Overview
User-Agent Switcher Pro is a powerful Chrome extension that allows you to instantly change your browser’s identity (user-agent string) to control how websites perceive your device and browser. This enables you to access region-specific content, bypass browser-specific restrictions, test website compatibility, and protect your privacy by preventing browser fingerprinting.
Main Purpose
The extension’s primary purpose is to give users complete control over their browser’s identity, allowing them to spoof websites that track browser information to access restricted content, test website behavior across different browsers, and enhance online privacy by making tracking more difficult.
Key Features
🔄 User-Agent Management
- One-Click Switching: Instantly change your browser identity with a single click
- Custom User-Agents: Create and save your own user-agent strings for specific needs
- Predefined Profiles: Extensive library of browser, device, and OS combinations
- Auto-Rotation: Automatically change user-agents at specified intervals
🌐 Website-Specific Rules
- Domain Rules: Set different user-agents for specific websites
- URL Pattern Matching: Apply user-agents based on URL patterns
- Rule Prioritization: Create complex rule hierarchies for precise control
- Import/Export: Share rule configurations between devices or with team members
🛡️ Privacy Protection
- Browser Fingerprint Reduction: Minimize tracking through browser fingerprinting
- Referrer Control: Modify or remove HTTP referrer information
- Header Modification: Customize additional HTTP headers for enhanced privacy
- Tracking Prevention: Reduce website ability to identify your actual browser
📱 Device Emulation
- Mobile Device Simulation: Access mobile versions of websites from desktop
- Tablet Emulation: Test how websites appear on tablet devices
- OS Switching: Appear as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android
- Browser Variety: Emulate Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and other browsers
⚙️ Advanced Configuration
- Sync Support: Synchronize settings across multiple devices
- Backup/Restore: Save and restore your configurations
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Quick access to frequently used user-agents
- Context Menu Integration: Right-click to change user-agent for specific tabs
- Developer Tools: Debug and test with detailed request information
Supported Platforms
| Platform | Support Level | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Full Support | All features available |
| Chromium-based Browsers | Full Support | Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi |
| Firefox | Partial Support | Core features via Firefox version |
| Android (Kiwi Browser) | Limited Support | Basic user-agent switching |
| iOS | Not Supported | Due to platform limitations |
How It Works
Technical Implementation
- Header Modification: Intercepts and modifies the User-Agent HTTP header in outgoing requests
- JavaScript API Override: Prevents websites from detecting the true user-agent via JavaScript
- Navigator Object Spoofing: Modifies the browser’s navigator object properties
- Request Filtering: Applies rules based on domain, URL pattern, or request type
- Storage Management: Securely stores user configurations and custom user-agents
User-Agent Processing
- Monitors outgoing HTTP requests before they’re sent
- Applies matching rules based on the destination URL
- Replaces the default user-agent with the selected one
- Updates JavaScript-accessible browser properties to maintain consistency
- Prevents user-agent leakage through WebRTC and other APIs
Installation & Setup
Installation
- Visit the Chrome Web Store to install the extension
- Click “Add to Chrome”
- Confirm installation when prompted
- The User-Agent Switcher Pro icon will appear in your browser toolbar
First-Time Setup
- Click the extension icon to open the popup
- Select a predefined user-agent or create a custom one
- Choose whether to apply globally or only to specific sites
- Click “Apply” to activate your selection
- Verify your new identity at whatismybrowser.com
User Interface
Popup Interface
The extension popup provides quick access to all major features:
- Current User-Agent: Displays your active user-agent
- Quick Selection: Choose from popular user-agent presets
- Search: Find specific browser/device combinations
- Custom Input: Enter your own user-agent string
- Site-Specific Toggle: Enable/disable for current site only
- Settings Access: Quick link to full options page
Options Page
Comprehensive settings page accessible via the popup or Chrome’s extension management:
- User-Agent Library: Browse and manage all available user-agents
- Custom User-Agents: Create, edit, and delete your own user-agents
- Rule Management: Configure domain-specific and pattern-matching rules
- Rotation Settings: Configure automatic user-agent rotation
- Privacy Options: Additional privacy-enhancing settings
- Import/Export: Backup and restore your configuration
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize keyboard shortcuts
