Reader Mode in Safari strips ads, popups, navigation menus, and clutter from articles. You see just the text and important images. It's one of those features that once you start using, you can't go back to regular web reading.
Works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Here's how to use it on each.
Reader Mode on iPhone and iPad
Open Safari. Navigate to any article. Look at the address bar at the top.
Tap the aA icon on the left side of the address bar. A menu appears. Tap Show Reader.
The page transforms. Ads, sidebars, popups – all gone. Just the article text, headings, and main images. Way easier to read.
Tap aA again then Hide Reader to return to the normal page.
Reader Mode on Mac
Open Safari. Visit an article. Look at the address bar.
Click the show reader icon – looks like a small grid of lines on the left side of the URL. Or use the shortcut Cmd + Shift + R.
Page switches to Reader. Same as mobile – clean text-focused view. Same shortcut to switch back.
Customize Reader Mode look
While in Reader Mode, tap aA (or Cmd + Shift + R menu on Mac). You see options:
- Font size – adjust larger or smaller
- Font – pick from several built-in fonts
- Background – white, sepia, gray, black
- Page Zoom – magnify the whole page
Sepia is easier on the eyes for long reading. Black background is great in dark rooms. Each user finds their preferred combination.
Make Reader Mode automatic
For sites you read often, Safari can auto-enable Reader Mode. While in Reader Mode on a site, tap aA. Pick Website Settings on Mac or Website Settings at the bottom on iOS.
Toggle on Use Reader Automatically. Every future article from that site automatically opens in Reader Mode. No more tapping the icon.
You can also set it globally – in Safari Settings > Websites > Reader. Pick "Always" or per-site preferences.
Which sites support Reader Mode
Reader Mode works on articles – news sites, blog posts, magazines. The Reader icon appears in the address bar when a page is compatible.
It doesn't work on:
- Homepages (no specific article to focus)
- Apps like Twitter, Facebook (their feeds aren't articles)
- Forums and comment sections
- Sites with too little or non-text content
- Some video-heavy pages
If the icon doesn't appear, the page isn't Reader-compatible. Use the regular view.
Print articles cleaner with Reader
Reader Mode also makes for cleaner prints. Enter Reader Mode first, then print. The printed page has just text and images – no banner ads, no sidebars wasting ink.
Saves significant paper and ink if you print articles for research or reference. Pages often cut from 5 pages with ads down to 1-2 pages of just content.
Save as PDF from Reader
Enter Reader Mode. Use Safari's share menu. Pick Save to Files (iOS) or Export as PDF (Mac). The article saves as a clean PDF without ads.
Great for archiving important articles or sharing them later. The PDF is smaller and cleaner than a full-page screenshot.
Reader Mode vs Apps like Pocket
| Feature | Safari Reader | Pocket / Instapaper |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, built-in | Free with paid options |
| Offline reading | Limited | Yes, full support |
| Library / archive | None | Built-in |
| Sync across devices | Via iCloud | Native |
| Text-to-speech | Yes (Mac), limited iOS | Yes |
For occasional clean reading, Safari Reader is enough. For people who read articles offline regularly or want to build a library, dedicated apps are worth it.
Other browsers' reader modes
Firefox and Edge both have Reader Mode too:
- Firefox – small book icon in the address bar, similar feature set
- Edge – book icon at the end of the address bar called Immersive Reader, even has read-aloud
- Chrome – no built-in Reader Mode, but extensions like "Just Read" replicate the feature
If you don't use Safari, Firefox or Edge give you the same clean-reading benefit.
What sites do you read most? Tell me and I'll mention any that have particularly noisy ads where Reader Mode is essential.