ipad asks do you want to download index .html

Seems some people trying to help are missing the point. Those seeing this issue, like me, know that it just started to happen after a period when there were no changes to their iPad, and certainly it’s not possible that multiple sites updated their source to be broken for non-desktop browsers.

So, putting the burden onto users to “fix” the problem by flipping modes of the iPad browser is wrong, not the user experience Apple should be going for. You might as well tell people to fix the problem by going to their laptop to view certain sites, or just buy an Android tablet...

And, for heaven’s sake, the browser is asking for the one, standard since forever, file present at the root of every site! No, something is wrong with the browser.

Yes, Apple support actually had me click the download button. All it does is download a 3 kB file of index.HTML which was completely blank. I tried all the restorations and resets possible, and lo and behold it still happens. This all started when iOS 13.3.1 came out.

Try clearing Safari website data: Setting app > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. A restart might also be in order. It is also not out of the question that this is a DNS issue and out of your control until a resolution is deployed and propagates.

FYI: this is a user-to-user forum. You are not addressing Apple here. Commands to “sort this out” are not useful or appropriate.

I have been getting this too. I tried clearing out the data and history and this did not fix the problem. What has stopped it from happening though is turning on Adblock, but I don’t see this as a permanent fix.

No Apple staff participate in these user-to-user Community forums. As such, derogatory comments are neither helpful nor constructive in addressing your problem. However, as an end-user contributor like yourself, I’ll try to help...

The issue you describe is perhaps an issue with the website incorrectly identifying your browser. If using iPadOS, Safari by default operates in its “desktop browser” mode - which identifies the browser as Safari 13 on MacOS (Catalina).

The workaround, for many websites that have issues with iPadOS, is to change Safari to its “mobile browser” mode. For an affected site, tap the aA icon at the left edge of the Safari Address bar - and from the menu select Website Settings; deselect Request Desktop Website, then click Done. Refresh the page.

I hope that affected contributors to this discussion find this to be helpful in resolving this problem.

Thanks for your response, however when using a 12.9 inch iPad Pro I would want desktop mode. This seems to be a more recent problem that I believe lots of people are now experiencing.

Thanks again for your response.

The difference between “desktop” and “mobile” renders are not as extreme as you may believe - and for many pages are visually no different. When “mobile” is selected, your web browser is correctly identified as Safari 13 for iOS 13.3 - iPad - fixing most (if not all) rendering issues.

Desktop mode is only really helpful for those websites that aren’t properly written with smaller devices in mind.

Try it... it takes seconds - and it’s very simple to switch back.

Same problem here on my iPad Pro 11 (and occasionally now on my iPhone 11) Constantly getting a pop up to download index.html. Clear history/cookies, restarted, nothing helps on my end. Also looking for a fix, which I’ve yet to find.

Yeah I know how to switch between modes, however I do not wish to view things in mobile view it messes certain sites up and causes menus to be setup as drop downs. This is an error that needs to be fixed as it has only recently started happening.

I do appreciate your feedback though.

It is not malware. There is no known malware that can affect an iPad.

It is a glitch. It pointless to accept the download. It will not accomplish anything.

Index.html should not be downloaded, it should be rendered by the browser and displayed in the browser without a download prompt. That is the issue.

No one has answered that particular question, because it is not a relevant question at all in this case.

I also have been receiving notices today on cnn, fox, Forbes, vice, and slate asking if I want to download index.html

just started today...

iPhone is popping up with’ do you want to download index.html ‘ sort this out asap

Not one apple employee can help us with this issue yet? What are you guys doing! Counting your money? 3 of my friends have the same issue.

Same problem! Very frustrating....cleared history and have ad blocking...now what? Thanks!

Once I turn on Adblock, it turns on VPN, and the download index no longer pops up. There should be no need to do this though.