Pocket, the service which lets you save articles and videos to it, has updated their Chrome extension with two new features: when you add an article using Pocket extension, three related articles will be displayed, and another new feature that may annoy Chrome users is Pocket shows three new stories or topics that are tending on the web in the new tab page for you to check now or save later (check the below screenshot).
This is like hijacking the new tab page. Though you don’t use NTP, you don’t want to see other services or extensions abusing it, here is how you can disable Trending stories and topics shown by Pocket on Google Chrome new tab page.
READ: Pocket Chrome Extension Update brings Fresh New Look and Faster Saving
Disable trending stories and topics shown by Pocket on Chrome New Tab Page
1. Right click on the Pocket extension icon on Chrome toolbar and choose options
2. Uncheck Show stories and topics in my new tab
3. And you may also want to uncheck ‘Show me recommendations on save‘ setting as well for Recommendations.
4. Done, Chrome NTP becomes normal and Pocket Recommendations on saving will be disabled. You can now use Pocket like before in Chrome.
READ: How to read Articles Saved to Pocket Offline
Oh saved me, Thanks.
You’re welcome Ali. Glad that I could help.
Thanks.
That “feature” freaked me out.
THANK YOU THANK YOU
I couldn’t STAND the hijacking.
Quite easy to implement.
THANKS!
I hated this feature…love Pocket but they don’t own all my digital real estate.
You saved my New Tab page! The stories pocket displayed on the page had nothing to do with my interests, and I found many of them offensive. Much like Google having “autoplay” enabled by default on Youtube, Pocket was probably trying to boost their user engagement statistics with this “feature.”
This is a big disconnect between “a tool to let me save stories to read now” and “a tool to spam me with stories I don’t want to read ever.”
OMG thank you soooo much! That was driving me insane. You rock :)
Thank you so much! So annoying.
What they said. Thank you for this solution.
Supernally excellent advice. All props.
I don’t have this checkboxes for some reason. What should I do?
May be you can get rid of pocket extension.
I like to use it but I hate this feature.
Yes, I reinstalled the pocket extension and the checkbox is there. Thanks.
You’re welcome. Glad that you sorted out finally.
Here is my screenshot http://imgur.com/X7EqLHx
Thank you. Very nice. Some companies don’t know when to quit.
thanks
You’re welcome.
thanks a lot…
Funny enough, this article has helped me get that feature back (after changing computers, i had no idea how to add those Pocket recommendations to my new tab window). I for one find this feature quite useful :)
oh thank goodness. this article – still useful!