This tiny Chrome flag is a big step towards a proper Android desktop mode

With the recent arrival of the experimental “Desktop Mode” in Android 16, the dream of a true, productive desktop experience powered by your phone is closer than ever. But as anyone who has tried it will tell you, there’s one glaring, persistent annoyance: websites still default to their mobile versions, even when you’re on a larger external monitor.

It seems Google is already working on a fix for this, however. As spotted by Mishaal Rahman over at Android Authority, a new feature flag has emerged in Chrome for Android that finally solves this problem, automatically loading the desktop version of every site when you’re in Desktop Mode.

The ‘user agent’ problem on external displays

The issue all comes down to something called a “user agent.” This is a little string of text your browser sends to a website to identify itself. Even when you’re in the new Desktop Mode on a big screen, Chrome for Android still tells every website that it is a phone. This is why so many sites load their cramped, mobile layouts, forcing you into the repetitive and frustrating task of manually checking the “Desktop site” box for every single tab.

A simple flag for a much better experience

The new solution is a simple Chrome flag: #request-desktop-user-agent-on-external-displays. When enabled, this flag tells Chrome to do the logical thing: if it’s running in Desktop Mode on an external monitor, it should automatically send a desktop user agent.

The result is exactly what you’d expect. Websites like YouTube and Reddit now load their full, proper desktop layouts by default, with sidebars, top navigation, and all the other elements you’re used to seeing on a laptop or desktop. No more manual toggling required.

A small step towards a bigger goal

This isn’t just a small bug fix; it’s a critical and necessary step in Google’s larger ambition to make Android a viable desktop platform. As Google prepares to bring Android to PCs and merge the foundations of its two operating systems, getting these desktop experience details right is absolutely crucial. It’s these small, thoughtful changes that will ultimately determine whether Android can be taken seriously as a true desktop competitor.