How to Remove Reading List from Chrome?

Our online world can get a bit cluttered sometimes. The latest version of Google Chrome offers a feature known as the Reading List that is designed to help with that, allowing users to save pages for later perusal. But what if you don’t want this feature?

Perhaps you prefer a cleaner look, or you use another bookmarking tool. Whatever the reason, if you want to disable or remove the Reading List from Google Chrome, this guide is for you. We’ll delve into the steps required, so your browser experience is exactly as you wish it to be.

Removing the Reading List from Google Chrome

Sometimes, you may find the Reading List feature more of a distraction than a help. Fortunately, there’s a way to remove it.

• Open your Google Chrome browser.
• Right-click on the bookmark bar.
• A drop-down menu appears, look for the ‘Show reading list’ option and click it. Doing this will toggle off the Reading List feature.

When you remove the Reading List, the icon will disappear from your browser window. However, keep in mind that this action does not delete any pages you have already saved to your Reading List. If you want to access these pages later, you can re-enable the Reading List using the same steps.

Disabling the Reading List Option in Chrome 89 and Older Versions

For those running an older version of Google Chrome (Chrome 89 and older), the steps to disable the Reading List option differ slightly:

• Open your Chrome browser.
• In your browser address bar, type ‘chrome://flags’ and press enter.
• In the search bar at the top of the page that opens, type ‘Reading List’ and hit enter.
• Next to the ‘Reading List’ option, click on the drop-down menu and select ‘Disable.’
• Finally, click the ‘Relaunch’ button at the bottom to relaunch your browser for the changes to take effect.

Disabling the Reading List option this way removes the feature entirely from your Chrome browser.

Re-Enabling the Reading List Feature in Chrome

Maybe you’ve changed your mind and want to re-enable the Reading List. Here’s how to do that:

• Open your Google Chrome browser.
• Right-click on the bookmark bar.
• In the drop-down menu that appears, look for the ‘Show reading list’ option and click it.

By following these steps, the Reading List icon will reappear, allowing you to save pages and articles that you might want to read later.

Removing the Reading List from the Chrome Bookmark Bar

If you want to remove the Reading List from your Chrome bookmark bar for a cleaner look, you can do so. This method won’t disable the feature; it will only hide the button from the bookmark bar.

• Open Google Chrome.
• Right-click on the bookmark bar.
• From the drop-down menu, click on ‘Show bookmarks bar’. This will hide the bookmark bar, including the Reading List button.

To bring back your bookmark bar, follow the same steps and click ‘Show bookmarks bar’ again.

Key Points to Remember

• The Reading List can be removed or disabled from Google Chrome in a few simple steps.
• For Chrome 89 and older, you can disable the Reading List option by accessing the Chrome flags page.
• The Reading List can be re-enabled from the drop-down menu on the bookmark bar.
• The Reading List can be hidden by toggling off the bookmark bar.

In conclusion, Google Chrome’s Reading List feature can be a helpful tool for saving web pages to read later. However, not everyone may find this feature useful. Whether you want to remove it for a cleaner browsing experience, or it simply doesn’t fit your workflow, the choice is yours. The great thing about Chrome is that it offers the flexibility to tailor your online environment to your preferences, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience.

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