The internet is packed with awesome stuff to read, but sometimes those websites can be a real distraction, right? Ever thought about a way to make the text simpler and get rid of all that extra clutter? Well, guess what? Google Chrome now has something called Reader mode!
They rolled out Reader mode with Chrome version 114, which came out for everyone on May 24, 2023. So, let us spill the beans on this feature and walk you through how to use it.
How to enable Reader mode on Google Chrome
Interested in trying out Reader mode? Well, you can’t dive into it straight away, not just yet. First, you’ll need to enable this feature. We’ll guide you through the process.
- Open up the Chrome browser.
- In the address bar, type “chrome://flags/” and hit Enter.
- Look for the “Reading Mode” flag.
- Next to the Reading Mode option, click on the drop-down menu that currently says “Default.”
Choose “Enabled.” - Chrome will ask you to restart the browser. Just click on “Relaunch” to complete the process.
Now, Reading mode is good to go, but it’s kind of like a secret feature, so you’ll need to know where to dig it up.
Also read: How to remove an image from Google Photos? Yes, it’s possible!
How to use Reader mode
- Visit the webpage you want to use Reading mode on.
- Look for the Side Panel button located at the top-right corner of your browser, right next to your profile icon.
- Click on the drop-down menu labeled “Reading list.”
- Choose “Reading mode.”
The side panel will show you a simplified version of the text from the page you’re checking out. You can even hop to other websites, and Reading mode will smartly adjust to the text you’re currently reading. If the side panel seems a bit cramped, no worries—you can use the slider to make it bigger.
Also read: How to use Google Cursive and can it replace Microsoft One Note?
Can Reader mode be enabled on the mobile app?
We get it, lots of folks are itching for this feature on their mobiles. So, you might be thinking, “Does the mobile version of Google Chrome have Reader mode?” Well, the good news is, it does exist! But here’s the not-so-great part: it’s not as smooth as we’d like it to be. In fact, you’ll need to download a separate app to get in on the action. Let’s walk you through how to do that.
- Head over to the Google Play Store and download and install the Reading mode app.
- Open the Reading mode app and follow the prompts to set it up.
- Once you’re done, tap “Finish.” You’ll see a new floating shortcut appear as an overlay on your screen.
- Launch Chrome and visit the webpage you want to view in Reading Mode.
- Tap on the Reading mode floating shortcut. The app will display a simplified version of the page.
- You can also use the Gear button to adjust text size, font, colors, and more.
- The Play button will read the text aloud for you, and the TT icon will help you quickly change the font size.
The cool thing about the mobile Reading mode app is that it can be used with other apps, not just Chrome. That’s a pretty awesome feature to have. It might not work with all apps right now, but we can expect more support to roll out in the near future.