<![CDATA[PinePhone Browser not working with some websites]]>I was unable to log in to the BBC website. WhatsMyBrowser.org reported my OS as Android 4.4 instead of Ubuntu 16.04.

I've had this problem before with my Nexus 4 and @applee advised switching browser to 'activate desktop mode'. This worked for my N4.

This also worked for my PinePhone! Now identified as OS Ubuntu 16.04 and able to log in to BBC website.

I hope this information may be useful to others.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/topic/4833/pinephone-browser-not-working-with-some-websitesRSS for NodeMon, 09 Mar 2026 02:56:56 GMTSat, 29 Aug 2020 22:07:32 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:20:37 GMT]]>@dtarrant I'm glad I could help :thumbs_up:

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39543https://forums.ubports.com/post/39543Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:20:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:33:40 GMT]]>@AppLee The insight you provided enabled me to improve the browsing experience on my Nexus 4. In browser settings I turned 'desktop mode' off and 'automatic fit to width' on.
I suppose that's obvious when you think about it. 🙂

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39541https://forums.ubports.com/post/39541Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:33:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Tue, 01 Sep 2020 16:41:42 GMT]]>@AppLee said in PinePhone Browser not working with some websites:

With Android it will assume mobile device (phone or tablet), so it may react by adapting the UI to be "responsive".

Maybe it should identify itself as a WAY LESS deprecated androïd system...
Like 7 or 8...
4.4 has gone prehistorical.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39437https://forums.ubports.com/post/39437Tue, 01 Sep 2020 16:41:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:16:05 GMT]]>@AppLee Aha, I am beginning to understand now. Many thanks for your input.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39420https://forums.ubports.com/post/39420Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:16:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Mon, 31 Aug 2020 16:46:13 GMT]]>@dtarrant
If you identify as Ubuntu, the website will assume you're on a desktop computer.
With Android it will assume mobile device (phone or tablet), so it may react by adapting the UI to be "responsive".

With a full HD screen how does the browser knows if you're on a 24" or 6" screen ?
Many uses the OS to adapt their content... (only two major mobile OSes make it easy to handle every cases)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39365https://forums.ubports.com/post/39365Mon, 31 Aug 2020 16:46:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Mon, 31 Aug 2020 16:38:47 GMT]]>@dobey @AppLee OK, I see what you mean. I've just run whatsmybrowser.org on my Nexus 4 for 'activate desktop mode' both off and on. In each case the reported user agent strings are identical. The whatsmybrowser tool however reports the OS as Android 4.4 in one case and Ubuntu 16.04 in the other.
I don't see the point of Ubuntu Touch identifying itself as Android 4.4 in the first case.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39363https://forums.ubports.com/post/39363Mon, 31 Aug 2020 16:38:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:28:20 GMT]]>@dtarrant No. The problem is that web sites are garbage and try to rely on User-Agent, which they shouldn't do, resulting in many false assumptions. The browser has many User-Agent overrides defined for it, in an attempt to make web sites work better on UT, instead of telling you to just install an Android app or presenting you with a site only suitable for a PC with a big screen and low DPI.

But yes, I agree the logic needs some updating and expansion to be better suited for changes in the world over the last few years while the User-Agent handling in the browser has mostly laid stagnant.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39353https://forums.ubports.com/post/39353Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:28:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Mon, 31 Aug 2020 02:37:16 GMT]]>@dobey @applee It seems to me that UT should never report itself as OS Android 4.4 because that causes the BBC to complain about an out-of-date browser. Once I select 'Activate desktop mode' in Browser Settings, PinePhone correctly reports itself as OS Ubuntu 16.04 and the BBC website works fine. I will open an issue at https://github.com/ubports/morph-browser as you suggest.
(I am on latest RC channel)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39334https://forums.ubports.com/post/39334Mon, 31 Aug 2020 02:37:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Sun, 30 Aug 2020 22:25:19 GMT]]>@dtarrant Hmm. It sounds like maybe there needs to be a User-Agent override addition, or perhaps update, for the BBC site in morph-browser. I'd suggest opening an issue at https://github.com/ubports/morph-browser

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39330https://forums.ubports.com/post/39330Sun, 30 Aug 2020 22:25:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Sun, 30 Aug 2020 22:23:42 GMT]]>@AppLee The Pinephone is not on the same release schedule as the Android based devices yet. Everyone on a pinephone should already have the new QtWebEngine I think.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39329https://forums.ubports.com/post/39329Sun, 30 Aug 2020 22:23:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to PinePhone Browser not working with some websites on Sun, 30 Aug 2020 17:39:13 GMT]]>@dtarrant
With OTA13 coming soon, I also advice to try the RC channel to benefit from the QtWebEngine upgrade with Morph.
Modern website are better supported and it is supposedly faster too.

Hopefully all these new features and enhancement will be in stable next week.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/39323https://forums.ubports.com/post/39323Sun, 30 Aug 2020 17:39:13 GMT