Reader Mode & Distill Page in Chrome: A Complete Guide

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Introduction: Understanding Reader Mode in Google Chrome

If you often indulge in reading long blogs, tutorials, articles or research papers online, you’ve probably wished for a reader-friendly, distraction-free reading experience. That’s exactly where Reader Mode in Google Chrome comes in. Reader Mode is the right mode that cancels out ads, pop-ups, sidebars, etc. so you can focus on your reading without getting bothered by clutter.

What Exactly Is Reader Mode?

Reader Mode (also known as simplified view) is a built-in Chrome feature. It transforms busy web pages into clean, readable text. It:

Removes all unnecessary ads, banners, and design elements that may hinder the reading process
Focuses solely on the text and images of the article and not other elements
Improves readability by making the fonts clean and formatting more clear
Helps you study/ read without any distraction

Why Use Reader Mode?

The benefits go beyond just comfort of reading as it also focuses on faster page loading and lesser eye strain. It also provides a more organized way to save articles or take notes which is great for students, researchers, and casual readers.

While Reader Mode is available on Chrome, another hidden feature i.e., Distill Page takes this reading experience even further. Let’s understand what it is and why Google kept it hidden.

What Is “Distill Page” Mode & Why Is It Hidden?

Google Chrome offered a powerful tool called Distill Page. Although still available, it isn’t visible by default and is hidden.

What Distill Page Actually Does

Distill Page extracts the core content of a webpage and remakes it in a minimal, text-only format. It removes all design elements and strips everything down to just text and essential formatting in order to offer a raw, extremely clean version of the page.

Reader Mode is more polished. Distill Page is more technical and content cored.

Why Google Hid the Distill Feature?

Google gradually hid the option because it wasn’t designed for public use and so reader Mode became the official replacement. Distill Page didn’t always work smoothly on modern day websites as it was originally meant for debugging and accessibility testing. Still, many users love it for deep reading and research because it gives a cleaner screen and reading experience than Reader Mode.

Reader Mode vs. Distill Mode: Key Differences

Feature	Reader Mode	Distill Page
Output	Clean, polished view	Raw text format
Purpose	Comfortable reading	Extraction & analysis
Visibility	Official Chrome feature	Hidden developer tool
Customization	Fonts, themes, layout	Very limited
Reliability	Works on most sites	Inconsistent on complex websites

How to Turn On Reader Mode in Chrome

Step 1: Enable Reader Mode via Chrome Flags

Firstly, open Chrome on your device
Type chrome://flags in your device’s address bar
Search for Reader Mode or Enable Reader Mode
Set it to Enabled
After doing it, relaunch your browser
After restarting, you’ll be able to see a “Reader Mode” option.

Step 2: Check Browser Compatibility

Reader Mode works on the following operating systems:

Windows
macOS
Linux
ChromeOS
Android (as “Simplified View” in mobile settings)

How to Use the Hidden “Distill Page” Feature in Chrome

Even though the Distill Page is hidden by default, you can use it by the following methods:

Method 1: Use Distill Page Through Chrome Menu

Open any webpage on your device that you want to simplify
Click the three-dot Chrome menu on your device
Click the option- More Tools
If seen, select Distill Page

Method 2: Use Direct URL Shortcut

Paste the following URL into the address bar:

chrome://flags/#enable-reader-mode

Or to directly trigger:

chrome://settings/?search=distill

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut

tYou can skip copy paste everytime by creating a custom bookmarklet:

On your device, select create a new bookmark
Name it "Distill" or any other name you want to give
Add this as the URL:

javascript:document.location='chrome://content/distill?url='+document.location

Everytime you want to distill a website, open this bookmark and it will instantly distill it.

Customizing the Reading Experience in Reader & Distill Modes

Reader Mode is best for readers as it provides several built-in customization options. Here is the breakdown of the options :

Adjust Fonts & Layout

You can adjust and make changes in the:

Size and style of your fonts
Layout and Spacing of your fonts and lines
Width of the webpage to make mjore readable

Enable Dark Mode & Themes

Reader Mode also enables dark mode and different themes. So according to your preference, you change the webspage into modes like - Dark, light, sepia and high contrast.

Enhance Control Using Extensions

If Reader Mode doesn’t offer enough what you wish to, you can also enhance control by using chrome extensions. Make use of tools like:

Mercury Reader
Just Read
Reader View

These extensions will provide you more font options and themes that are customisable. You can also get ad-free reading. If you want to take notes while reading, then these will help you highlighting important sentences and words which eases note-taking. You can also save pages offline.

