Chrome’s “Reader Mode” is Back

By | March 8, 2020
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Chrome’s “Reader Mode” is Back

A while back we wrote about distilling webpages with Chrome’s Reader Mode. A lot of people liked that feature because it removed clutter from pages and made them easier to read. Soon after we wrote that article, Google removed “Reader mode” from Chrome’s available experimental feature’s list. In the current version of Chrome — Version 80.0.3987.132 (Official Build) — Reader Mode (“Toggle distilled page contents”) is back.

So let’s distill web pages again…

First, make sure you’re using the current version of Chrome. Click on the Settings icon (3-vertical dots in the top-right corner of Chrome) and click on Help > About Google Chrome. If you’re not using the current version you’ll have the option to update Chrome.

Next, type chrome://flags in the Chrome Omnibox (address bar) and press “Enter”. In the search box at the top start typing Distill.

When “Enable Reader Mode” appears, click on the down arrow next to “Default” and choose “Enabled”.

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

Once you’ve done that, go to a website or webpage you want to read – and while on the page click on the Chrome settings icon (3 vertical dots) and click on “Toggle distilled page contents”.

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

And you can take a messy page,  full of ads or ads that were blocked — as in the screenshot below…

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

And distill it and make it much easier to read.

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

But wait – there’s more!

You can adjust the font size, text color, and background color. Go from black on white to white on black.

Just click the “A” near the top of any distilled page. Click on the black circle if you want white text on a black background. Or click the white circle if you want black text on a white background. To change the text size on the page move the slider to the right to make the text bigger or to the left to make it smaller. 

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

With simple controls like thsse, no more instructions needed! 

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

Now you can distill almost any web page and make it easier on your eyes.

Oh… and one more thing… 

On some pages, you’ll have an option to make the background a beige or cream color… see?

Cloudeight InfoAve Google Chrome Tips

Now go forth and distill your favorite Web pages.

6 thoughts on “Chrome’s “Reader Mode” is Back

  1. Janice M

    Think I’ll be trying Chrome now! Thanks again, TC & EB!

    Reply
  2. Warren

    Great, because of low vision, I am sometimes frustrated by crowded, busy sites. I love “reader mode” . Thanks

    Reply
  3. Robyn Fleming

    I am using Windows 8.1 are these instructions for Windows 10

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      It’s for Google Chrome on any version of Windows. You must be using the current version of Chrome as noted in the article.

      Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      No…it’s not an extension, it’s a Chrome “experimental” feature.

      Reply

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