User Agent Switcher for Chrome

Question

I\'m looking for a User Agent Switcher for Chrome.

Searching the Chrome Web Store does not come up with a simple switcher. I understand I can run the browser via command

Answer 1

Update for 12/2019

OPTION 1: Chrome Developer Tools

Chrome's built-in user-agent switcher has moved several times, but it seems to have stayed in one place for the past few years. As of the time of writing, here's how you get it:

1. Open DevTools: hit F12 or right-click and select "Inspect."
2. Open the drawer (the bottom pane) if it is not already open: hit Esc
3. Go to the "Network conditions" panel. (You may need to click the ⋮ menu button on the left to view a list of all available panels.)
4. Next to "User agent," deselect "Select automatically."
5. Select a user agent from the dropdown or enter a custom string in the text box.

For the official documentation, which has (presumably) up-to-date instructions with screen grabs, go to: https://developers.google.com/web/tools/chrome-devtools/device-mode/override-user-agent

OPTION 2: Extensions

If you'd like a more convenient or feature-rich option, or if you're using a chromium browser other than Chrome, your best bet is a browser extension. Here are several that are up-to-date, and well-reviewed as of the time of writing:

• User-Agent Switcher and Manager
• User-Agent Switcher

Google also offers its own user-agent extension for Chrome (which does apparently work in some other chromium browsers, according to an Edge user):

• User-Agent Switcher for Chrome

A few notes on this last option: Although Google's UA switcher extension was updated only a few months ago (as of 12/19), reviews indicate that it might be somewhat out of touch when it comes to current browsers. It may also cause performance issues if you leave it enabled all the time. That said, this extension does work, and it is overall positively reviewed, so it could be a viable option if you want a convenient, albeit simple, UA switcher for Chrome.