How to Open Facebook Desktop Site on Mobile (Android & iPhone, 2026)

Sometimes the mobile version of Facebook just will not do — you need a feature that is only on the desktop site, want to access settings buried in the mobile app, including the security options that help protect your Facebook messages, or simply prefer the fuller layout. The good news: you can open the full Facebook desktop site on your phone in a few seconds. This guide covers how to do it on both Android and iPhone, why you’d want to, and You can apply the same trick with dedicated iPhone apps for desktop mode browsing. What to do when the desktop site keeps redirecting back to mobile.

Why Open the Desktop Site on Mobile?

The mobile app and mobile site are streamlined, which means some features are hidden or missing. The desktop site gives you access to certain settings and privacy controls that are easier to find (or only available) there, the full layout for managing Pages and groups, features that the app buries in menus, and sometimes a way to do things the app simply won’t let you. For power users and anyone managing a Page or business, the desktop view is often more capable.

How to Open Facebook Desktop Site on Android

1. Open Chrome (or your browser) on your Android phone — not the Facebook app.
2. Go to facebook.com. It will load the mobile site by default.
3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome.
4. Check the box for “Desktop site” (or “Request desktop site”).
5. The page reloads as the full desktop version. You may need to zoom to navigate comfortably.

To make it stick, keep using the browser rather than the app, since the app always uses the mobile interface.

How to Open Facebook Desktop Site on iPhone

1. Open Safari on your iPhone (again, not the app).
2. Go to facebook.com.
3. Tap the “aA” icon on the left side of the address bar.
4. Select “Request Desktop Website.”
5. The full desktop site loads. You can set Safari to always request the desktop site for facebook.com in the same menu (Website Settings).

When the Desktop Site Keeps Redirecting to Mobile

Facebook sometimes forces you back to the mobile site even after you request desktop. A reliable workaround is to visit the explicit desktop URL www.facebook.com/home.php instead of just facebook.com, which is more likely to hold the desktop layout. If it still redirects, make sure “Request desktop site” stayed checked (it can reset), try clearing the browser’s Facebook cookies, or use a browser’s built-in “desktop mode” toggle rather than requesting per-page. On iPhone, setting Safari to always request desktop for facebook.com (via the aA menu → Website Settings) prevents the reset.

A Note on the Facebook App vs Browser

The Facebook app will never show the desktop site — this only works in a browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.). If you frequently need desktop features, bookmark the desktop URL in your browser and use that instead of the app for those tasks. Many people keep the app for casual browsing and use the browser’s desktop mode for account management, Page administration, and settings. For getting more from your mobile browser generally, our guide on speeding up your Android phone covers keeping the browser and device responsive.

FAQ

How do I open the Facebook desktop site on my phone? Use a browser (not the app): on Android, Chrome menu → check “Desktop site”; on iPhone, Safari’s “aA” icon → “Request Desktop Website.” The full desktop version then loads.

Why does Facebook keep switching back to mobile? Facebook often forces the mobile site. Try visiting facebook.com/home.php directly, ensure “desktop site” stayed checked, clear Facebook cookies, or set Safari to always request desktop for facebook.com.

Can I get the desktop site in the Facebook app? No — the app only shows the mobile interface. You must use a browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) to access the desktop site on a phone.

Why would I want the desktop site on mobile? Some settings, privacy controls, and Page-management features are easier to find or only available on the desktop layout. It’s especially useful for managing a Facebook Page or business.

Does this work on all browsers? Yes — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and most mobile browsers have a “request desktop site” option in their menu. The steps differ slightly but the feature is standard.