Easy Reading in Reader Mode

Easy Reading in Reader Mode



Purpose:

Make reading text on some web pages easier by using Reader mode.



Overview:

Reading text on some web pages can be very difficult mainly because the text gets lost in all the distractions like banners, ads, logos, unrelated images; and the text’s Font and background color contrast may make reading even harder. To make reading the text easier, most major browsers have a Reader Mode function (included or as an add-on), which removes all the distractions leaving only the text and embedded images. The following instructions explain how to activate and use the Reader mode in the Chrome browser.


Special Note:

This applies to the Chrome browser.



Quick Take:


Activate Reader Mode

* In Chrome’s address bar enter chrome://flags
* Locate Enable Reader Mode feature and Enable it
* Press Relaunch button

Using Reader Mode

* Click the Reader Mode icon (small book with lines representing text) to the right of the web page’s address in the address bar.
* Click the Font icon (letter A with a line under it - A) at the top of the Reader Mode page to change the Font, size, and background color.
* Click the Back button to exit reader mode and display the full web page.




Detailed Instructions:


Activate Reader Mode

* Open the Chrome browser and click to highlight the address in the Address bar.
* Enter chrome://flags as the address in the Address bar and press Enter key.
* This will open the Experiments page for Chrome. The Reader Mode is not really an experiment since it has been in Chrome since version 72, but Chrome has it not activated by default.
* In the Search bar at the top of the Experiments page, enter Enable Reader Mode and press Enter key. It will appear in a list below the search.
* To the right of the Enable Reader Mode function click the dropdown arrow and select Enabled.
* Click the Relaunch button at the bottom of the screen.

Using Reader Mode

* Reader mode will not work for all web pages due to how the web pages are put together. Usually a web site with a lot of text (aka. an article) will work in reader mode. When a web page loads that the Reader Mode will work on, the Reader Mode icon will appear. If a web page loads that the reader Mode will not work on, the Reader Mode icon will not be present. When the Reader Mode icon appears it will appear to the right of the web site’s address in the Address bar. So, when the icon’s there you can use Reader mode.
* The Reader Mode icon looks like a small open book with lines representing lines of text. Hovering the mouse pointer over the icon displays the text “Enter reader mode”, so you know you have the correct icon.
* Clicking the Reader Mode icon will open the Reader mode, which removes everything from the page except the text (article) and any images embedded in the article.
* At the top of the Reader Mode page is the Font icon (A) which is the letter A with a line under it. Click this icon to adjust the Reader Mode page. You can adjust the size of the text Font, which Font is used, and the background color/Font color contrast. Adjust these settings for your reading preference and the settings will remain for each web site.
* Press the Back button to exit the reader mode and return to the original web page; thus, very easy to toggle on and off.


Comments:

* This works extremely well for News articles that have their web pages cluttered with flashing distractions.

This may sound like a little thing, but give it a try and you'll like it.

The link below is to download this tip in PDF format. The download tip will contain screen captures that makes following the directions even easier.

Easy Reading in Reader Mode PDF