The urgent message came from one of my contacts at a long-time client.
They were trying to update a website page and the page kept bouncing and jumping around.
Were other people visiting the website seeing the same problem?
I confirmed their page displayed correctly on desktop and mobile when I tried to edit it.
Not sure why my client was encountering problems, I replied back, asking my client to visit another website.
And I quickly learned about my client’s device configuration and what was likely causing the issue.
Read on to learn how I discovered the likely cause from a helpful troubleshooting site.
Yourbrowser.is
I’m always on the lookout for useful online tools for my web projects.
One of the most helpful tools in my web project toolbox, especially when it comes to clients reporting website issues, is Yourbrowser.is.
A free online site, Yourbrowser.is quickly displays the settings and configuration of a digital device, including the type of device used.
For web developers, designers, or anyone working on the web directly with clients (or family members), knowing the configuration information about the device:
- Operating system version
- Browser
- Browser version
- Screen resolution
- Color depth
is crucial to resolving issues with website display.
All anyone needs to do is visit the Yourbrowser.is website to view the settings and configuration.
Either your client can tell you their information, or even better, email you a copy of their information from Yourbrowser.
What a timesaver for you and your client!
What Yourbrowser Detects
Here’s a list of the details you get from Yourbrowser:
- Browser & version
- Operating system
- Mobile device
- Screen resolution
- Current viewport
- Color depth
- JavaScript version and availability
- Flash version and availability
- Cookies
- IP address
- Geo-location
- Language
- Time zone
- Social network site status (if you’re logged into Facebook or Google+)
Another nice feature: you can create your own branded checker page on Yourbrowser with a dedicated URL for your domain.
And customize it with your logo in the upper left corner.
Send your client to your branded page, and instantly receive an email message with the detailed information on your client’s device and browser.
Want to style the page differently? Opt for the Custom CSS feature by paying for their Pro account.
Summary
Yourbrowser is one of my must-have tools for troubleshooting website display issues.
It works on mobile, laptop, and desktop devices, providing configuration and settings information to help you quickly diagnose and troubleshoot issues.
Wondering what was causing issues for my client’s site? Their employee was using an old Windows 7 computer to update the site.
Windows 7 is no longer being maintained by Microsoft. When my client’s employee changed to a Windows 10 computer, the problem no longer occurred.
Have you used Yourbrowser.is for troubleshooting website issues reported by clients? Share you experience in the comments.
Originally published February 18, 2015
