Have you ever wondered why some websites look different on your phone compared to your computer? This often has to do with your browser's kernel version, which controls how web pages are displayed.
Sometimes, the information your browser shares with websites, known as the User-Agent, doesn't match your actual browser kernel. This mismatch can cause issues, especially if you're trying to access certain services or maintain privacy. In this article, we'll guide you through simple steps to check your browser's kernel version and align it with your User-Agent, ensuring a smoother internet experience.
How to Detect Your Browser Kernel Version?
Finding out your browser's kernel version can be a vital step in troubleshooting and optimizing your online experience. It might seem like a complex task, but the process is actually quite straightforward. Next, let's look at how you can discover this on different devices and browsers.
Check Version Information Through the Browser's Menu
For iOS Devices
1).Google Chrome:
-
Tap the (•••) in the bottom right corner.
-
Go to Settings > Google Chrome.
2).Mozilla Firefox:
-
Tap the menu button (☰) in the bottom right.
-
Go to Settings. The app version number is showed here.
3).Microsoft Edge:
-
Tap the (•••) at the bottom of the screen.
-
Go to Settings. You can find the app build number here.
4).Safari:
Different form other browser, the Safari version can't be directly find out in apps. But since it is a browser designed for Apple system, its version on iOS is tied to your iOS version.
-
Open the Settings app.
-
Go to General > About. The iOS version listed here is also the Safari version.
5).Opera:
-
Tap the
icon in the bottom right.
-
Go to Settings and scroll down to find the version number.
For Android Devices
1).Google Chrome:
-
Tap the (⋮) in the top right corner.
-
Go to Settings > About Chrome.
2).Mozilla Firefox:
-
Tap the menu button (⋮) in the top right.
-
Go to Settings > About Firefox.
3).Microsoft Edge:
-
Tap the (☰) at the bottom of the screen.
-
Go to Settings > About This App.
4).Opera:
-
Tap the
icon in the bottom right.
-
Go to Settings > About Opera.
For Desktop (PC or Mac)
Google Chrome:
-
Click the (⋮) in the top right.
-
Go to Help > About Google Chrome.
-
Or you can also type
chrome://version
in the address bar and press enter, Chrome will pop up a window with complete information about the current browser.
Mozilla Firefox:
-
Click the menu button (☰) in the top right.
-
Go to Help > About Firefox, the version will appear in a pop-up window.
-
The second method is to type
edge://settings/help
in the address bar, then press enter.
Microsoft Edge:
-
Click the (•••) in the top right.
-
Go to Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
Safari (Mac only):
-
Click Safari in the top menu bar.
-
Select About Safari, A window will show the version number.
Opera:
-
Click the red
in the top left corner.
-
Go to Help > About Opera, and you will see the version information here.
-
There is another way similar to Chrome and Firefox: Type
opera://about
in the address bar then press enter.
Look at Some Screenshots and Compare It to Your Web Browser
If you're using your PC's default browser and aren't sure which one it is, the title bar or top area of your browser can provide clues about its version. We'll show you what the latest versions of each browser look like. You can compare these screenshots with your browser to identify it and check if it's up-to-date.
Example for Chrome:
Example for Microsoft Edge:
Example for Mozilla Firefox:
Example for Opera:
Example for Safari:
Use BrowserScan's Kernel Detection
For a more detailed and convenient check, you can try the online browser kernel checker to perform a quick and technical detection. BrowserScan provides an easy way to detect all your browser kernel info, which is available for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac. Just wait within 3 seconds, you can immediately receive the result:
-
It will shows the true browser version that you are using, and whether you are using the latest version in the middle of the page.
-
When the current version isn't the latest version, it will list the vulnerabilities of it.
-
Below this messige, BrowserScan will also return the judgement of whether your browser version matches your User Agent.
