How to Enable or Disable Reading Mode in Google Chrome Side Panel

Google Chrome 115.0 and later versions come with new “Reading Mode” or “Reader View” feature which allows users to read distraction-free webpage content inside the Side Panel present at the right-side of the web browser. This article will help you in enabling or disabling Reading Mode in Google Chrome web browser.

Following screenshot shows Reading Mode enabled and opened in Chrome browser Side Panel:

What is Reading Mode in Google Chrome?

Reading Mode has been introduced to improve users reading experience. When a Chrome user opens a website in Reading Mode, Chrome removes distracting elements such as images, videos, advertisements, menus, website logo and many other things which are not related to the main article. Reading Mode just opens the actual article in simple text mode to help the user in reading the article without any clutter.

Users can customize and change the Reading Mode font type, font size, theme, spacing, etc using the toolbar given at the top of the Reader Mode in Side Panel.

If you are an old reader of this site, you might be aware of the fact that Chrome team has tested a similar Reader Mode (or Simplified / Distill Page View) long time back in Chrome 75.0 version. At that time, the Reader Mode was available inside the main 3-dots menu of Chrome. We posted about it in following article:

[Tip] Enable “Reader Mode” (Simplified or Distill Page View) in Google Chrome

The old Reader Mode was discontinued by Chrome team and now a new Reading Mode has been implemented which can be accessed using the Side Panel.

Google is Rolling Out Reading Mode to All Chrome Users

Google is rolling out the new Reading Mode in Chrome 115.0 and later versions in phases. Some Chrome users have already received the new mode in their browser and some are still waiting for it.

Now there might be two types of Chrome users:

• One who received the new Reading mode in Chrome Side Panel but didn’t like it and now want to disable or remove it.
• Second who haven’t received the new Reading Mode yet and want to activate and enable it right now.

Fortunately, Google Chrome team has provided a hidden secret preference/flag which can be used to enable or disable the new Reading mode in Chrome browser.

Enable or Disable Reading Mode in Chrome Side Panel

If you want to enable or disable the new Reading mode in Chrome, following steps will help you:

1. Open Google Chrome web browser and type chrome://flags/ in address bar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration page.

2. Now type reading in the “Search flags” box.

Look for following option in the results:

3. To activate and enable the new Reading mode in Chrome, select Enabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

To disable and remove the new Reading mode from Chrome, select Disabled from the drop-down box for the above mentioned option.

4. Google Chrome will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Relaunch now” button to restart Google Chrome.

That’s it. You have successfully enabled/disabled new Reading mode in Chrome.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default setting in Chrome, select “Default” option from the drop-down box for above mentioned option and restart the browser.

BONUS TIP: Advanced users can also enable following preference/flag present on Chrome://flags page to force Reading mode to use local machine learning model.

Also Check:

Show Right-Click Search Results for Highlighted Text in Chrome Side Panel

How to Enable / Disable Power Bookmarks UI in Chrome Side Panel

[Tip] Restore Classic Customize Chrome Window on New Tab Page

[Tip] Disable or Remove Journeys from Side Panel in Chrome