Switch user agents in the Mozilla Firefox browser

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: February 8, 2007]

Recently my bank made some changes to web based banking facility. It is now IE only site for netbanking. They have coded site such way it only works with IE and do not work with Firefox browser.

So I need to change the 'user agent' field in the Mozilla web browser to make it "look" and "act" like Internet Explorer (IE).

Luckily Google pointed out to a user agent switcher that is written as an extension to Mozilla products.

From the extension home page:
It adds a menu and a toolbar button to switch the user agent of the browser. It works with following mozilla products:

=> Firefox All version

=> Mozilla Browser All version

How do I use User Agent Switcher?

a) All you have to do is download this extension

b) Install extension

c) Click on Tools > User agent switcher

d) Select Internet Explorer (Win XP) and save the changes

Now you can browse most websites w/o a problem

User Agent Switcher in Action

(Click to enlarge image - Detailed option dialogbox)

You can also add additional user agents as per your needs to for different browsers

=> Download User Agent Switcher

=> Authors page

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Discussion on This Article:

Fred Tsang Says: February 8th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Hey there,
I actually use prefbar (http://prefbar.mozdev.org/). gives u a few extra options (configurable) and the user agent is in drop down from the toolbar - my 2 cents

cheers,
Fred
nixcraft Says: February 9th, 2007 at 12:56 am
Fred,

Thanks for pointing out prefbar.

Appreciate your post.
BARTELS Says: February 18th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Is there aversion which works with Win 98?
EastIndyGuy Says: February 19th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
The better solution is to cancel your account with that bank. When they ask you why, explain to them that you refuse to be forced into using a specific web browser to use their online banking. Companies are never going to learn to make platform independent solutions if people keep jumping through hoops to accommodate them.

You are their customer, they should accommodate you. Not the other way around.
nixcraft Says: February 20th, 2007 at 4:44 am
EastIndyGuy,

Good suggestion. I’ve already written to their customer support and waiting for reply.
Marc Casillo Says: February 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Those are great suggestions for tweaking the user agent settings. For sites that actually NEED the IE stiff, I find that ‘IE Tabs’ is a wonderful extension that allows you to change the rendering engine on the fly.

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/
Fred Tsang Says: February 22nd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
hey nix,

no sweat man - thanks for your articles on linux tips I’ll be watching for more from u.

cheers,
Fred
Ed Seitzinger Says: March 21st, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I heard this as a rumor a few weeks back, and inquired of my bank. At first they did not know what Linux was, and after some discussion, they did some checking (I think with their webmaster) and their site is going to work with Linux now. I second the motion re pulling out of a non-cooperating bank. It is critical to move that way now…early in the game.
It is important for them to know that they serve us, not the other way around. Our money keeps them solvent.
govind Says: March 22nd, 2007 at 8:39 am
hey nix,

I’m also with other guyes here; kick ass of bank if they are not supporting Linux and firefox.

cheers

govind