use Desktop Mode in Mobile Browsers
If you are accessing Facebook through your mobile device’s browser, see if there is a “View Desktop Site” or “Desktop Mode” option to display the full desktop version of Facebook.
Log Out of Facebook App
If you are logged into Facebook through the mobile apps on your device, logging out of the Facebook app can sometimes help the desktop site switch back from mobile view.
Other Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some other things to check that may help get the Facebook desktop site to display properly:
- Try using a different browser and see if the issue persists.
- Update your browsers to the latest versions available.
- Clear your browser cache in addition to cookies.
- Disable any ad blockers or privacy extensions that may interfere with page display.
- Try accessing Facebook in a Private Browsing or Incognito window.
- Check that JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings.
Why Facebook May Show the Mobile Site
There are a few reasons why Facebook will automatically switch a desktop browser to the mobile site version:
Screen Size Limitations
Facebook wants to provide the optimal viewing experience, so if your browser window is vertically compressed or very narrow, it will show the mobile layout better suited for small screens. Making the browser window wider should trigger the desktop site.
Mobile Browser User Agents
Some browsers may report themselves as on mobile devices, even if on desktop machines. Detecting mobile user agent strings can cause Facebook to switch to mobile view.
“View Mobile Site” Setting
When you toggle Facebook’s “view mobile site” option on desktop, it sets a cookie to continue showing mobile view going forward. You need to clear cookies to reset this setting.
Consistent Experience with Mobile App
If you access Facebook on both desktop and mobile, Facebook tries to provide a more consistent user experience by showing the mobile site on desktop if you are logged into the mobile apps.
When to Contact Facebook Support
If you are still unable to get Facebook to show the desktop site after trying the troubleshooting tips above, you may need to contact Facebook support for additional help. Some cases where you may want to reach out include:
- Issues are occurring on multiple devices and browsers.
- Clearing cookies and browser caches don’t resolve the issue.
- You don’t have any mobile browser extensions or add-ons enabled.
- The problem started suddenly and you didn’t change any settings.
Facebook’s Help Center can be reached 24 hours a day by visiting facebook.com/help. Select the “Help Us Improve Facebook” option and then report bugs and issues. You can explain the problem you are experiencing with Facebook showing the mobile site on desktop incorrectly.
Conclusion
Facebook may display the mobile site instead of the full desktop version in some situations, but this is usually fixable. The most common solutions include using the correct desktop URL, resizing your browser window wider, clearing cookies and mobile browser extensions, and logging out of the Facebook mobile app.
In rare cases where desktop Facebook continues showing up as mobile without explanation, contacting Facebook support provides additional troubleshooting help. They can investigate issues that persist across devices and provide customized suggestions.