Google has improved the browsing experience in Android 16's experimental Desktop Mode . Previously, Desktop Mode defaulted to websites' mobile layouts, even with a phone connected to an external monitor. That's because Chrome for Android identifies itself as a mobile device when it connects to websites, commanding the version of the site you'd typically see on a smartphone.
But a new Chrome for Android flag spotted by Android Authority seems to fix that problem. The flag, #request-desktop-user-agent-on-external-displays, changes how Chrome presents itself to websites. When Desktop Mode is active and an external display is connected, Chrome sends a desktop user agent string.
This means mainstream sites like YouTube and Reddit now load their desktop versions automatically, allowing users to navigate each page as if they were on a desktop PC or a laptop. Users will no longer have to manually select each tab's "desktop site" option to browse in desktop mode.
The new flag is being tested in Chrome for Android Canary and developer builds, and will likely be added as Android 16's Desktop Mode receives more updates.
