Whether you are an SEO expert, marketer, or web developer, you frequently need to change your browser’s user agent to conduct various tests.

For instance, if you’re running a macOS-specific campaign, changing your browser’s user agent can help you verify that your campaign is correctly targeting macOS users and not inadvertently reaching Linux users.

For web developers, altering user agents is routine to ensure that websites function correctly across different browsers and devices.

What Is A User-Agent?

A user-agent is an HTTP request header string that identifies browsers, applications, or operating systems connecting to a server.

Browsers and bots like Googlebot and Google AdSense have user agents. Here, we will learn how to change your browser’s user agent.

This process is known as user-agent spoofing.

Spoofing occurs when a browser or client sends a different user-agent HTTP header than its actual identity, essentially faking it. Despite the seemingly alarming term, this activity is harmless and will not cause problems.

How To Change Your User-Agent On Chrome & Edge

Since Microsoft Edge is built now on the Chromium framework, changing the user agent is identical for both browsers. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Developer Tools:
   • Right-click on a webpage and choose “Inspect” from the context menu. This will open the Developer Tools panel.
2. Access Network Conditions:
   • Click in the Developer Tools panel, on the three vertical dots (More Tools) in the top-right corner, then navigate to “More tools” and select “Network conditions.”
3. Modify User-Agent Settings:
   • In the “Network conditions” tab, uncheck the “Select automatically” checkbox under the “User agent” section.
4. Choose a User-Agent:
   • From the drop-down list that appears, select a user-agent string from the built-in options. This list includes various user-agents for different browsers and devices.

By following these steps, you can easily spoof your user agent in Chrome and Edge, allowing you to test how websites behave across different browsers and devices. This technique benefits web developers, marketers, and SEO professionals who must ensure their websites and campaigns perform correctly under various conditions.

How To Change User-Agent On Safari

Changing the user-agent in Safari is a straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Open Safari Preferences:
   • Click on “Safari” in menu bar and choose “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
2. Enable the Develop Menu:
   • In the Preferences window, go to the “Advanced” tab.
   • Check the box available next to “Show Develop menu in the menu bar.” This will add the Develop menu to Safari’s menu bar.
3. Access the User-Agent Settings:
   • With the Develop menu now visible in the menu bar, click on “Develop.”
   • From the Develop drop-down menu, hover over “User Agent” to see a list of user-agent strings.
4. Select a User-Agent:
   • Choose a user-agent from the list provided. You can select from various options to simulate different browsers and devices.

By following these steps, you can easily change the user-agent in Safari. This capability is essential for web developers and marketers who must test website functionality and appearance across browsers and platforms.

How To Change User-Agent In Firefox

In Firefox, you can change the user-agent via the browser’s built-in settings, but this method is less user-friendly than in Chrome or Safari. To simplify the process, it’s recommended to use a Firefox add-on.

Here’s how you can change your user agent in Firefox using the User-Agent Switcher add-on:

1. Install the User-Agent Switcher Add-on:
   • Open Firefox and go to the Firefox Add-ons website.
   • Search for “User-Agent Switcher” and install the add-on.
2. Access the User-Agent Switcher:
   • After installation, you will see a new icon in the upper corner in right of the browser.
3. Select a Predefined User-Agent:
   • Click on the User-Agent Switcher icon to open the menu.
   • You can choose from predefined user-agents to simulate different browsers and devices.
4. Enter a Custom User-Agent:
   • Click the pen icon below the predefined options to enter a custom user-agent.
   • Enter the desired user-agent string and save your changes.

Another helpful extension is “User-Agent Switcher and Manager,” which offers similar functionality and a user-friendly interface for managing and switching user-agents.

Using these add-ons, you can quickly and easily change the user-agent in Firefox, making it easier to test website behavior and compatibility across different platforms and devices.

User-Agents Are Easy To Spoof

User-agents are comfortable to spoof, and anyone can use simple techniques to alter them.

This capability is handy for testing web applications across various devices, significantly when the HTML differs for mobile or tablet devices. Spoofing user agents offer a cost-efficient way to test websites without needing many physical devices.

However, it’s important to note that specific issues may only appear on real devices and not when using a browser emulator with a changed user-agent.

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