How to Remove "?m=1" from Blogger URL - Simple Way Guide

If you’ve ever browsed a Blogger site, you might have noticed URLs ending with ?m=1 or ?m=0. It’s something many users question, and some even want to remove it completely. But before jumping to any conclusions, let’s break down what it is, why it exists, and whether removing it is really a good idea.

What Does "?m=1" Mean in Blogger?

The ?m=1 is a query parameter added automatically by Blogger to indicate that the visitor is using a mobile device. Similarly, ?m=0 appears when someone visits the site from a desktop.

For example:

Desktop: https://example.blogspot.com/?m=0
Mobile: https://example.blogspot.com/?m=1

This system is designed for older Blogger themes that didn’t support responsive design. Instead, they had two separate layouts - one for desktops and another for mobile devices. When a user opens the site on mobile, Blogger loads the mobile-friendly theme using ?m=1.

Why is "?m=1" Useful?

Mobile Optimization: Older Blogger themes were not responsive. Instead, they switched to a simpler, mobile-friendly version using ?m=1. This ensured the blog remained readable and accessible on smaller screens.
Conditional Logic (b:if): Blogger’s XML templates use b:if conditions to handle elements differently based on the device type.
```
<b:if cond='data:view.isMobile'>
  
</b:if>
```
Speed and Compatibility: By serving lightweight themes to mobile users, Blogger improved page load times. Many older blogs relied on this method instead of modern responsive layouts.
SEO and Indexing: Blogger ensures that search engines recognize both versions of the site, mobile and desktop. While duplicate content can sometimes be an issue, Blogger automatically handles canonical tags to avoid SEO problems.

Is It Still Relevant Today?

Modern Blogger themes are responsive, meaning they adapt automatically to any screen size without needing a separate mobile version.

This makes ?m=1 less useful for newer blogs. However, older Blogger sites, especially those using the default templates, still depend on this feature for mobile compatibility. Removing it can break layouts and lead to poor usability for mobile visitors.

Most modern Blogger sites run on custom-made themes or third-party templates that include responsive design built-in.

These sites don’t require the ?m=1 feature, as the layout adapts to the device without needing separate mobile and desktop versions.

However, the Blogger default templates still rely on this feature, making it unlikely that Blogger will remove it entirely anytime soon.

Why Do People Want to Remove It?

Cleaner URLs: Many bloggers believe that URLs without extra parameters look more professional and easier to share.
Branding Concerns: Some worry that ?m=1 reveals their site is hosted on Blogger, which may seem less “professional” compared to custom-built websites.
SEO Worries: Bloggers sometimes think having separate URLs for mobile and desktop might cause duplicate content issues, although Blogger’s canonical tags typically prevent this.

Can You Really Remove "?m=1"?

Short Answer: No, not completely. Blogger doesn’t provide an official way to disable this feature. However, you can hide it using the JavaScript in this post:

Steps to Remove "?m=1" from Blogger URL

Go to your Blogger Dashboard.
Click on the Theme option.
Select Edit HTML from the dropdown.
Find the <head> tag at the top of the code.
Add the following script just below the <head> tag:

<script>
  var uri = window.location.toString();
  if (uri.indexOf("?m=1") > 0) {
      var clean_uri = uri.substring(0, uri.indexOf("?m=1"));
      window.history.replaceState({}, document.title, clean_uri);
  }
</script>

6. Save the changes. That’s it!

What Does This Code Do?

Detects "?m=1" in the URL.
Removes it from the address bar without actually changing the page or content.
Keeps the visitor on the same page but shows a cleaner URL.

Does It Redirect Users?

No, it doesn’t redirect them. It only replaces the URL in the browser address bar for display purposes.

Should You Remove "?m=1"?

Pros:

Gives your blog a more professional look with cleaner URLs.
Might be useful for newer blogs that already use responsive templates and don’t need separate mobile versions.

Cons:

Doesn’t fix the underlying issue, the site still loads mobile or desktop themes based on the query parameter.
Older blogs with separate mobile themes might break if you remove ?m=1.
SEO isn’t negatively affected by this parameter, so removing it has no direct ranking benefits.

Final Thoughts

The ?m=1 parameter in Blogger is a legacy feature designed for older themes. While it might seem outdated now, it’s still useful for blogs relying on non-responsive templates.

If you’re using a modern, responsive design, you don’t really need this parameter. However, there’s no official way to remove it, only scripts that hide it for visitors.

Recommendation:

If your blog is new and uses a responsive theme, hiding the parameter can make your URLs look cleaner.
If your blog is old and depends on ?m=1, it’s best to leave it alone to avoid breaking the mobile layout.

Ultimately, Blogger could remove this feature in the future as modern design standards evolve. But for now, it serves its purpose and doesn’t affect SEO or performance significantly.

That's all for this post,

Happy blogging.