The Stripped-Down Webpage
Google Chrome has been gradually rolling out a “Reading Mode” (also called “Reader Mode” or “Side Panel Reader”) feature that, when activated, strips away a webpage’s original design — navigation menus, sidebars, advertisements, images, and styling — and presents the article text in a simplified, distraction-free format within a side panel or full-page view. While useful for long-form reading, Chrome can be configured (or may default through experimental flags) to automatically suggest or activate Reading Mode on article-style pages, showing a persistent icon in the address bar or even a pop-up prompt. For web developers testing their layouts, or users who prefer the original website design, this automatic intervention is unwelcome.
Disabling Reading Mode
To stop Google Chrome from automatically offering or activating Reading Mode on article pages, you must disable the feature through Chrome’s settings or experimental flags.
Open Google Chrome. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select Settings. In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Appearance. Look for a toggle labelled Show Reading Mode in side panel or Reader mode. If present, turn it off. This removes the Reading Mode icon from the address bar and prevents the side panel from offering a simplified view. If the setting is not visible in the standard Settings menu, the feature may be controlled by a Chrome flag. Navigate to chrome://flags in the address bar. Search for Reading Mode or Reader Mode. Set any related flags (such as “Enable Reader Mode” or “Reading Mode in Side Panel”) to Disabled. Click Relaunch at the bottom of the page to restart Chrome with the flags applied. The Reading Mode icon and prompts will no longer appear on any webpage.