Recently, Google has quietly enabled Read Later feature by default in Chrome 89. The always visible and permanent Reading List button in the bookmarks bar occupies valuable screen space. The Users found the button annoying and intrusive, after receiving complaints and feedback, Google has added an option to the Bookmarks Context menu for users to hide it.
What you need to know:
- After iOS, Chrome’s Read later feature is now available on Mac and Windows.
- The feature has been extended in Canary with Bookmarks and Search box in the side panel in a Canary version.
- Chrome displays the Reading List button and doesn’t allow to hide it like the bookmarks bar and Apps shortcut.
- If you use other Read Later services such as Pocket, you may find the button unnecessary
- Chrome now provides an option in the bookmarks bar context menu called “Show reading list” to get rid of it
Chrome now allows saving articles and pages to read later. The Reading List button on the bookmarks bar when clicked shows items you read and unread in two different sections.
See: How to add articles to ‘Reading list’ in Chrome on desktop
Chrome’s ‘Read Later’ to allow save tabs to access later [Updated]
Most users found the button occupying valuable screen space annoying and want to remove it.
After facing user backlash, the Chromium team has readied an option in the bookmarks bar context menu for you to control its appearance.
Hide Chrome Reading List button in the bookmarks bar
- Launch Chrome browser
- Open a new tab
- Right-click on the bookmarks bar
- Untick the “Show reading list” option.
Do note, the option is available out of the box in the Canary version 91.4460.0, It may take a while for the change to merge and appear in the stable version.
Till then, follow the below instructions to get rid of Reading List from Chrome
- Visit chrome://flags
- Search for “Reading List”
- Click on the dropdown arrow and select Disabled
- Restart the browser
It’s worth noting an option is better than a flag that can disappear any time.
What’s your take on Chrome’s Read Later or Reading List? Have you found it useful? Let us know in the comments below.
Hi Venkat, as of June 2021, the latest Chrome on Windows has adopted the Canary feature you detailed above. Also it has modified the bookmark button (star symbol) at the right of the address bar. Instead of immediately adding a bookmark it now gives a dropdown to either add a bookmark or to add the page to the reading list. For me this is instantly annoying! I now have to move the pointer and click twice to make a bookmark, instead of once. Disabling the new Reading List button does not change the behaviour of the bookmark button. Do you have any ideas for how to revert the bookmark button to only immediately creating a new bookmark?