-
If not, it will shows an warning information and pop up the illustration of the negative impact
How to Fix Mismatches Between Browser's Kernel and User Agent (PC Guide)
This issue can arise for several reasons. For instance, if you update your browser but the process is incomplete, or if there's interference from extensions or cache problems, the User-Agent might not synchronize with the update. Next, we'll introduce you some method to resolve this issue:
Check and Disable Some Browser Extensions
Some browser extensions, like user-agent switchers or certain privacy tools, can change the User-Agent string to hide your real browser or simulate a different one. To fix this, try disabling any extensions that might cause this problem:
Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge:
-
Click (⋮) on Chrome or (...) on Microsoft Edge in the upper right corner of the browser .
-
On Chrome: Select "Extensions" > "Manage extensions".
On Edge: Click "Extensions", then click "Manage extensions" in the pop up window on the top.
-
On the extensions page, look for extensions that may affect the User-Agent, such as certain proxy or privacy extensions.
-
Click the "Details" button under the extension to view permissions and check if it has the ability to modify network requests.
-
Try disabling the extension: Click
on the extension card, then recheck the User-Agent. If necessary, you can also uninstall the extension by clicking the "Remove" button.
Mozilla Firefox:
-
Click the
icon in the upper right corner of the browser, it will pop up an "Add-Ons Manager" window.
-
Select "Extensions" on the left-side bar.
-
On the add-ons page, you can click each extension to check its detail information and permissions, then disable or remove the dubious one to troubleshoot.
Safari (Mac):
-
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu.
-
Select Preferences > Extensions.
-
Check and exclude problematic extensions.
Opera:
-
Click the
logo in the top left corner.
-
Select Extensions > Manage extensions.
-
Check and eliminate the dubious extensions .
Reset or update your browser
This method is used to solve the browser update problem we mentioned earlier, when you can not find out the specific reason, you can try to update; If the update can not be solved, restoring the default Settings is the simplest and most direct way.
Google Chrome:
-
Click the (⋮) in the top right.
-
Go to "Settings" > "Reset settings" on the left side.
-
Click "Restore settings to their original defaults", then confirm the reset.
-
To update Chrome, go to "Help" > "About Google Chrome", and Chrome will automatically check for updates. If an update is available, it will be installed after you restart the browser.
Mozilla Firefox:
-
Click the menu button (☰) in the top right.
-
Go to "Help" > "More Troubleshooting Information".
-
In the "Give Firefox a tune-up" section, click "Refresh Firefox", then confirm the action.
-
To update Firefox, click "Help" > "About Firefox", and Firefox will automatically check for and install updates.
Microsoft Edge:
-
Click the three dots (•••) in the top right.
-
Go to "Settings" > "Reset settings".
-
Select "Restore settings to their default values" and confirm the reset.
-
To update Edge, go to "Help and feedback" > "About Microsoft Edge". Edge will check for updates, and any available updates will be installed when you restart the browser.
Safari (Mac):
Safari doesn’t have a built-in reset option, but you can check if your safari browser has been update to the latest version. Just make sure the operating system is updated, and safari will update with it.
Opera:
-
Click the red
in the top left corner.
-
Go to "Settings".
-
Scroll down to the bottom, click "Advanced", it will pop up more option.
-
Scroll down to the bottom again, and click "Reset settings".
-
Click "Restore settings to their original defaults", then confirm the reset.
-
To update Opera, click the red
icon, then click "Update & Recovery". Opera will check for updates and apply them after a restart.
Use Anti-Fingerprint Browser
Anti-fingerprint browser is a powerful tool that allows you to create custom browsing environments with user-defined fingerprint information. This means you can control what information is shared with websites, including the User-Agent, operating system, screen size, and many other details that typically make up your browser's "fingerprint."
By setting up a specific environment, you can ensure that the information websites receive about your browser is accurate and consistent without complicate operations. This allows you to easily enhance your online privacy, bypass website detection, and perform web scraping smoothly.
Regularly Detect Your Browser Kernel With BrowserScan
To stay ahead of potential issues and keep your browser performing at its best, one of the most important ways is to check your browser information regularly. BrowserScan's Kernel detection is the most efficient tool for this task, as it simplifies the process, offering instant results without navigating through complex settings. With minimum time and effort, you can maintain reliable control over your browser's performance.
Now take the first step in securing your browser's stability—try BrowserScan today and experience the convenience firsthand.