Note that since Distill Page is minimal, customization is limited.

Troubleshooting: Why Reader Mode or Distill Mode Isn’t Working

Sometimes Reader Mode or Distill Page fails to work on your device. While there may be any reason, here is the list of most probable reasons :

Chrome isn’t showing the menu option on your device
You’re using an older version of Chrome and so try updating it once
Developer tools are not enabled
The webpage design and elements are very dynamic and can’t actually be distilled

How to fix the Missing or Non-Working Distill Page?

Firstly, try updating your Chrome
If that doesn’t work, then re-enable flags
Use the bookmark trick and launch again
Copy link and open in a new tab while closing the older tabs
Disable those extensions that interfer with page scripts

Why Some Pages Cannot Be Distilled?

Some pages can’t be distilled as they are built with:

JavaScript frameworks (Both React or Angular)
There are infinite number of scrolls on a webpage
Dynamic in design and elements
Content is encrypted in a way that it doesn’t work with Reader Mode or Distill Page.

Reader Mode vs Third-Party Reader Extensions

There are many third-part reader extensions. So are those better than Chrome’s built-in reading feature? Let’s compare.

Reader Mode Pros :

It is built-in and requires no downloads
It is fast and lightweight as it comes with Chrome
It has a simple interface and you can learn quickly how to use it
It offers full privacy and no external servers/ads

Reader Mode Cons :

It offers limited customization as compared to third-part extensions
It is not ideal for academic saving/highlighting as it is a general reader mode and not specific for any audience such as student, researchers, etc.

Popular Extensions (Mercury Reader, Just Read, etc.)

Pros:

You can enjoy more formatting controls
They offer readability as you get better customisation
It makes highlighting, taking notes, and saving offline pages easier

Cons:

May collect data as these are third-party developer apps so always check privacy policy before downloading
Slightly slower as compared to chrome because of integration

All in all, built-in Chrome Reader Mode is generally safer to use. Some third-party tools may send and collect data as they operate on external servers.

Real-Life Use Cases & Productivity Tips

1. Studying & Researching

Reader Mode helps you in studying and researching by helping you in:

Extracting core ideas from any webpage
Highlighting of text for further reference
Saving simplified pages offline for revision
Focuing on reading as the webspages becomes ad free

2. Reading Articles Distraction-Free

For those who like to read long blogs, articles news, and guides enjoy distraction free reading as reader mode makes the webpage more cleaner, faster and easier to go through. If you read a lot online, Reader Mode will improve your reading and comprehending timeline instantly.

3. Saving Distilled Pages to PDF or Notes

Another advantage is that you can save the simplified page by giving command of Ctrl + P and then suing the option ‘Save as PDF’. You can also copy the clean text to notes apps or any other text app. It is great for researchers, educators, and students alike.

Conclusion: Should You Use a Distill Page?

Reader Mode is now a polished feature which is perfect for everyday reading. Distill Page, even though hidden, is still incredibly useful for those who want a pure text-only version of a page without any extra elements.

Final Thoughts

If you want comfort, use Reader Mode
If you want raw extraction, use Distill Page
If you want advanced customization, try extensions

Should You Still Use a Distill Page in 2025?

Yes, but only if you read long articles or prefer minimal layouts as it is perfect for those who do research, summarizing, or academic work on an everyday basis. For other users, Reader Mode will be enough.

FAQs

What is Reader Mode in Google Chrome?
It’s a simplified reading view that removes ads, pop-ups, and other clutter and gives you a clean layout.
How do I enable Reader Mode in Chrome?
Go to chrome://flags → Search “Reader Mode” → Enable → Restart.
What is the “Distill Page” feature in Chrome?
A hidden developer tool that extracts pure text from a webpage, perfect for word based reading without any extra element.
How can I use the Distill Page feature?
Use a bookmark, or the developer command, or menus (if visible).
Why is the Distill Page missing in Chrome?
Google hid it as it is not used by regular chrome users. Possibly, you are using an older version that doesn’t support the menu shortcut.
Is Reader Mode available on Windows, Mac, and Android?
Yes, it works on all major platforms.
Why doesn’t Reader Mode work on some sites?
Dynamic or heavily scripted websites with complicated elements may sometimes block simple views.
How do I customize Reader Mode?
You can customise by changing fonts, themes, and overall layout from the Reader toolbar.
Is Reader Mode safe for privacy?
Yes, it has 100% privacy as it being used locally in your browser.
How is Reader Mode different from extensions like Mercury Reader?
Third party extensions offer more customization, but may have privacy concerns.

Science & Technology

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| Posted on August 19, 2019