[Tip] How to Disable or Enable “Reading List” Feature in Google Chrome

If you noticed a new “Reading List” feature in Google Chrome web browser and want to disable or remove it, this tutorial will help you in getting rid of Reading List feature. Similarly, if you want to manually activate and enable new Reading List feature in Google Chrome, this article will also help you in adding the new feature to Chrome.

Reading List feature is rolling out in phases to all Chrome installations. That’s why some Chrome users have received the feature and some are still waiting for it. This tutorial contains instructions to manually enable or disable Reading List feature in Chrome.

What is Reading List Feature in Google Chrome Browser?

Reading List if a new feature introduced in Google Chrome web browser which is quite similar to Collections feature present in Microsoft Edge web browser.

Reading List feature allows Chrome users to combine and organize favorite web pages in a single bookmark list to read later. Reading List feature was initially named as “Read Later” at the time of development but later Chrome team renamed it to Reading List.

You can add multiple website pages to Reading List collection and can access them any time you want.

How to Access and Use Reading List Feature in Google Chrome Browser?

Reading List can be accessed by clicking on “Reading List” button present at the right-side corner of Bookmarks Bar. You can show or hide Bookmarks Bar quickly and easily by pressing Ctrl+Shift+B keys together.

To add a webpage to Reading List, you need to click on the Bookmark (Star) icon showing at the end of the address bar. When you’ll click on Bookmark icon, it’ll show 2 options in the menu:

• Add bookmark
• Add to reading list

Click on “Add to reading list” option and it’ll immediately add the web page to Reading List.

Alternatively, you can also right-click on a tab and select “Add tab to reading list” option from the context menu.

Problems with Reading List Feature in Google Chrome Browser:

Some Chrome users didn’t like the idea behind adding an extra drop-down menu to Bookmark icon in the address bar. In previous versions of Chrome, whenever a user wanted to bookmark a webpage, he just needed to click on the Bookmark icon and add the bookmark. Now with the addition of Reading List feature, the user is forced to first select “Add bookmark” option from new menu and then he’ll be able to add the bookmark. It’s getting frustrating and annoying to many Chrome users.

Now there might be 2 types of Chrome users:

• One who haven’t received Reading List feature and want to manually activate and enable the feature right now.
• Second who have received Reading List feature but don’t like the new feature and want to deactivate and disable it.

How to Disable or Enable Reading List Feature in Google Chrome Browser?

Don’t worry. Chrome team has provided a hidden secret preference/flag to control Reading List feature. You can enable or disable Reading List feature in Chrome by modifying this preference.

Following steps will help you in enabling or disabling Reading List feature in Google Chrome web browser:

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.

It’ll directly go to following option:

3. If you want to disable Reading List feature completely in Google Chrome browser, set the “Reading List” option to Disabled using the drop-down box given next to the option.

If you want to enable Reading List feature in Google Chrome browser, set the “Reading List” option to Enabled using the drop-down box given next to the 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 or disabled the Reading List feature in Google Chrome. If you select Disabled option, it’ll completely disable Reading List feature in Chrome. It’ll remove Reading List button from Bookmarks toolbar as well as “Add to reading list” option from Bookmark icon in address bar.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default behavior of Reading List feature, select “Default” option from the drop-down box and restart the browser.

Also Check:

[Tip] How to Hide or Remove “Apps” and “Reading List” Buttons from Chrome Bookmarks bar

[Tip] Disable or Enable Tab Sleep or Tab Snooze Feature in Web Browsers