Chrome Reader Mode — Read Without Distractions

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Video transcript

• 0:02 Just the article. Here is how you read any article without distractions, using the reader mode of Web Highlights.
• 0:06 Open the reader. Open the sidebar on a page you saved, switch to the Reader tab, and simply click Open in reader. Web Highlights keeps only the article itself, so ads, popups and cookie banners stay out of your way.
• 0:16 Highlight while you read. Everything works just like on the original page. Highlight a passage, and it shows up in the sidebar next to your notes.
• 0:21 Make it your layout. With the toolbar on the right you change the font size, the line height and the width of the text, until it reads the way you like.
• 0:27 Pick a color mode. Below that are the color modes: light, dark, a high contrast mode, and my favorite, sepia, which is much easier on the eyes. Auto simply follows your system.
• 0:35 Saved as a document. The page is also saved as a document, so you can read it offline and from any device in the web app, even if the original page changes or disappears.

Web Highlights adds a powerful reader mode to Chrome, saving web pages in a clean, reader-friendly format — similar to Firefox's built-in Reader View. Access your highlighted content offline and across all your devices with our Chrome reader view extension.

How It Works

When you save a document, Web Highlights transforms the webpage into a simplified, reader-friendly version that:

• Focuses on the main content
• Makes the text more readable
• Reduces the page size significantly
• Removes ads, popups, and distracting elements
• Eliminates cookie banners and other interruptions

Opening a Page in the Reader

Once a page is saved — you bookmarked it or highlighted something on it — the sidebar shows a Reader tab next to Notebook. It previews the article; click Open in reader to switch the tab to the reader view:

Opening the reader will:

• Convert the page to reader mode
• Save it as a document for offline access
• Show it in a clean, distraction-free format — with the sidebar and all your highlights

You keep highlighting in the reader exactly like on the original page: new highlights and notes land on the same page in your library.

Reader Mode Customization

The reader's toolbar sits on the right edge of the page. Aa opens the text controls and the brush icon opens the color modes:

• Font Size: Adjust text size for comfortable reading
• Line Height: Modify spacing between lines
• Article Width: Change the content area width
• Color Modes:
  • Auto: Adjusts based on device settings
  • Light: Bright background with dark text
  • Dark: Dark background with light text
  • Sepia: Eye-friendly warm background
  • Contrast: High contrast dark mode

Highlights stay readable in every mode — on a dark background their text switches to black automatically.

Benefits of Reader Mode

1. Offline Access: Read your saved pages without an internet connection
2. Cross-Device Access: Access your documents from any device through the web app - no extension needed
3. Permanent Copy: Keep access to your highlights even if the original page changes or disappears
4. Clean Reading Experience: View content in a distraction-free format
5. Eye-friendly mode: By default the reader follows your system (Auto); switch to the warm sepia mode to make long reads easier on your eyes.
6. Highly customizable: Our reader lets you adjust the font size, line height, reader width, and background color, so you can read in the color scheme you like best.

Storage Management

You can manage your saved documents in two places:

1. Settings → Documents

   • View your storage usage
   • Turn auto-download on or off
   • Delete unnecessary documents
   • See your storage limit

2. Web app → Documents (in the left navigation)

   • Browse your saved documents
   • Access saved pages
   • View documents in reader mode

TIP

Deleting a saved document only removes the reader-mode version. Your highlights will remain intact - you just won't have offline access to that specific page.

Storage Limits

If you reach your storage limit:

• You won't be able to save new documents
• You can still create highlights and bookmarks
• You can either:
  • Delete some saved documents in Settings → Documents to free up space
  • Upgrade your plan to get more storage

You can find the storage limits on the pricing page.

Why Use Web Highlights as Your Chrome Reader Mode?

Unlike Firefox, Chrome does not have a built-in reader mode or reading view. Web Highlights fills that gap — and goes beyond what Firefox's native reader view offers:

Feature	Firefox Reader View	Web Highlights Reader Mode
Distraction-free reading	Yes	Yes
Custom fonts & themes	Limited	Full (Light, Dark, Sepia, Contrast)
Highlight & annotate	No	Yes
Save for offline access	No	Yes
Cross-device sync	No	Yes
Export highlights	No	PDF, Markdown, Notion, etc.
Works in Chrome, Edge, Brave	No	Yes

Web Highlights works as a reader mode extension for Chrome, Edge, Brave, and other Chromium-based browsers — giving you a reading view wherever you browse.

Common Questions

What happens if I don't save a page in reader mode?

You can still create highlights and bookmarks on any page. However, without saving the page in reader mode, you won't be able to:

• Access the page content offline
• View the page in the web app without the extension
• Keep a permanent copy if the original page changes

Will I lose my highlights if I delete a saved document?

No, your highlights are stored separately from the saved documents. Deleting a document only removes the reader-mode version of the page, not your highlights or bookmarks.

Can I save a page that I've already highlighted?

Yes! Every highlighted page is already in your library, so the sidebar shows its Reader tab — click Open in reader to read and save it in reader mode.

Can I customize the reading experience?

Yes! Web Highlights offers extensive customization options including font size, line height, article width, and multiple color modes (Light, Dark, Sepia, Contrast, and Auto).

Can I export my highlights and notes?

Yes! You can export your highlights to various formats including PDF, HTML, Markdown, Notion, Capacities, and other note-taking or PKM tools using the three-dot menu in the sidebar.