Feature Details
User-Agent Categories
| Category | Description | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. | Website testing, accessing browser-specific features |
| Mobile Browsers | iOS Safari, Android Chrome, etc. | Accessing mobile versions of websites |
| Tablets | iPad, Android tablets, etc. | Testing tablet-optimized layouts |
| Legacy Browsers | IE, older Chrome/Firefox versions | Testing backward compatibility |
| Bots/Crawlers | Googlebot, Bingbot, etc. | SEO testing, seeing what crawlers see |
Rule Configuration Options
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Match | Apply to specific domains | example.com |
| URL Pattern | Use regex patterns for URL matching | *.shopping.* |
| Request Types | Filter by request type | Document, XHR, Image |
| Rule Priority | Set order of rule application | 1-100 (higher = more priority) |
| Temporary Rules | Rules that expire after set time | 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day |
Privacy Enhancement Options
| Option | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript Protection | Prevent JS-based user-agent detection | Enable for maximum privacy |
| WebRTC Protection | Prevent WebRTC from leaking real identity | Enable when using VPN |
| Referrer Control | Modify or remove HTTP referrer | Set to “same domain only” |
| Accept-Language | Change language preference header | Match to your user-agent locale |
| Do Not Track | Toggle DNT header | Personal preference |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action | Context |
|---|---|---|
Ctrl+Shift+U / Cmd+Shift+U | Open popup | Global |
Ctrl+Shift+1-9 / Cmd+Shift+1-9 | Switch to saved preset | Global |
Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R | Reset to default user-agent | Global |
Ctrl+Shift+C / Cmd+Shift+C | Copy current user-agent | When popup is open |
Ctrl+Shift+A / Cmd+Shift+A | Toggle auto-rotation | Global |
Permissions Explained
The extension requires the following permissions:
| Permission | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| webRequest | Modify request headers | Changes the User-Agent header in outgoing requests |
| webRequestBlocking | Block requests until modified | Ensures user-agent is changed before request is sent |
| tabs | Access tab information | Applies site-specific rules based on current URL |
| storage | Save user preferences | Stores settings and custom user-agents |
| contextMenus | Add right-click menu options | Provides quick access to user-agent switching |
Privacy & Security
Data Handling
- Local Storage Only: All settings stored locally in your browser
- Optional Sync: Data synced through Chrome sync only if enabled
- No Data Collection: Extension doesn’t collect or transmit usage data
- No External Servers: All processing happens locally on your device
- No Analytics: No tracking or telemetry included
Security Considerations
- Extension only modifies your own HTTP requests
- Cannot access sensitive data from websites
- Open source code available for security review
- Regular updates to address security concerns
- Follows Chrome’s extension security best practices
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
User-agent not changing for specific website
- Check if you have conflicting site-specific rules
- Some websites use advanced fingerprinting beyond user-agent
- Try enabling JavaScript protection in advanced settings
- Verify the site isn’t using server-side detection based on IP
Extension conflicts with other privacy tools
- Disable other user-agent or header-modifying extensions
- Check load order in Chrome’s extension settings
- Try disabling and re-enabling User-Agent Switcher Pro
- Clear browser cache and cookies for the problematic site
Settings not syncing between devices
- Verify Chrome sync is enabled for extensions
- Check if you have sufficient storage in your Google account
- Force a sync by clicking “Sync Now” in extension options
- Try exporting settings and importing them manually
Website detecting true browser despite spoofing
- Enable advanced JavaScript protection
- Check for WebRTC leaks and enable protection
- Some sites use canvas fingerprinting that may need additional protection
- Try using the extension alongside a VPN for maximum anonymity
Performance Tips
- Disable auto-rotation for better performance
- Limit the number of complex URL pattern rules
- Use domain-specific rules instead of global rules when possible
- Regularly clean up unused custom user-agents and rules
- Disable JavaScript protection for trusted sites if experiencing issues
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What is User-Agent Switcher Pro? User-Agent Switcher Pro is a Chrome extension that allows you to change your browser’s identity (user-agent string) to control how websites perceive your device and browser. This enables you to access region-specific content, bypass browser-specific restrictions, test website compatibility across different browsers and devices, and enhance your privacy online.
