OS filter
The OS filter matches visitors by the operating system of their device, such as iOS, Android, Windows or Mac. Use it for app-store banners, platform-specific instructions, or tests that only make sense on one system.
Available on: all platforms.
How it's evaluated
The operating system comes from what the visitor's browser reports about itself, checked on every page. The visitor matches when their system is one of the systems you select. Versions aren't considered: you can't target, for example, iOS 17 only.
Options
The filter reads: Visitor's operating system is one of systems.
System | Matches |
|---|---|
Windows | Windows computers |
Mac | Mac computers, and most iPads (see below) |
GNU/Linux | Linux computers that don't report a specific distribution |
Ubuntu | Linux computers whose browser reports Ubuntu |
Chrome OS | Chromebooks |
Android | Android phones and tablets |
iOS | iPhones and iPod touch |
iPadOS | iPads that identify as iPads |
Select at least one system.
Behavior details
- Most iPads match Mac. Safari on iPad identifies itself as a Mac by default, so it matches Mac, not iPadOS. Only iPads that request mobile websites match iPadOS. Select both iOS and iPadOS for Apple mobile devices, and keep in mind that most iPads still fall under Mac.
- Linux comes in two options. Some Linux browsers report Ubuntu and match Ubuntu; most report plain Linux and match GNU/Linux. Select both to cover Linux desktops.
- Unlisted systems never match. Visitors on other systems, or whose browser doesn't report one, don't match any option. To target "everything except iOS", put iOS in a group set to don't match rather than selecting every other system.
- Android phones and tablets both match Android. Use the Device filter to tell them apart.
Examples
- App download banner: OS is one of iOS and iPadOS for an App Store bar, and a second widget with Android for Google Play.
- Keyboard shortcut tips: OS is one of Mac, with a callout that shows ⌘ shortcuts instead of Ctrl.