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Change User-agent on Your Web Browser

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Whenever you browse the internet, any server is able to identify your web browser and the host OS of your system. The browser sends the information to the server in a string, more commonly, user-agent information. It encodes the browser version, operating system and other small features to the server. We, OSRadar, also is able to see what browser and OS you’re using 🙂

All the browsers have fixed user-agent for them. However, you can easily fool other servers with a different user-agent string. It’s not a big deal, it’s just a small trick that can do wonders in many cases. Changing user-agent is also useful for devs who are developing websites.

Changing user-agent

Now, let’s take a look at changing your user-agent on the most popular browsers.

  • Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most powerful web browsers for all platforms. In that sense, it’s highly likely that you’re using Chrome as your default web browser.

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For changing user-agent on Chrome, we’ll be using an awesome extension. Get User-Agent Switcher for Google Chrome.

After you’ve installed the plugin, you can see that there’s the corresponding icon on the top-right of your browser. Click on it and select your favorite user-agent.

  • Firefox

This is one of the best browsers in the world. Developed and maintained by Mozilla, there’s also an awesome extension that you can use to switch the user-agent on Firefox.

Install this User-Agent Switcher add-on for Firefox. After installing, you’ll be able to choose your own user-agent with different options. I’d love to fool servers with Linux host despite running on Windows.

  • Opera

Opera is a Chrome-based browser, sharing a lot of similarities in the core. In the case of Opera, you can easily change the user-agent with User-Agent Switcher.

Just like Chrome, the extension works the same.

  • Safari

If you’re using Safari, there’s no easy way to switch the user-agent. You have to enable developer’s option for enjoying this feature.

  • From the Safari screen, go to Safari >> Preferences.

  • From the “Advanced” tab, check “Show Develop menu in menu bar”.

Now, you’ll be able to change the user-agent from Develop >> User Agent.

Testing the result

After applying the result, there’s no way that you can identify the option is working, right? At first, I also faced the same issue. There’s no way to confirm whether the option worked. Well, let’s take a look at the obvious solution.

Visit to What is My Browser. Here, you can easily see what browser you’re using and whether it’s up-to-date.

Before applying the option, my result is –

Now, I’m switching to “Chrome on iPhone’.

The result changed!

Now, don’t be scared of the warning message – your browser didn’t downgrade. The website is determining your browser based on the user-agent string. As the string changed, the website is determining different browser version on a different platform. Just switch back to normal and everything should be fine.

If you’re interested in all the available user-agent strings, take a look at this MASSIVE list. It also includes all the obsolete and modern user-agents.

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