Why would I need to change my user-agent? There are several reasons to change your user-agent:
- Access mobile versions of websites from your desktop
- Test how your website appears in different browsers without installing them
- Bypass browser-specific restrictions or blocks
- Access region-specific or device-specific content
- Reduce tracking through browser fingerprinting
- Troubleshoot website compatibility issues
Is changing my user-agent legal? Yes, changing your user-agent is legal. The user-agent is simply a piece of information your browser sends to websites. However, be aware that some websites’ terms of service may prohibit misrepresenting your browser. Always respect websites’ terms of service and use this tool responsibly.
Will changing my user-agent hide my IP address? No, changing your user-agent only modifies how your browser identifies itself to websites. It does not hide your IP address or provide the anonymity of a VPN. For complete anonymity, consider using User-Agent Switcher Pro alongside a VPN service.
Technical Questions
How does User-Agent Switcher Pro work? The extension intercepts outgoing HTTP requests from your browser and modifies the User-Agent header before the request is sent. It also overrides JavaScript methods that websites use to detect your browser, ensuring consistent identification across both HTTP headers and JavaScript-based detection methods.
Can websites still detect my real browser despite using this extension? Some sophisticated websites may use additional fingerprinting techniques beyond the user-agent string, such as feature detection, canvas fingerprinting, or WebRTC. User-Agent Switcher Pro includes advanced protection options that address many of these techniques, but complete anonymity may require additional privacy tools.
Does changing my user-agent affect website functionality? Sometimes. Websites often use the user-agent to serve appropriate content or enable browser-specific features. When you change your user-agent, a website might:
- Serve mobile content on desktop or vice versa
- Disable features it thinks your spoofed browser doesn’t support
- Show browser-specific instructions that don’t match your actual browser
- In rare cases, break functionality that relies on accurate browser detection
Can I use different user-agents for different websites? Yes, User-Agent Switcher Pro allows you to create domain-specific rules. You can configure different user-agents for different websites, ensuring you always present the optimal browser identity for each site you visit.
Usage Questions
How do I verify my user-agent has changed? After selecting a new user-agent, visit a browser information site like whatismybrowser.com or browserleaks.com/javascript . These sites will display your current user-agent and can help verify that both HTTP header and JavaScript detection methods are properly spoofed.
Can I create my own custom user-agent? Yes, User-Agent Switcher Pro allows you to create, save, and use custom user-agent strings. This is particularly useful for testing specific browser versions or creating unique identifiers for specialized testing scenarios.
How do I set up automatic user-agent rotation?
- Go to the extension’s options page
- Navigate to the “Rotation” tab
- Enable “Auto Rotation”
- Select which user-agents to include in the rotation
- Set your preferred rotation interval (e.g., every 10 minutes)
- Save your settings
Can I export my settings to use on another computer? Yes, User-Agent Switcher Pro includes an import/export feature:
- Go to the extension’s options page
- Navigate to the “Backup” tab
- Click “Export Settings” to download your configuration
- On your other computer, install the extension and go to the same tab
- Click “Import Settings” and select your saved configuration file
Support & Community
Where can I get help with User-Agent Switcher Pro?
- Documentation: This comprehensive help page
- Support URL: https://ataiva.com/user-agent-switcher-pro-chromium-extension-help
- Chrome Web Store: Leave reviews and feedback on the extension page
- GitHub Repository: Report issues or contribute to development
How do I report bugs or request features? When reporting issues, please include:
- Chrome version and operating system
- Steps to reproduce the problem
- Which user-agent was selected
- Any error messages in the browser console
- Whether the issue occurs in incognito mode
Is User-Agent Switcher Pro open source? Yes, User-Agent Switcher Pro is open source software. The code is available for review on GitHub, and contributions from the community are welcome. This transparency ensures the extension functions as advertised and maintains high security standards.
Version Information
Current Version: 3.2.1 Last Updated: May 2025 Compatibility: Chrome 88+ and other Chromium browsers Manifest Version: 3
Changelog
Recent Updates
- Added support for the latest browser user-agents
- Improved JavaScript protection against fingerprinting
- Enhanced WebRTC leak prevention
- Added automatic user-agent rotation feature
- Updated UI for better usability
- Fixed compatibility issues with Chrome 120+
User-Agent Switcher Pro is developed and maintained by Ataiva. For the latest updates and information, visit our website or check the Chrome Web Store listing.